A well-known activist for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) issues, Spahr has faced several challenges in PCUSA courts because of her actions as a minister.

With same-sex marriage dominating news headlines in California and across the country, retired Presbyterian Church (USA) minister the Rev. Jane Spahr weighed in during a brief interview last week on MSNBA (use ‘Read More’ Link at bottom of article for link to video).

In the context of California preparing to lift a ban on same-sex marriage, the segment touched on charges Spahr faces in ecclesiastical court for performing same-sex marriages in California.

MSNBC’s Contessa Brewer asked the outspoken lesbian minister about the PCUSA’s “official stance” on same-sex marriage, to which Spahr responded:

“There really isn’t a stance yet. There hasn’t been a ruling on that, so what it is for me is as pastors we should be able to marry the people who come to us. … What I say to people, it doesn’t matter to me what your sexual orientation is. It matters to me that you have a healthy, just, loving, mutual relationship. … What matters to me is that the church could be there in a way to help people have the healthiest, most loving relationships.”

Despite Spahr’s “no stance” position, the Office of the General Assembly in 2004 released a clear statement on same-sex marriage in the PCUSA. Also, the 219th General Assembly took no action on overtures affirming same-sex marriage.

Read More: http://www.layman.org/News.aspx?article=27430 [Editor’s note: The original URLs (links) referenced in this article are no longer valid, so the links have been removed.]