Following Rev. Janie Spahr's Trial
Posted Wednesday, August 18 2010 @ 09:33 AM by MLP Admin
The Redwoods Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has charged Rev. Spahr for officiating at the marriages of committed same-sex couples during the period in which the State of California legally recognized these marriage, June 17, 2008 through November 3, 2008.
The trial begins next week on Tuesday, August 24 and will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Napa, CA. Several More Light Presbyterians board members will be in attendance.
Rev. Spahr's trail is set against the landmark decision in City and County of San Francisco v Arnold Schwarzenegger where Judge Vaughn Walker overturned California's Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage. Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, the moderator of the 218th General Assembly, spoke at the rally after the repeal of Proposition 8.
The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals will hear arguments on appeal during the week of December 6. The court issued a stay of Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling until their decision is made.
In addition to Rev. Spahr, eleven couples will testify during the trial proceedings. You may view their stories and photographs at the trail website.
As the trail begins next week, there are three ways to follow the proceedings:
See Also:
Rev. Jean Southard on Marriage Equality
Rev. Jean Southard spoke at MLP's Educational Luncheon today about marriage equality and her trials in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Jean Southard is a retired Minister of the Word and Sacrament and officiated at a legal wedding of two women in Massachusetts. Charges were filed in the Presbytery of Boston and were dropped on August 22, 2009. This decision was appealed to the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of the Northeast. The Synod ruled against the Presbytery and Jean. The Synod decision will be appealed.
Open Letter to the 219th General Assembly, Rev. Brian Merritt