Presbyterian Church Embroiled in Same-Sex Marriage Controversy

Napa, CA — A committee that serves as the legal arm of the Presbyterian Church in Northern California is taking its case to the next level against a minister who officiated the weddings of two lesbian couples.

The prosecuting committee of the Presbytery of the Redwoods plans to appeal a regional church tribunal´s ruling this month that the Reverend Jane Spahr did not commit misconduct when she performed the same-sex ceremonies. The official Presbyterian Church position is that marriage is reserved for a man and a woman. But after a two-day trial, the tribunal held that Spahr acted within her rights as a minister by following her conscience and presided at the weddings.

The appeal will go to the church´s Synod of the Pacific, which oversees parishes in Nevada, Oregon, parts of Washington and Idaho and Northern California.