Showing the Love and Justice of Jesus Christ

I met with my board of elders or session last night.  Among the various items for business we discussed the Stand For Love initiative from More Light Presbyterians.    I previously wrote that I signed this statement:

As a teaching elder in the PCUSA, I have married or am willing to publicly marry same gender couples in my pastoral role, in obedience to my ordination vow to “show the love and justice of Jesus Christ.” Respecting the conscience of fellow Presbyterians, I accept the consequences of this declaration, including the provisions of discipline in our Book of Order.

As of this writing I am one of 195 signatories.    Some of this is a problem with semantics as we discussed at the meeting last night. What is marriage?  Is it a legal document?  Is it a religious action?  Is it a personal agreement between people? 

When the statement says, "I have married or am willing to publicly marry same gender couples," I do wonder have I done that?   I am willing to of course.  But have I so far?   I have not signed a marriage license for a same-gender couple.   I live in Tennessee.  It will likely take federal troops for this state to accept marriage equality.   If I were invited to sign the license and bless the nuptials for a same-gender couple in New York, I will be happy to do it for the gas money and the thrill and honor of it all.  (On second thought, if asked, I would buy my own gas).

I have officiated at Holy Unions for same gender couples.  I have one coming up this Saturday.  David and Landon have invited the congregation to celebrate with them.  You can read about it in the newsletter (page 9).    Is it a marriage?   Here is our session's policy:

Do you marry same-sex couples?
No. Tennessee restricts marriage to one man and one woman. However, we do celebrate Holy Union ceremonies for same-sex couples and for opposite-sex couples who do not wish to be married.

Our policy is based on the legal definition of marriage.   So from that perspective, this Saturday's wedding is not a marriage.   Yet what we will do on Saturday will be no different from what we would do if we lived in New York State, except for signing the license.   They will be married in the sacred sense of the word.  

I treat same-gender couples no differently from opposite-gender couples.  They go through counseling.  We create a worship service that is meaningful.  We honor and celebrate and bless the relationship as holy, sacred and blessed.   I use all the ordained Presbyterian mojo and hoopla I have in me to honor these lives. 

So am I breaking the church rules?  I really don't know.   I do know that my colleagues who sign the license because they happen to live in a state where same-gender marriage is legal are breaking the church rules.   I know that because of the precedent set by the Jane Spahr case.    If you have not listened to my Religion For Life interview with Jane Spahr, I invite you to do that.   Here is the podcast.  She describes all the church disciplinary shenanigans in regards to her case, but more importantly she talks about why marriage equality is so critical:

Second class status always leads to violence.

Churches and clergy because of the moral symbolism attached to them need to demonstrate in word and in deed that same-gender relationships are moral, ethical, and sacred.   If doing so requires personal risk, then we need to ask ourselves what it means to "show the love and justice of Jesus Christ" in the first place. 

The General Assembly could have avoided this by issuing an Authoritative Interpretation that would have allowed clergy and churches to marry same-gender couples in states where it is legal to do so.  The General Assembly did not do this.   Therefore, because my colleagues are at risk of church discipline, including ultimately losing their ordination, this action, Stand For Love, is now necessary.   I proudly stand with my colleagues in their obedience to their ordination vows as I seek to obey mine. 

Redwoods Presbytery Refuses to Rebuke Rev. Jane Spahr

Good on the Presbytery of Redwoods for refusing to impose a rebuke on Rev. Jane Adams Spahr.  Rev. Spahr was found guilty by the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission in February of violating her ordination vows by marrying 16 same-sex couples, even though doing so was legal in California at the time.   The presbytery stood up for her and said:

THAT the Presbytery oppose imposition of the rebuke as set forth in the decision of the Presbytery Permanent  Judicial Commission, dated August 27, 2010 (which was stayed by its terms until the present day), by declaring and resolving as follows:

WHEREAS, our primary ordination vow as Ruling and Teaching Elders is to be obedient to Jesus Christ, the Word of God, as the Scriptures bear witness to him, (F-1.02; W-4.4003(a);

WHEREAS, the love of God in Jesus Christ is for all people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people;

WHEREAS, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the constitution require that full inclusion and pastoral care be extended to all members of the church;

WHEREAS, this Presbytery called the Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr to a ministry in outreach to – and in community among and with – lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people;

WHEREAS, the 38-year ministry of the Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr has been faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to her calling;

WHEREAS, the decision of August 27, 2010, by its terms, acknowledges and apologizes (1) that the rules of the church “are against the Gospel,” and (2) that the decision and rebuke continue the grievous harm “that has been, and continues to be, done” by the church to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people “in the name of Jesus Christ”;

Be it RESOLVED that the Presbytery of the Redwoods opposes imposition of the rebuke set forth in the decision dated August 27, 2010, as inconsistent with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the faithful life of ministry lived out in this Presbytery. 

Rev. Spahr points out that the issue is violence.  Whenever you treat people as second-class citizens you invite and encourage violence on them.  She said this a number of times in her interview with me on Religion For Life.  If you haven't heard the interview yet, check it out.  

Rev. Jane Adams Spahr and Marriage Equality

Here is an article about the decision in the L.A. Times.

Rev. Jane Spahr and Marriage Equality on Religion For Life, April 19-23

In 2008, during that period of time when same-gender marriage was legal in California, Presbyterian Church (USA) minister, Rev. Jane Adams Spahr, officiated at 16 same-gender weddings. She was taken  to church court and accused of violating her ordination vows. The case finally ended up before the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission, the "supreme court" of the PC(USA). By an 8-6 vote she was found guilty. Marriage is officially one man and one woman in the PC(USA) regardless of state law. She is my guest. She talks about the case, what it means for clergy and the church, and her ministry to LGBT people on Religion For Life.

“To turn my back on the love and lifelong commitments of these wonderful couples would have gone against my faith, the ministry where I was called, and most of all, against God’s amazing hospitality and welcome where love and justice meet together.” --Rev. Jane Adams Spahr

Here are some posts of mine about her work.



Listen via livestream…

Thursday, April 19th at 8 pm on WETS, 89.5.
Sunday, April 22nd, at noon on WEHC, 90.7.
Sunday, April 22nd, at 2 pm on WETS, 89.5.
Monday, April 23rd at 1 pm on WEHC, 90.7.
Via podcast beginning April 24th.

GAPJC Rules Against Rev. Janie Spahr

This is from Jim Rigby regarding the trial of Rev. Jane Spahr. 

Janie just called. The verdict was guilty by a 6-8 verdict. As far as I am concerned, the church renounced Christ when they said that Janie did what Jesus would do, but they would follow our own human rules over the law of love. 

I agree, Jim.  The church wants to do this the hard way.  So we will change the constitution.  It begins at this summer's General Assembly.  And we won't stop until it is changed.   

Meanwhile, we will bless these holy relationships.

Here is the decision.

Response from More Light Presbyterians.

Jane Spahr's Day in Court is Today

A person for whom I have great respect has her trial before the highest court in Presbyland today.  Rev. Jane Spahr, who happens to be lesbian, uses her calling as a PC(USA) minister to celebrate at weddings including the weddings of same-sex couples.   

Here are some of my previous posts on Rev. Janie Spahr.

It is all part of the "homosexual agenda", of course.

By the way, here is the GAY AGENDA in two points:

1)  Equality.

2)  See point 1.

Here is the press release regarding her trial:

On Friday, February 17, the Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr goes before the highest court of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) for a final appeal of her conviction for marrying 16 same-gender couples during the time it was legal in California. The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) appeal hearing will be held at the Drury Plaza Hotel (Riverwalk, 105 S. St Mary’s Street) in San Antonio, Texas (Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) through the Presbytery of the Redwoods v. Rev. Spahr). The commission’s decision is expected on Tuesday, February 21, 2012.

As increasing numbers of states permit same-gender weddings and civil unions, Rev. Spahr hopes her appeal hearing will clarify how the denomination’s ministers can pastorally participate in such celebrations. “To send these couples away from the church would be going against what I believe about God and God’s welcome. It would go against my faith and my call,” she says. “I believe we are given a sacred responsibility to help be a part of a couple’s journey toward a life of deep loving and commitment.”

Rev. Janie rocks.

I am grateful for her courage and commitment to what is right and what is joyful.   It is because of people like her that the rest of us can drum up the courage to do what is right and joyful in our own settings.  As she said:

“I believe the church should be the best place to help and support couples to have a healthy, mutual and life-giving relationship. But for many LGBT people because of the myths, prejudice and judgment, it is the last place they think of to celebrate their marriages.”

It will be a while yet before we have marriage equality in Tennessee.  Though we aren't there yet, legally, we do know how to celebrate the spirit and love that is already present.   Last week, Glenn and Tony celebrated 25 years together.   Thanks to Becca Davis Photography for capturing the event! 

We did it up right with a renewal of vows, communion, and a party.  

Because that is what love deserves.  In thanking Glenn and Tony, I said at their service:

For 25 years, Tony and Glenn, you have given yourselves to each other and stood by each other, laughed with and cried with each other, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health.      

That is what the Gospel is about.

There is a subtext that I am going to make very clear.

Every time we have a big gay wedding in church, or in this case a renewal of 25 years of vows, with all the music, communion, flowers, vows, and rings, we are making the path easier for those who follow.   The world can be mean because it is fearful.  But you have shown that perfect love casts out fear.

 

Justice and joy is a good combination.  

 

Rev. Jane Spahr, thanks to you for showing the rest of the church what it means to be a Minister of Word and Sacrament.  She gets the last word:

 “To turn my back on the love and lifelong commitments of these wonderful couples would have gone against the lifetime of dedication I’ve shown to my faith, the guiding principles of my church, and especially those I have served in my ministry.”