The Rev. Jane Adams Spahr has been cleared by the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s Permanent Judicial Commission of charges of participating in illegal marriage services filed by the Synod of the Pacific.

Statement from Janie's website at revjanespahr.org.

Presbyterian Highest Court Clears Spahr of Censure

Tiburon, CA – Today the Presbyterian’s General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) reversed the two-year-old Synod decision to censure Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr for her role in marrying same-gender couples. Today’s decision held that the Presbyterian constitution contains no prohibition against marrying same-gender couples.

“I am grateful that the Commission let stand the Presbytery’s original ruling which affirmed my ministry,” said Rev. Spahr. “The Church is a place of welcome and hospitality in which I will continue to honor relationships of love and commitment, regardless of sexual orientation.”

Surprisingly, by a bare majority, the decision – while clearing Spahr – attempted to set forth language that could be interpreted to preclude such marriages in the future.

In a dissent signed by five Commission members – a significant minority – the members stated, “It is not the place of this Commission to go any farther and step into the legislative realm…In rendering it’s decision, the majority has taken the liberty of legislating in the guise of interpreting inconsistencies” within the constitution and current case law.

“We are deeply troubled by the majority’s insistence on reading any language into the constitution that renders these marriages anything less than fully equal.” said, Sara Taylor, Rev. Spahr’s attorney. “By this act, the majority exceeded its judicial authority with respect to marriage in this denomination.”

“I will continue to honor my calling to perform marriages for all couples who love one another and are committed to one another,” said Spahr. “To not perform these marriages would go against my faith, my conscience and most importantly, against God.”

The Judicial Commission’s ruling marks the end of a four-year legal journey for Spahr that began in 2004, when she was charged by her local Presbytery for performing same-gender weddings. The ruling by the Redwoods Presbytery Permanent Judicial Commission originally affirmed Reverend Spahr, ruling that performing same-gender weddings was not “outside of, or contrary to, the essentials of the Reformed faith as understood by the Presbytery of the Redwoods.” That historic decision was appealed and sent to the next highest church court, the Synod Permanent Judicial Commission, which ruled against the Redwoods Presbytery's affirmation of Janie's Ministry. That decision was appealed and this past Friday was heard by the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission, which is the church’s highest court.

“Our marriage affirms that no matter whom you love, you still have complete access to God,” said Sherrill Figuera and Annie Senecahl, a couple married by Spahr and named in the disciplinary case.

Janie Spahr's final appeal to the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission has concluded this morning, Friday, April 25, in Louisville, Kentucky.

The arguments made by Janie's counsel were powerful and justice-filled.

A verdict is expected by Monday, April 28. Check back here, or at revjanespahr.org.

Tremendous thanks go to Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati for their witness in worship last night, and for their continuing hospitality through the weekend.

For the last 30 years our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been divided over the place of its lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) members on issues like ordination and marriage. Along with other organizations, That All May Freely Serve has lobbied the church to change these destructive policies and end its oppression of LGBT people.

This year, we're taking a different approach from the legislative strategies of the past – a change that YOU can help make happen. At this year's General Assembly (June 21-28) in San Jose, California, That All May Freely Serve is bringing about a New Church (R)evolution!

Young adults and seminarians – our New Church (R)evolution team - will claim their birthright as members of a just and inclusive church. Through positive, life-giving action, the New Church (R)evolution will be the church we seek, as we invite the PCUSA to have the courage to join us in living into freedom and justice!

If you're:

Please consider being a member of our team. Team members will receive full scholarships.

Please download the brochure for more information. Then, download and fill out an application form.

Last summer the Lutherans held their Churchwide Assembly.  Before that gathering, Lutherans Concerned/North America, More Light Presbyterians sister organization, proposed to their supporters the knitting of lovely rainbow scarves to mark their hopes and prayers for that assembly.  Now it is our opportunity to combine the truth of LGBT inclusion and the beauty of handcrafted creativity into an unmistakable visual sign of God’s all embracing love.  The LGBT supporters were clearly marked at the Lutheran Assembly—let’s be marked too at our GA!

Challenge from Janet to Knitters/Knitting Groups across our land This is a social justice project, knitting us all together, compassionately, with our LGBT sisters and brothers who suffer so from the rejection of gifts for service to the church, judgment of loving relationships and silencing of voices among us.  Create as many rainbow scarves as you can, according to the directions below, between now and June 9, 2008.  Experts and beginners, like me, can pray and knit our way to San Jose, establishing a solid fabric of spiritual support for the efforts at our General Assembly for full inclusion of LGBT faithful.

Yarn: Red Heart Supersaver Multicolor; the color is Mexicana (0950) 

The yarn is online at the following website, coatscollection.com

.  If you type in the search engine on the page DB010527it takes you to the type of yarn and then you can find Mexicana (color 0950).

Please use only this yarn, as this, along with Jesus’ love, is the thread running between us all!

Knitting Instructions

The scarves can be any size between 3 to 6 inches across and 48 to 68 inches long, using needles between sizes 8 and 11. Remember as you choose your stitch that these will be used in summer in San Jose, mostly inside the air conditioned conference center.

Crochet Instructions available upon request.

For more info, and for mailing address contact Janet at:

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January 26 -- At a meeting of the Twin Cities Area Presbytery (a regional governing body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), by a 70% approval the commissioners voted to reinstate Paul Capetz as one of its ministers, and to except his statement of conscience regarding the church's exclusive clause against the ordination of out lgbt members. Capetz, who is a professor at the United Theological Seminary, set aside his ordination several years ago in protest of that same exclusive policy. A new policy, adopted in 2006, gives local Presbyteries greater flexibility in ordaining ministers. This significant vote follows a similar vote in the San Francisco Presbytery regarding Lisa Larges, the Minister Coordinator of That All May Freely Serve.

The board and staff of That All May Freely Serve extend their warmest congratulations to Paul and to the Twin Cities Presbytery. Our denomination should be proud to count such a fine and pastoral theologians among its ministers.

In a decision handed down on February 12, 2008,the highest court in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ruled that the controversial ordination standard of fidelity in heterosexual marriage or chastity in singleness is a requirement for all persons in ordained office. The ruling perpetuates the mistaken and destructive prejudice that sexual orientation is a matter of behavior and not identity. Further, the ruling puts a wedge between faith and practice, as though to believe one thing and act differently were not the very definition of hypocrisy. The ruling severely damages movement toward greater flexibility, graciousness, and discernment as put forward by the actions of the last General Asembly.

The decision, however, puts in stark relief the necessity for swiftly and finally removing the homophobic and heterosexist policies from the Presbyterian constitution.

To read the texts of the rulings and the official explanation of them, go to: the website of the Presbyterian Church

Dear Friends of TAMFS,

We give thanks for the Committee on Preparation for Ministry that met with Lisa for over 10 years. In their report they reminded the San Francisco Presbytery that, “We are charged to see each candidate as a whole person and as a child of God.” And that they did! One committee member commented, “Lisa is extraordinary and we rarely see people so gifted.” The report continues, “We feel privileged to be bringing such an exceptional candidate to you who is ready in all respects to be examined for ordination.”

This will not be the first time Lisa has been examined. In 1992, the Twin Cities Presbytery examined Lisa and found her ready to receive a call, though this decision was overturned by the very same General Assembly Presbyterian Judicial Committee that ruled that Rev. Janie Spahr could not serve as co-pastor of the Downtown Church as an out lesbian.

We celebrate that the decision of the San Francisco Presbytery brings us a step closer to a time when All May Freely Serve. We understand Lisa’s potential ordination as a move in the right direction as we work to delete G-6.0106b from the Book of Order altogether.

In her Statement of Departure Lisa writes, “I am grateful for the Church and its particular expression as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), for the ways in which it has taught me of the love of God, of the work of salvation in Jesus Christ and of the demands on our lives to love and serve one another and this sweet world. Even so, out of gratitude, love and hope for the church, I am compelled by my conscience and charged by my faith to firmly, clearly, and in every way declare that the provisions at G-6.0106b are a mar upon the church and a stumbling block to its mission.”

This step toward ordaining Lisa reminds us of the many for whom God has called but the church will not receive. TAMFS knows that love and tolerance should not be the exception for a few, but that God places love as the standing rule for all. God’s ability to place a sincere call upon the heart and soul of all persons is not only regardless of sexual orientation but also regardless of geographic boundaries. That All May Freely Serve will therefore continue to work to delete G.6.0106b so that all persons, regardless of presbytery, can freely serve the Presbyterian Church.

We celebrate Lisa and this deeply deserving next step. Let her be like Miriam, tambourine in hand, leading the way!