Category Archives: PJC

PJC Case in Pittsburgh Presbytery over same-sex marriage

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It is being widely reported, including a PC(USA) new service item, that the Rev. Janet Edwards, a member of
Pittsburgh Presbytery, will be charged by an investigating committee with preforming a same-sex marriage in violation of the PC(USA) Book of Order.  The presbytery Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) has not set a hearing date. 

This case follows the acquittal of the Rev. Jane Adams Spahr by the Presbytery of the Redwoods PJC on similar charges this past spring.  That case is being appealed to the Synod PJC.  Rev. Edwards has retained a member of Rev. Spahr’s legal team.

In an interesting human-interest side bar, it is also reported that the Rev. Edwards is a direct descendant of THE Rev. Edwards, the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, born in 1703 and an influential colonial American clergy-man, well known for his sermon “Sinners in the hands of an angry God.”

Rev. Edwards is a board member of More Light Presbyterians, a network of churches working for the full participation of LGBT people in the life and witness of the presbyterian church.

Latest case in the PC(USA) ordination standards debate – Mission Presbytery

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Greetings,

    I am trying to verify this news via “official sources” but I noticed today on the blog “A Classical Presbyterian” that another PJC case will be heard regarding ordination standards and examination for candidacy in Mission Presbytery.  Whether this will end up being a “test case” for the new authoritative interpretation will have to be seen since the presbytery meeting where the disputed action occurred was in October 2005.  According to the blog the presbytery, in a very heated and unruly debate (what happened to “decently and in order”) admitted to candidacy a woman who is a “self-affirming practicing homosexual.”  I encourage you to read the comments on “A Classical Presbyterian” posted today (July 31).  I will see if any “standard” news sources pick this up.

Switching from news to commentary…
Test case?  I’m not sure this will end up being that but it will be interesting to see if the new AI does play into this.  I think the date being pre-GA 217 and the fact that it is an argument over being admitted to candidacy will make this case a bit different.  I know that in a similar situation in my presbytery a few years ago that the presbytery did not view this as a test of G6.0106b or G6.0108 since the advancement to candidacy did not involve ordination.  The general feeing among people in that debate seemed to be “we will approve it, this is not ordination, we will approve candidacy so that the individual can continue to work out their sense of call, but if this examination were for ordination the answer would be no.”

Trial by the Synod PJC is set for Sept. 9th.  Stay tuned.