08156
February 28, 2008
Pittsburgh minister to face new charges for same-sex union ceremony
Another trial possible after original case dismissed in 2006
LOUISVILLE —The Rev. Janet Edwards, a Presbyterian minister in Pittsburgh, says she will again be brought up on charges for officiating at a same-sex union ceremony even though a complaint against her for performing the nuptials was thrown out by a church court in 2006.
Edwards, a parish associate at the multi-denominational Community of Reconciliation, said in a statement that a Pittsburgh Presbytery investigating committee informed her on Monday (Feb. 25) that it will pursue new charges against her for the June 2005 marriage ceremony of Nancy McConn and Brenda Cole.
The Rev. Janet Edwards The Rev. James C. Yearsley, a Presbyterian minister who is currently serving in Florida, filed a complaint against Edwards shortly after she performed the lesbian marriage, only to see the charges against her dismissed on a technicality in November 2006. Pittsburgh Presbytery’s Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) ruled that a special investigating committee filed charges against Edwards after its deadline for doing so.
Yearsley submitted a new grievance against Edwards in February 2007 that alleges she acted in “willful and deliberate defiance” of her ordination vows and of the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
The PC(USA)’s Book of Order defines marriage as between a man and a woman, and church courts have ruled that Presbyterian ministers may not utilize the denomination’s marriage liturgy in same-sex ceremonies.
Seven other PC(USA) ministers and six elders from Texas, North Carolina, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Washington state signed on to the new complaint, joining Yearsley as “co-accusers.”
One of the co-accusers, the Rev. L. Russ Howard, eventually withdrew his name from the complaint after the Washington Presbytery congregation where he’s a pastor left the PC(USA) for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, according to Yearsley.
Edwards said she does not believe she violated her ordination vows by marrying McConn and Cole, who reside near Wheeling, WV.
“I believe with my whole heart that my decision to perform Nancy and Brenda’s wedding was faithful to my pastoral call,” Edwards said in a statement. “I did not arrive at the decision overnight. I spent many months in prayer and met with Nancy and Brenda numerous times before concluding that it falls within the Presbyterian tradition of Reformed faith to extend the blessings of marriage to all couples who show deep love and commitment for one another within the context of their faith in God.”
Edwards was ordained by Pittsburgh Presbytery in 1977 and served as its moderator in 1987. She currently is classified as an “at large” minister working primarily through the Community of Reconciliation congregation, which describes itself as open to persons of all sexual orientations.
A Pittsburgh native, Yearsley has been pastor of Village Presbyterian Church in Tampa, FL, since February 2006. When he filed his original complaint against Edwards he was serving as pastor at Mt. Hope Community Church, a Presbyterian congregation in suburban Pittsburgh.
The Rev. James C. Yearsley Yearsley said he’s satisfied that he made the right decision in filing another complaint in order to give the church judicial system an opportunity to work after the original case was thrown out on a technicality.
“I’m glad the process has been permitted to work as it’s designed,” Yearsley told the Presbyterian News Service on Wednesday (Feb. 27). “I’m satisfied that the presbytery is doing what it should do. I’m confident that our polity will function the way it should and that Janet will get fair and equitable treatment by the [Pittsburgh Presbytery] PJC.”
In their complaint, the co-accusers contend that Edwards performed a marriage ceremony that was “heretical and apostate” in that it was “contrary to the Word of God and the Book of Confessions by expressing Buddhist doctrine anathema to the Christian faith.”
They also claim that Edwards “assaulted the peace, unity and purity of the church” by repeatedly proclaiming in the secular media “defiance, apostasy and intent to continue such behavior.”
McConn, a longtime Presbyterian and former member of Dallas Presbyterian Church in Dallas, WV, currently worships at a Unitarian congregation. Cole was raised Methodist but now is a practicing Buddhist.
“The church’s actions are extremely hurtful toward me and Nancy and toward other gay couples,” Cole told the Presbyterian News Service. “We’re determined to stand by Rev. Edwards as she faces these charges and continues to speak the truth about our marriage. And we’re quite determined that no matter what the church’s actions are they in no way undermine the sacredness of our marriage.”
McConn mirrored Cole’s comments saying, “Brenda and I are there for her (Edwards) and will be there for her throughout this second ordeal.”
Edwards, who is a direct descendant of legendary Puritan theologian Jonathan Edwards, could face a number of punishments, including removal from ordained ministry, if the case goes to trial and she’s convicted.
The Rev. Doug Portz, acting pastor (executive) for Pittsburgh Presbytery, said he could not comment on judicial cases that are in progress.
“In following our process at this time it’s not appropriate to make any comment,” Portz said.
The six ministers joining Yearsley in signing the complaint are: the Rev. David Perry of Coastal Carolina Presbytery; the Rev. James Coone of Grace Presbytery; the Rev. Robert Kopp of Blackhawk Presbytery; the Rev. Jim Tilley of Blackhawk Presbytery; the Rev. Toby Brown of Mission Presbytery; and the Rev. Mark Hughey of Blackhawk Presbytery.
The six elders signing the complaint are: Sarah Beard of Mountain View Presbyterian Church in Marysville, WA; Everett Worrell of First Presbyterian Church in Belvidere, IL; Mark Rouleau of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Rockford, IL; Robert Gagnon of Eastminster Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh; Pamela Easton of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Loves Park, IL; and Virginia Worrell of First Presbyterian Church in Belvidere, IL.
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