c. 2008 Religion News Service

Presbyterian court clears lesbian pastor on wedding charges

(RNS) The highest court of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has reversed a lower court’s censure of a lesbian clergywoman who performed what critics called same-sex weddings for two lesbian couples in California.

“It is not improper for ministers of the Word and Sacrament to perform same-sex ceremonies,” ruled the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in a decision released Monday (April 28). “At least four times, the larger church has rejected overtures that would prohibit blessing the unions of same-sex couples.”

The decision about the Rev. Jane Spahr, who was charged in 2004 and initially cleared in 2006, hinged on language in the church’s Book of Order, which defines marriage as “between a woman and a man.”

The high court found that the lower court in the church’s Synod of the Pacific (SPJC) was mistaken in its determination last year that Spahr had violated that language.

“By the definition in (the Book of Order), a same-sex ceremony can never be a marriage,” the high court ruled. “The SPJC found Spahr guilty of doing that which by definition cannot be done. One cannot characterize same-sex ceremonies as marriages for the purpose of disciplining a minister of the Word and Sacrament and at the same time declare that such ceremonies are not marriages for legal or ecclesiastical purposes.”

Same-sex ceremonies and marriages should remain different, the court declared.

“We do hold that the liturgy should be kept distinct for the two types of services,” it said. “We further hold that officers of the PCUSA authorized to perform marriages shall not state, imply or represent that a same-sex ceremony is a marriage.”

Spahr, 65, said she was “grateful” for the decision, which she considers an affirmation of her longtime ministry to gays and lesbians.

“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,” she said in a statement.

_ Adelle M. Banks

Methodists up bishops’ retirement age to 68

FORT WORTH, Texas (RNS) The United Methodist Church has raised the mandatory retirement age for bishops from 66 to 68 at the church’s General Conference here.

The change, which is effective immediately, reflects the fact that many people are living longer and working later in life throughout the U.S., according to Methodist leaders.

In recent years, some bishops had complained that the mandatory retirement age amounted to age discrimination. Ordained elders in the 11.5 million-member church are allowed to serve until they are 70 years old.

Before the General Conference ends Friday, the nearly 1,000 Methodist delegates here will take up controversial matters on human sexuality and divestment from corporations that do business in Palestinian territories in Israel.

_ Daniel Burke

Theological center calls for greater black church involvement on Darfur

(RNS) The Interdenominational Theological Center, a consortium of African-American theological schools in Atlanta, has urged black churches to take proactive steps to address the crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan.

“In light of our Christian prophetic heritage, we call upon you to join us in denouncing genocide and the sin of silence regarding genocide in Darfur or elsewhere,” reads an “Epistle to the Black Church on Darfur” released by the center in mid-April.

The statement asks that members of black churches and other “people of good will” petition the United Nations to call on Arab and Chinese governments, who have diplomatic or economic ties with the Sudanese government, to pressure the country to halt the genocide.

The statement also urges collective efforts to encourage the U.S. government to provide resources to the African continent that will sustain a workable peace-keeping operation.

It calls for churches “to pray for cessation of the oppression and restoration of humanity” and to set aside an upcoming Sunday to focus on Darfur.

The letter notes that there has been a faith-based coalition of black leaders addressing Sudan since the 1990s, but said greater efforts are needed.

“Indeed, the genocidal problems perpetuated on the people of Darfur have demonic staying power, and the efforts to bring justice to Darfur must be doubled,” reads the statement.

_ Adelle M. Banks

Methodists OK full communion pact with Lutherans

FORT WORTH, Texas (RNS) United Methodists meeting here agreed to share full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, paving the way for unity between two of the country’s largest mainline churches.

The ELCA still has to approve the arrangement at its next Churchwide Assembly, in 2009. ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson, who presided at a worship service here this week as 1,000 Methodists meet to draw up church policy, expressed optimism that his church will approve the agreement.

“This is about revival of two church bodies that are deeply committed to re-presenting themselves in a pluralistic, dynamic, changing culture for the sake of mission,” Hanson told the ELCA’s news service.

The full communion agreement would allow the two churches, which have a combined U.S. membership of about 16 million, to share and support each other’s ministries. It may also enable clergy to serve in both churches, especially in rural and urban areas where small congregations struggle to afford full-time pastors.

_ Daniel Burke

N.J. mother, son charged in Santeria ritual

SPRING LAKE, N.J. (RNS) In what authorities say was part of a Santeria ritual, a woman and her son have been charged with dumping bags on a Spring Lake beach that contained decapitated chickens, ducks, Guinea hens and pigeons, as well as trash.

Diana Hernandez, 51, and her son, Alain Hernandez, 32, were each charged Monday (April 28) with 10 counts of animal cruelty, said Victor “Buddy” Amato, chief of police for the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Amato said both admitted they were carrying out a Santeria religious practice to create wealth and prosperity when a person spotted them on Sunday night disposing of five bags on a beach.

The witness took down their license plate, which led police to them so quickly, Amato said.

Hernandez and her son came to the Spring Lake police station under their own volition with an attorney Monday. “They were very well mannered, very articulate and very polite,” Amato said.

Diana Hernandez, a santera, or leader in the religion, told authorities she and her son traveled to Spring Lake to dispose of the carcasses, because she was directed to by another santera.

Santeria is a melding of Christian and African religious beliefs that sometimes uses the ritualistic sacrifice of animals in order to secure favors from its deities.

Three of the five bags laid at shore’s edge were swept out to sea by the tides. These charges are based on the two bags the police examined, Amato said.

Each count carries a $1,000 penalty and the cruelty to animals charge can carry up to six months in jail, Amato said. The mother and son are due in Spring Lake Municipal Court on May 21.

_ Ken Thorbourne

Quote of the Day: Hindu priest Ram Gopal Atrey of New Delhi

(RNS) “If poor people don’t even have enough for bread, how will they donate milk to the gods? This is very serious.”

_ Ram Gopal Atrey, head priest at Prachin Hanuman Mandir in New Delhi, who has noticed that rising prices have reduced the donations of food to Hindu deities at his temple. He was quoted by The Washington Post.

KRE/PH END RNS