Sunday, March 04, 2007
Okay, PC(USA) polity wonks -- I have a dumb blonde question for you. How is it possible to file charges against someone who is not in your Presbytery? How would you get the information required to file against this person? I am not making any comments on the merits of the charges; I am honestly confused as to how this would happen. Of the 14 accusers in this case, one is in the woman's own Presbytery. What's up with the other 13? I am obviously missing something here...
March 2, 2007
New complaint filed in Pittsburgh same-sex marriage
case 14 accusers say Janet Edwards willfully defied ordination vows, church law
by Evan Silversteinhttp://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2007/07119.htm
LOUISVILLE - A new complaint has been filed against the Rev. Janet Edwards, the Presbyterian minister in Pittsburgh who last year was taken to church court for marrying a lesbian couple, only to have the charges dropped because the court found they were filed four days late.
The Rev. James C. Yearsley, a Presbyterian minister who is currently serving in Florida, filed a complaint against Edwards shortly after she performed the marriage in June 2005, only to see the charges against her dismissed on a technicality in November. Pittsburgh Presbytery's Permanent Judicial Commission ruled that a special investigating committee filed charges against Edwards after its deadline for doing so. But now a new case may be brought against Edwards, who has been an activist for the full participation of gay and lesbian people in the church. Yearsley announced last month that he has submitted a new grievance against Edwards that alleges she acted in "willful and deliberate defiance" of her ordination vows and of the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Seven other PC(USA) ministers and six elders from Texas, North Carolina, Illinois,
Pennsylvania and Washington state have signed on to the new complaint, joining Yearsley as "co-accusers." Yearsley, who filed the original 2005 complaint alone, said in a press release that he decided to re-file the accusation with Pittsburgh Presbytery in conjunction with others this time "because the church and Ms. Edwards never had their day in court."
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. Edwards was ordained by
Pittsburgh Presbytery in 1977 and served as its moderator in 1987. She currently is assigned as an "at large" minister working primarily as a parish associate through the Community of Reconciliation, an interracial and multi-denominational congregation that is open to persons of all sexual orientations. "I am sincerely and deeply disturbed by the renewal of accusations against me for presiding at the wedding," Edwards said. "Embracing the loving Holy Spirit, which so filled the wedding of Nancy (McConn) and Brenda (Cole), is what we desperately need now, not contending against it."
A Pittsburgh native, Yearsley, 55, 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. Yearsley and the 13 other ministers and elders are being represented by Paul Rolf Jensen, a southern California attorney who has filed dozens of similar complaints against Presbyterian ministers and governing bodies throughout the United States. "What our denomination desperately needs right now are people contending for the faith," Jensen said. "To ignore Rev. Edwards' gross misconduct and heretical behavior would be to turn a blind eye to the cancer that inflicts our denomination."
In their complaint, a copy of which Jensen provided to the Presbyterian News Service, the church leaders accused Edwards of acting in "willful and deliberate violation of her ordination vows" as stated in the Book of Order by performing the same-sex wedding ceremony of Cole and McConn. Edwards, 56, said she does not believe she violated her ordination vows by marrying the lesbian partners, who live near Wheeling, WV. McConn is a lifelong Presbyterian and longtime member of Dallas Presbyterian Church in Dallas, WV. Cole was raised Methodist but now is a practicing Buddhist.
The 14 co-accusers also 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."
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. "As this renewed disciplinary process unfolds my focus will be upon reconciling prayer, trusting completely that God's love can bring healing and reconciliation to us all in the PC(USA) and that what will happen will help to spread the gospel," Edwards said.
Jensen responded that "the gospel of Jesus Christ is being distorted and perverted by Rev. Edwards and her supporters." The Rev. James E. Mead,
Pittsburgh Presbytery's executive, declined to comment on the case.
The seven ministers joining Yearsley in signing the complaint are: the Rev. L. Russ Howard of Washington Presbytery; 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 Tilly 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, PA; Pamela Easton of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Loves Park, IL; and Virginia Worrell of First Presbyterian Church in Belvidere, IL.
Janet Edwards invited the charges because she wants to be the center of a "show trial" on this issue. The previous charge was dismissed on procedural grounds and she was disappointed because she wanted to get a definitive ruling on the issue.
Like you, though, I wonder about all these other folks piling on. All that was needed was one person in her presbytery to file charges.I don't know what they add to the case.
You local polity wonk (who didn't want to be the first to admit to that, but admitting you have a problem is the first step.)
I'm one of the 'pile on' guys, as you say, so I'll give you my personal explanation. I can't speak for the others, of course.
I made a vow when ordained, taken before God and this church, to stand by the constitution and uphold he biblical standards.
When I see a fellow minister take that oath and trash it, then I have the obligation (in my understanding of my vows) to take a stand for what's right.
James Yearsley, who brought the charge and invited me to join in the complaint with him, is a brother in Christ and a trusted fellow member of the Westminster Fellowship, of which I am a part.
So, in my own small way, adding my name to the list of complainants is my way of fulfulling my vows to the church and to my Savior.
I also have in mind these words of Paul to Timothy:
"But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony beforePontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time.."
1 Timothy 6:11-16
Those are some 'life verses' for me in ministry.
Here I stand.
I guess I was curious how you heard about this and now I know.
Thanks!
Sorry about my mistaken attribution.
QG said that I was 'piling on'.
She's right.
But I'd say that I was 'adding on'.
Semantics...
Yes, I implied you were piling on. Maybe that's a bad choice of words.
But I wonder if it's good strategy to have so many people involved in filing the charge since there was someone in Edwards' presbytery willing to do that. As a former PJC member, I think it could cause resentment and possibly prejudice the case from the outset. Just my old trial lawyer instincts kicking in!
On the other hand, Edwards has made it clear she wanted to be charged and invited a lot of publicity for it as well. Was the thought that the additional complainants serve to highlight the importance of having this case definitively decided?
I've read here and on his "Classical Presbyterian" blog where Toby is coming from on this issue. Where can I read some of Janet Edwards' public comments/invitations for changes to be filed? I am interested what the reasoning is on all of that. Thanks for sharing your input from a PJC persepctive.
Alex
Here's a link to one of the stories about Janet Edwards.
Pastor Welcomes Church Trial for Lesbian Marriage
You can google her and find more.
Another possible take: Last night I saw Amazing Grace, the story of William Wilberforce and his long battle to end slavery thoroughout the British Empire. One might make a comparison: a man of great means taking on a lengthy and uphill battle in the face of much scorn. One might say he sought out and welcomed the trials that came to him as a necessary element of his fight. I wouldn't find it hard to imagine him being derided for seeking publicity and creating a "show" with his petitions and gruesome physical evidence.
I know that many people are offended when parallels are drawn between the battles to end slavery and discrimination against blacks and the battle to end discrimination against homosexuals, and I am quite willing to acknowledge their position even as I disagree with it.
My point here is simply that we often accuse someone of pigheadedness and publicity-seeking when they position themselves at the center of a highly controversial issue of justice. I have no idea where Janet Edwards falls in conscience. But it is certainly possible that she is using her fortune and position to force an issue toward which she feels genuine Christian committment.
Here's a question. Why would New Wineskins people get involved in a suit in a denomination that they are about to leave behind. I mean, why not let us bedeviled, spiritually bankrupt PCUSAers fight out our own problems whilst they enjoy the enlightened, edenic, open-armed lovefest of the EPC?
My point here is that she is not being unfairly "picked on" by conservatives in the denomination in this case. She is willing to put her ordination on the line for what she believes. I respect her convictions even while I disagree with her.
Peace,
Mags
Certainly true, Mags. Thanks for bringing the discussion back to scripture.