After performing
a marriage for two women, a Pittsburgh minister
could face rebuke or loss of her ministry by the
Presbyterian Church.
The church
recently decided to charge the Reverend Janet Edwards with
breaking Presybterian law after she officiated at a ceremony
for Nancy McConn and Brenda Cole in June 2005. The
church claims that Edwards violated the Presbyterian
constitution by performing the ceremony and that the
minister will now be subject to an as yet undecided
punishment. Nonetheless, Edwards, a minister for almost 30
years, has said she was proud to marry McConn and
Cole.
"I take the
sacred institution of marriage very seriously," said
Edwards, a married mother of two, in a statement. "The Bible
talks about the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and
self-control. Nancy and Brenda demonstrated a strong
commitment to each other and to God."
Edwards believes
her denomination is historically a welcoming faith.
"Presbyterians come from a tradition of reform that we are
called to continue," Edwards said. (The
Advocate)