Presbyterian
minister to face church charges for marrying lesbians

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)