One need watch only a few episodes of "Law & Order" or "CSI" to know that the wheels of justice roll on bumpy roads. Many an omniscient viewer has shouted the right answers at celluloid investigators, detectives, and prosecutors while the actors have painstakingly dragged through the evidence to build a case that can hold up in court. In TV World, justice usually does get served--about three minutes before the end of the show. In the real world, those wheels roll on even bumpier roads. Many a crime victim discovers that the local gendarmes don't have the time or the will to pursue the evidence. Or, if they do, the prosecutor responds with a shrug, "We have no case." Screaming at those officers of the law can be even more counter productive than shouting at a TV. Judging by this editor's e-mail inbox, many Presbyterians are shouting at their ecclesiastical TVs these days. Some are lifting up their voices in jubilation, others in anger. They all have been watching the same program, the recent ruling of the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Presbytery of Redwoods in response to the presbytery's case against the Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr. Charged with performing same-sex marriages in violation of the Constitution, she acknowledged before the court that she had indeed officiated such services. However, the PJC acquitted her, stating that the constitutional definition of marriage between a man and woman need not bind the conscience of a minister. Only constitutional prohibitions need be obeyed, they said. Definitions need not be.
One need watch only a few episodes of "Law & Order" or "CSI" to know that the wheels of justice roll on bumpy roads. Many an omniscient viewer has shouted the right answers at celluloid investigators, detectives, and prosecutors while the actors have painstakingly dragged through the evidence to build a case that can hold up in court. In TV World, justice usually does get served--about three minutes before the end of the show. In the real world, those wheels roll on even bumpier roads. Many a crime victim discovers that the local gendarmes don't have the time or the will to pursue the evidence. Or, if they do, the prosecutor responds with a shrug, "We have no case." Screaming at those officers of the law can be even more counter productive than shouting at a TV. Judging by this editor's e-mail inbox, many Presbyterians are shouting at their ecclesiastical TVs these days. Some are lifting up their voices in jubilation, others in anger. They all have been watching the same program, the recent ruling of the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Presbytery of Redwoods in response to the presbytery's case against the Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr. Charged with performing same-sex marriages in violation of the Constitution, she acknowledged before the court that she had indeed officiated such services. However, the PJC acquitted her, stating that the constitutional definition of marriage between a man and woman need not bind the conscience of a minister. Only constitutional prohibitions need be obeyed, they said. Definitions need not be. Those shocked by the ruling claim that the Redwoods PJC ignored both the Constitution and previous rulings of the church's highest court, the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission. Those who support the ruling wonder about its scope, and particularly whether the acquittal will lead other presbyteries' judicial commissions to render similar judgments in parallel cases. The PJC ruling is very brief, leaving such questions scant little information and explanation. Even if the decision were more detailed, trying to review or dissect the decisions of church courts would be claiming to this editor a bird's eye view he does not have. However, he can see clearly enough to know that the welfare of the whole church needs to be kept in view. The whole church needs to know what this action means. The only way that can happen is for the ruling to be reviewed by a higher court. The Presbytery of Redwoods can file an appeal. Given the volume of questions being asked, it behooves them to do so. We recognize that the appeal will cost money. It may create conflict within the presbytery. The wheels of justice do roll on bumpy roads. But the good of the wider church will be served if these issues are addressed in a more extensive ruling being issued by a more comprehensive church court. Please Redwoods, file an appeal.* Please help turn down the volume. *Redwoods Presbytery has announced that it will appeal the March 2 acquittal by its Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) of the Rev. Jane Adams Spahr on charges that she violated the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s ban on performing same-sex marriage ceremonies. Click here for the full news report.
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