Minister Faces Church Trial For Performing Gay Marriage

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/09/091306presb.htm

A Presbyterian minister was charged with breaking church law for performing a marriage for two women, a decision that comes as the church struggles with an ongoing feud over the Bible and homosexuality.

Janet Edwards, a parish associate at the Community of Reconciliation Church in Pittsburgh, said she was charged Tuesday with presiding at the June 2005 wedding in contradiction of the church's position on marriage.

The constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) reserves marriage for a man and a woman, although ministers may bless other types of "holy unions."

"For me, scripture teaches that the message of marriage is the covenant - the love and commitment between the partners" and not their gender, Edwards said Wednesday.