Rev. Janet Edwards, accused of violating Presbyterian Church law by performing a marriage for two women, has sent out dozens of invitations to her trial.
Edwards has been ordered to appear November 15 before an ecclesiastic court in Pittsburgh. Trials are normally open to the public but seldom draw an audience.
Edwards says it's important for people to be there. In the invitation she says that she hopes the trial results in open and frank discussions within the denomination on the role of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people of faith.
Edwards, a parish associate at the Community of Reconciliation Church in Pittsburgh, was charged with presiding at the June 2005 wedding in contradiction of the church's position on marriage. She has been an outspoken advocate for gays and lesbians during her 28 years as a minister.
Two fellow pastors who saw the marriage announcement in a newspaper made the complaint against Edwards.
If found guilty, Edwards said she faces punishment ranging from a rebuke to removal from the ministry.
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Charges were dismissed Wednesday (Nov 15) after church officials determined the charges were filed too late.
"This dismissal constitutes neither a vindication of the accused nor any finding with respect to the subject," according to a statement from the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Pittsburgh Presbytery, read by Kears Pollock, the group's vice moderator.
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Den presbyterianska pastorn Janet Edwards i Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, vigde i juni 2005 två kvinnor (med varandra, alltså). Nu har hon ställts till svars för detta inför en kyrklig domstol, efter att två kolleger angav henne. Om hon fälls kan hon få ett straff mellan en anmärkning och avsättning från prästämbetet.
Edwards har skickat ut inbjudningar till rättegången, eftersom hon anser att en öppen diskussion om homosexuellas rättigheter måste föras inom hennes kyrka. Dylika rättegångar är offentliga, men har i allmänhet inte mycket åhörare.
Detta rapporterar 365gay
6.11.06: http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/11/110606presb.htm
och 14.11.06 http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/11/111406pastor.htm
I en uppföljande rapport 15.11.06 heter det att anklagelserna mot Edwards inte tas upp till behandling, eftersom de kom in för sent. Edwards är alltså frikänd, men utan att fallet som sådant någonsin behandlades i rätten. Därmed fördes inte heller den diskussion som Edwards hade hoppats på.
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/11/111506pastor.htm
