OAKLAND, Pa., Nov. 15 (UPI) -- A Presbyterian panel in Pennsylvania dismissed charges against a minister for conducting a wedding for two lesbians, ruling the charges were filed too late.
The Rev. Janet Edwards, a pastoral associate at the Oakland, Pa., church faced charges for the ceremony she performed in June 2005, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said Wednesday.
The denomination's high court has said that clergy in the Presbyterian Church (USA) may bless same-sex couples as long as the rite does not resemble a marriage ceremony -- which Edwards said she celebrated, the Post-Gazette said. Edwards argued that the language said clergy "should not" conduct ceremonies, which she said fell short of an outright ban.
The panel of clergy and church elders voted 8-0 to dismiss the charges, but said its decision did not vindicate Edwards or the issues she raised, the Post-Gazette said. The judges said their decision was based on the defense contention that the charges were filed four days after the deadline.
Charges had to be filed within a year of the date the investigating committee began meeting on the case, which was in September 2005, the Post-Gazette said.
