Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!Agape <><
Mark Rouleau
rouleau-law@insightbb.com
Note #9083 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:
06041 Jan. 31, 2006
Austin pastor won't be tried on gay 'marriage' accusation
Mission Presbytery declines to press case against Jim Rigby
by Jerry L. Van Marter
LOUISVILLE - For the second time, an investigating committee in Mission Presbytery has declined to file charges against the Rev. Jim Rigby, an Austin, TX, pastor accused of participating in gay "marriage" ceremonies.
Rigby, the pastor of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in North Austin, participated in a mass same-sex blessing ceremony on a "marriage equality day" on the University of Texas campus on April 23, 2004.
On that day, Rigby reportedly told The Daily Texan: "We're not staging this as a Las Vegas-style wedding chapel. We're talking about faithful relationships. Marriage is not about sexuality or making babies."
A complaint was filed against Rigby by Robert Brown, a University of Texas student, and his pastor, the Rev. William Parr of Nor'Kirk Presbyterian Church in suburban Dallas. Their attorney is Paul Rolf Jensen, a Californian who works in suburban Washington, DC. Jensen has filed dozens of complaints against Presbyterian ministers and governing bodies throughout the U.S.
Brown and Parr alleged that Rigby violated his ordination vows and the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which restricts marriage to a man and a woman. The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) has ruled that same-sex ceremonies are not forbidden, as long as they are not considered to be the same as marriage services.
About a year ago, a previous presbytery investigating committee dismissed the complaint against Rigby, but on appeal the presbytery's PJC ordered another investigation.
Last week, the second panel also declined to press formal charges. The committee cited confidentiality rules in declining to talk about its deliberations.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, Rigby wanted a trial because he wanted church courts to tackle the issue of same-sex relationships head-on. He reportedly told the committee: "If your conscience tells you that I am guilty and this is wrong, I'm asking you to kick me out of the church."
Jensen said the second investigating committee "retraced the steps of the first ... and reached the same end-point." He called its decision "wholly contrary to our scriptures and polity," concluding that the panel members had "- to their shame - done more to destroy the PC(USA) than they could possibly imagine. This is indeed a sad day for all Presbyterians who hold dear the historic faith of our church."
The limits of PC(USA) ministers' participation in same-sex services will be addressed again next month when the Rev. Jane Spahr, a longtime lesbian activist in the PC(USA) and director of the gay rights organization "That All May Freely Serve," goes on trial in Redwoods Presbytery in northern California on charges similar to those against Rigby.