The highest judicial body in the Louisville-based Presbyterian Church has ruled that a California minister did not violate the church constitution by performing two same-gender wedding ceremonies and should not be disciplined.Reverend Janie Spahr says the decision means she won't be censured for her actions, but the news is not all good."The reason for that is painful, because it said the reason I wasn't censured is because they believe lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender relationship or marriages are separate from heterosexual marriages. what I mean by that is it's almost thestandard again of separate but unequal."The 61 year old Spahr says she won't rule out peforming gay weddings in the future, even though they're not recognized by the church.Today's (Tuesday's) decision followed a Friday hearing in Louisville before the church's highest court, the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.