PRESBYTERIANS CLASH OVER LESBIAN PASTOR

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, January 17, 1992                   TAG: 9201170511
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ROCHESTER, N.Y.                                LENGTH: Medium
PRESBYTERIANS CLASH OVER LESBIAN PASTOR
The appointment of an openly gay minister to a Presbyterian church in Rochester has caused a split in area congregations.
Nine Presbyterian churches are opposing the selection of the Rev. Jane Spahr as co-pastor of the Downtown United Presbyterian Church. They have filed a complaint with the denomination's Northeast Synod, saying Spahr's selection violates church regulations.
Spahr runs a special ministry in San Francisco serving homosexuals and people with AIDS. She was hired in November, and her appointment takes effect April 1.
The Synod is expected to take up the challenge in April or May.
The six-county Presbytery of the Genesee Valley on Monday defeated by 105-66 a motion to deny Spahr the job.
"If it is all right to be a homosexual minister, then is it all right if this one loves children, or another one likes whips and chains?" said Kate Echanz, a delegate from the First Presbyterian Church of Albion. "I'm not anti-people. But in church we're supposed to set an example."
The 49-year-old Spahr was ordained in 1974 and served as a pastor in several Pennsylvania and California churches before she acknowledged in 1978 that she is a lesbian.
Marge Carpenter, a spokeswoman for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Louisville, Ky., said the 3 million-member denomination prohibits ordination of homosexuals, but hasn't clearly defined its policy on those who acknowledge their homosexuality after being ordained.
The Rev. Rose Mitchell, one of three co-pastors of the Rochester church, said sexuality wasn't an issue in Spahr's selection. "She was the most qualified candidate," Mitchell said.
Spahr said Wednesday she wasn't surprised by the opposition to her appointment.
"I hope that we will be able to talk together and to work together and get on with the business of the ministry," she said.
Of the major Christian denominations, only the United Church of Christ officially allows ordination of homosexuals. The Unitarian Universalist Association also allows ordination of homosexuals.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB