Pa. church panel drops gay marriage case
By DAN NEPHIN Associated Press Writer
Nov. 16, 2006

PITTSBURGH — Restrained applause broke the silence as Presbyterian leaders announced their decision to dismiss charges against a minister accused of breaking church law by presiding over the marriage of two woman.

Those among the 200 people who crowded into a rented hall Wednesday to support pastor Janet Edwards clearly approved of the decision, but their measured enthusiasm reflected the fact that the larger issue remained unresolved.

The church's Permanent Judicial Commission dropped the charges against Edwards because they were filed several days too late.

"This dismissal constitutes neither a vindication of the accused nor any finding with respect to the subject," said the commission in a statement read by Kears Pollock, the group's vice moderator. the rest