Minister Rebuked for Role in Gay Weddings

A Presbyterian court has found a Cincinnati minister guilty of presiding at weddings of same-sex couples, but it refused to suspend him or remove him from his pulpit.

The Rev. Stephen Van Kuiken was formally rebuked for presiding at gay weddings and was acquitted of a charge that he broke church law by ordaining non-celibate gays and lesbians as pastors and elders. Van Kuiken acknowledged both acts.

Van Kuiken, pastor of Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church, said he will appeal his guilty verdict to a regional court. He said he would continue to marry gay couples and ordain openly gay church officers.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) allows same-sex unions as long as they are not equated with marriage.

Though the seven-member court found Van Kuiken guilty, it gave him the least severe punishment: “If you perform services of holy union, you are directed to take special care to avoid any confusion of such services with Christian marriage,” the court said in its ruling.

The denomination also prohibits actively gay pastors and elders.