"By the authority of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)"

Former Covenant Network Board member Kent Organ reflects on the joy of witnessing the wedding of Gerri Mead and Gail Russell at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, where he had served as Interim Pastor: ' Lincoln Park's current pastor, Beth Buckingham-Brown, said that this wedding was performed "by the authority of the State of Illinois." Just before that, her co-officiant, a longtime friend, supporter and adviser to Gail and Gerri -- as to many gay and lesbian couples in our denomination -- the Rev. Janie Spahr, declared, "By the authority of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)..." and we all erupted in enthusiastic and sustained applause.'