A retired lesbian Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) minister was censured by a church court on Friday after being convicted of constitutional violations for officiating at nearly 15 same-sex union ceremonies in the summer of 2008.

The Rev. Jane Adams Spahr was found guilty by the PC(U.S.A.)'s Permanent Judicial Commission of the Redwoods Presbytery for violating a measure in the group's Book of Order that says that "officers of the PCUSA authorized to perform marriages shall not state, imply, or represent that a same sex ceremony is a marriage."

The court also found that Spahr "persisted in a pattern or practice of disobedience" and violated her ordination vows through her actions, and "enjoined" the minister to "avoid such offenses in the future."

Notably, however, the six-member court voted unanimously to not convict Spahr of failing to "further the peace unity and purity of the church" and in the ruling's narrative commended her for "acting with faithful compassion."

"We commend Dr. Spahr and give thanks for her prophetic ministry that for 35 years has extended support to 'people who seek the dignity, freedom and respect that they have been denied,' and has sought to redress "wrongs against individuals, groups, and peoples in the church, in this nation, and in the world,'" the court said.

They continued: "In addition, we call upon the church to reexamine our own fear and ignorance that continues to reject the inclusiveness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We say this believing that we have in our own Book of Order conflicting and even contradictory rules and regulations that are against the Gospel."

"In the reality in which we live today, marriage can be between same gender as well as opposite gender persons, and we, as a church, need to be able to respond to this reality as Dr. Jane Spahr has done with faithfulness and compassion," they said, adding a recommendation for the PC(U.S.A.) Synod and General Assembly to consider carefully the testimonies of the same-sex couples that witnessed during Spahr's trial.

Spahr, however, was not amused by the ruling, and said that "today, the church rejected God's amazing hospitality and welcome. It deeply troubles and saddens me."

"If you agree with me, then say yes," Spahr, who plans to appeal the ruling, told The Associated Press. "It's like, 'Janie, we want this to happen and we affirm your ministry and we sustain the charges. The mixed message of that is the thing that people hear. We want the message of the Gospel, which is God's love is for all."

The current ruling on Spahr will not be imposed until all appeals are exhausted.