The Presbyterian Church will ask the provincial Supreme Court to overturn a human rights panel decision that Rev. Gael Matheson was a victim of sexual discrimination.

'The bulk of the evidence that would support Rev. Matheson's claim came through the mouths of the presbytery.'- Peter Ghiz

In 1996, the Presbytery of P.E.I. removed Matheson from her ministry in Murray Harbour North and took away her licence, arguing that Matheson's relationship with the congregation had deteriorated.

Last month a panel of the P.E.I. Human Rights Commission found that deterioration had been a direct result of the presbytery's failure to deal with the harassment Matheson faced from church members.

Matheson's lawyer, Peter Ghiz, said he's mystified that the church is bothering to appeal.

"The bulk of the evidence that would support Rev. Matheson's claim came through the mouths of the presbytery," said Ghiz.

"Yet they did nothing to address the underlying issue, which was that there was a deep-rooted sentiment that women ought not to be ordained, and that the charge did not want a woman minister there."

The presbytery disagrees. In a news release, the church said Matheson's dismissal was unrelated to her gender.

Before the church can apply for judicial review it will have to wait for the human rights panel to determine compensation for Matheson. A hearing for that is scheduled at the end of September.