The Church of Scotland has deferred a decision over allowing gay ministers to marry
their same-
On Saturday, the denomination changed its traditional opposition to appointing people in same sex civil partnerships as church officials and pastors.
But, a move to go further and allow gay or lesbian ministers to get wed has been postponed.
The church will first consult with presbyteries -
Church defers decision on gay marriage ministers
21 May 2015
A new church law letting congregations opt out of traditional church teaching on marriage and call a minister or deacon in a same sex civil partnership was introduced at the church’s General Assembly last week.
But that provision does not extend to any ministers entering into same sex marriages until the final vote has been taken.
Special provisions have been agreed which protect any minister or deacon ordained before May 2009 who is now in a same sex marriage.
The General Assembly faced two votes during a debate lasting more than three hours on Thursday.
Very Rev Prof Iain Torrance, who is convener of the church’s Theological Forum, described the proposal as a legal procedure which extended the provision of same sex civil partnerships to same sex marriages.
He said the measure would not change the Church’s traditional stance on marriage, nor amount to a recognition of the validity of same sex marriage.
Very Rev Albert Bogle then moved a countermotion which sought to defer any decision until the Theological Forum submitted a report on same sex marriage to the Assembly in 2017. However commissioners voted for the proposal and against his countermotion by a narrow margin of 213 in favour to 205 against.
Commissioners then voted in favour of sending the proposal to presbyteries under the Barrier Act, by 215 votes for to 195 against.
Coordinator of the Principal Clerk’s Office, Very Rev David Arnott, said: “The General Assembly understood this to be a logical extension of the benefits which accrue to those in civil partnership.
“Very Rev Prof Iain Torrance assured the Assembly the Theological Forum will bring a report on same sex marriage to a future Assembly, which we will look forward to.
“Out of a pastoral concern for the whole church the General Assembly decided to pass this overture to the presbyteries who will report to the Assembly in May 2016.”
If a majority of Presbyteries give their approval, the matter will return to the Assembly in 2016 where the final decision will be taken on this matter. Any wider consideration of the theological understanding of same sex marriage will not take place until the Theological Forum presents its report at a future date.