Church moves towards gay minister policy 22/5/14
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has voted in favour of a proposal which could eventually open the pulpits to more gay and lesbian ministers.
The vote went 369 to 189 for the plan to let individual congregations depart from
traditional policy and have a pastor who has a same-
Now the draft church law goes out to consultation with all 46 presbyteries for further discussion.
A report will be heard at next year’s assembly in May 2015. If a majority are in favour, a final vote will be taken.
At present, only openly gay ministers who were ordained before the row exploded in 2009 are permitted to preach.
Many church members in traditional Western Isles congregations oppose the move.
The majority of Stornoway High Church quit the denomination over the controversy and others are also considering leaving.
At the end of the debate on Thursday the Moderator, the Right Rev John Chalmers, said: "This has been a difficult day and a difficult discussion for all of us. From me to you my grateful thanks it has been conducted as a respectful dialogue and a model of how these conversations should be held within the church."
The Church of Scotland has been discussing the matter at the General Assembly since 2009. Today's discussion came after a vote in principle last year which sought to find a way of holding the Church in unity.
Since 2009, 13 parish ministers and hundreds of worshippers from the denomination’s 1,389 congregations have left over this issue.
If the final vote backs ordaining clergy in same-