The Church of Scotland, which has been threatened with schism since it confirmed the appointment of an openly homosexual minister two years ago, voted at its General Assembly to move toward the acceptance of gay and lesbian candidates for ordination.
Members of the assembly, who met in Edinburgh in May, voted by 351 to 294 to “consider further the lifting of the moratorium on acceptance for training and ordination of persons in a same – sex relationship.”
The ban was put in place in 2009 following the church’s appointment of Scott Rennie, who was living with a male partner. A special commission explored the issue, and the recommendation for further examination of the matter was in the commission’s report to assembly.
The assembly also voted to allow ministers and deacons in same – sex relationships ordained before 2009 to remain in the church and move parishes if they wished.
“A theological commission will be set up to bring recommendations to the 2013 General Assembly, as well as considering whether ministers should have freedom of conscience to bless civil partnerships and the possible liturgy for such occasions,” the church said in a statement.
Rev. Sharon Ferguson, chief executive of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, said, “We welcome this significant step forward towards a fully inclusive church and acknowledge the work of One Kirk in this respect.”
According to the London – based LGCM, one in five members of the Kirk have threatened to leave if lesbian and gay people can be ordained.
This follows a decision made by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to change the church’s constitution to allow willing presbyteries and governing bodies to ordain openly gay men and lesbian women as elders, deacons and ministers. The amendment takes affect July 10.
The Church of England, meanwhile, has issued a set of “legal guidelines” entitled “Choosing Bishops,” that pave the way for openly (though celebate) gay clergy to become bishops.
The new guidelines aim to bring church policy in line with Britain’s Equality Act, passed in 2010, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The document is expected to go before the church’s General Synod in July. —ENI and LGCM
