Church of Scotland to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies following historic vote
Church of Scotland will allow parish ministers and deacons to marry same-sex couples following a historic-making vote. The General Assembly voted to change a standing church law on Monday to allow the right to apply to become an authorised celebrant to conduct same-sex ceremonies by 274 votes to 136.
A report to the General Assembly makes it clear that no person would be required to participate in the solemnisation of, or be involved in the arrangements for, a same-sex marriage unless they explicitly wished to do so.All celebrants would be expected to take account of the "peace and unity and pastoral needs of the congregation and any parish or other grouping of which it is a part" while considering conducting a same-sex marriage ceremony.Reverend Craig Dobney was among those who urged commissioners to approve same-sex marriage.He said: "I've seen the heartbreak of those in same-sex relationships in our congregations who are unable to marry in their home church, devout Christians though they are.
To be married, in front of their church families, would mean everything to them but they were not able to do so."I worry that our churches have become irrelevant to our the communities."We can stay in our ivory towers, in our marble mansions, in our granite buildings and sit there thinking quire happily that we are following scripture by stopping people from coming to our churches, by making people unwelcome."We talk about being a welcoming church, I sometimes have to question that.
