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| Kirk votes to back gay minister | Kirk votes to back gay minister |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Church of Scotland has voted to uphold the decision to appoint a gay minister to a church in Aberdeen. | |
| The Reverend Scott Rennie, 37, had earlier urged the General Assembly in Edinburgh to ensure "justice was done" for all gay ministers in Scotland. | The Reverend Scott Rennie, 37, had earlier urged the General Assembly in Edinburgh to ensure "justice was done" for all gay ministers in Scotland. |
| His appointment had been backed by a majority of the congregation at Queen's Cross Church in Aberdeen. | |
| Demonstrations were held outside the meeting by supporters and opponents of Mr Rennie's appointment. | Demonstrations were held outside the meeting by supporters and opponents of Mr Rennie's appointment. |
| Mr Rennie, a divorced father-of-one, is currently a minister at Brechin Cathedral and said he was open with the congregation at Queen's Cross about being gay and living with his male partner. | |
| My prayer is that now the members of the Church of Scotland can journey together The Reverend Scott Rennie | My prayer is that now the members of the Church of Scotland can journey together The Reverend Scott Rennie |
| In a late night vote on Saturday evening, the Kirk's ruling body voted by 326 to 267 in support of Mr Rennie, who is the Church of Scotland's first openly-gay minister. | In a late night vote on Saturday evening, the Kirk's ruling body voted by 326 to 267 in support of Mr Rennie, who is the Church of Scotland's first openly-gay minister. |
| In a statement released after the vote, he said: "I am humbled that the General Assembly has recognised God's call upon my life as well as the rights of the congregation of Queen's Cross Church in Aberdeen. | In a statement released after the vote, he said: "I am humbled that the General Assembly has recognised God's call upon my life as well as the rights of the congregation of Queen's Cross Church in Aberdeen. |
| "I am grateful that the nature of the discussion tonight was measured and respectful of different views shared amongst us. | "I am grateful that the nature of the discussion tonight was measured and respectful of different views shared amongst us. |
| "The Church of Scotland is a community of faith gathered round God's living word and God calls people of many different hues and colours into his service - and in a broad and national church there is more than enough room for us all." | "The Church of Scotland is a community of faith gathered round God's living word and God calls people of many different hues and colours into his service - and in a broad and national church there is more than enough room for us all." |
| Mr Rennie said he was now looking forward to moving to Queen's Cross and getting on with the task of serving and caring for the people of his new parish. | Mr Rennie said he was now looking forward to moving to Queen's Cross and getting on with the task of serving and caring for the people of his new parish. |
| He added: "My prayer is that now the members of the Church of Scotland can journey together and focus on the task before us all of providing pastoral care, meaningful worship and a prophetic voice and a hope in our nation." | He added: "My prayer is that now the members of the Church of Scotland can journey together and focus on the task before us all of providing pastoral care, meaningful worship and a prophetic voice and a hope in our nation." |
| Mr Rennie's appointment has raised fears of a split in the Kirk | Mr Rennie's appointment has raised fears of a split in the Kirk |
| More than 400 Kirk ministers and almost 5,000 Church of Scotland members are said to have signed an online petition opposing the appointment. | More than 400 Kirk ministers and almost 5,000 Church of Scotland members are said to have signed an online petition opposing the appointment. |
| One of those ministers, the Reverend David Randall, said he believed that "a minister is somebody who ought to live by the Bible". | One of those ministers, the Reverend David Randall, said he believed that "a minister is somebody who ought to live by the Bible". |
| He said: "We believe that the Bible's teaching is quite clear in this matter - that marriage is the right and only context for sexual relationships. | He said: "We believe that the Bible's teaching is quite clear in this matter - that marriage is the right and only context for sexual relationships. |
| "After all, if a minister sought to move in with a man, with a woman, to whom he was not married, that would obviously be unacceptable - how much more so when we're talking about a homosexual." | "After all, if a minister sought to move in with a man, with a woman, to whom he was not married, that would obviously be unacceptable - how much more so when we're talking about a homosexual." |
| 'Poor record' | 'Poor record' |
| The demonstration against Mr Rennie's appointment at The Mound in Edinburgh was led by Pastor Jack Bell of the Zion Baptist Church in Glasgow. | The demonstration against Mr Rennie's appointment at The Mound in Edinburgh was led by Pastor Jack Bell of the Zion Baptist Church in Glasgow. |
| "We are absolutely opposed to that on the basis of what God has to say about homosexuality in the Bible," he said. | "We are absolutely opposed to that on the basis of what God has to say about homosexuality in the Bible," he said. |
| A larger counter-demonstration was held in support of Mr Rennie. | A larger counter-demonstration was held in support of Mr Rennie. |
| Earlier, the Reverend Ewen Gilchrist, the interim moderator at Queen's Cross, said there should be more acceptance. | |
| "Sexuality is something that the church doesn't have a good track record about", he said. | "Sexuality is something that the church doesn't have a good track record about", he said. |
| "We constantly lock it up and frown about it. Here's an opportunity to welcome it, to acknowledge the diversity of human sexuality and to bring that richness into our life and worship." | "We constantly lock it up and frown about it. Here's an opportunity to welcome it, to acknowledge the diversity of human sexuality and to bring that richness into our life and worship." |
| HAVE YOUR SAYWe can't force religions to go against what they believe in, even if what they believe in amounts to petty discrimination. George, Bedford Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYWe can't force religions to go against what they believe in, even if what they believe in amounts to petty discrimination. George, Bedford Send us your comments |
| The Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland said it was "delighted" with the result. | The Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland said it was "delighted" with the result. |
| Alyson Thomson, head of communications for the commission, said: "The Church of Scotland General Assembly has tonight set out a clear stall - it is a modern church for a modern Scotland. | Alyson Thomson, head of communications for the commission, said: "The Church of Scotland General Assembly has tonight set out a clear stall - it is a modern church for a modern Scotland. |
| "The commission is delighted that the church has, as Scott Rennie requested, taken an honest look at itself over the issue of sexuality and decided that the values of fairness, equality, dignity and respect are of more worth than those of ignorance and intolerance. | "The commission is delighted that the church has, as Scott Rennie requested, taken an honest look at itself over the issue of sexuality and decided that the values of fairness, equality, dignity and respect are of more worth than those of ignorance and intolerance. |
| "We are certain that this decision will be welcomed by the majority of Scots and certainly the majority of Queen's Cross parish in Aberdeen who overwhelmingly demonstrated their support for Mr Rennie." | "We are certain that this decision will be welcomed by the majority of Scots and certainly the majority of Queen's Cross parish in Aberdeen who overwhelmingly demonstrated their support for Mr Rennie." |
| The Church of Scotland decided on a "period of reflection" when it considered the viability of gay relationships two years ago. | The Church of Scotland decided on a "period of reflection" when it considered the viability of gay relationships two years ago. |
| The Kirk's editorially-independent in-house magazine Life and Work last month called on believers to come to terms with gay relationships. | The Kirk's editorially-independent in-house magazine Life and Work last month called on believers to come to terms with gay relationships. |