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Church of Scotland General Assembly in gay ministers debate | Church of Scotland General Assembly in gay ministers debate |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The issue of gay ministers will top the agenda at the Church of Scotland's General Assembly, four years after the first openly homosexual minister was appointed by the Kirk. | The issue of gay ministers will top the agenda at the Church of Scotland's General Assembly, four years after the first openly homosexual minister was appointed by the Kirk. |
The move caused divisions in the church and resulted in two congregations and six ministers breaking away. | The move caused divisions in the church and resulted in two congregations and six ministers breaking away. |
At the heart of debate will be a report by the Theological Commission, which sets out arguments on both sides. | At the heart of debate will be a report by the Theological Commission, which sets out arguments on both sides. |
But there is no guarantee of a final decision on the matter. | But there is no guarantee of a final decision on the matter. |
The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church of Scotland and its annual national business meeting. | The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church of Scotland and its annual national business meeting. |
The Assembly was first held in 1560, the year of the Scottish Reformation which marked the beginning of the Protestant Church in Scotland. | The Assembly was first held in 1560, the year of the Scottish Reformation which marked the beginning of the Protestant Church in Scotland. |
About 850 church commissioners - mainly ministers and elders - from across the church's 48 presbyteries, gather in the Assembly Hall on the Mound in Edinburgh for a week in May. | About 850 church commissioners - mainly ministers and elders - from across the church's 48 presbyteries, gather in the Assembly Hall on the Mound in Edinburgh for a week in May. |
On the gay minister debate, the General Assembly has the option of "pausing for further reflection", which could delay a decision for another year. | On the gay minister debate, the General Assembly has the option of "pausing for further reflection", which could delay a decision for another year. |
And even if church representatives agree on the way forward, rules dictate it must be approved at a presbytery level and then rubber-stamped at next year's General Assembly. | And even if church representatives agree on the way forward, rules dictate it must be approved at a presbytery level and then rubber-stamped at next year's General Assembly. |
The dilemma facing the Church of Scotland goes back to 2009, when the openly gay minister Scott Rennie was appointed to the Queen's Cross parish in Aberdeen. | The dilemma facing the Church of Scotland goes back to 2009, when the openly gay minister Scott Rennie was appointed to the Queen's Cross parish in Aberdeen. |
He was backed by most of his congregation and by the General Assembly, but the decision resulted in protest and the break-away of a small number of congregations and ministers. | He was backed by most of his congregation and by the General Assembly, but the decision resulted in protest and the break-away of a small number of congregations and ministers. |
The issue returned at the Kirk's gathering in 2011, which voted to accept gay and lesbian clergy - on the condition they had declared their sexuality and were ordained before 2009. | The issue returned at the Kirk's gathering in 2011, which voted to accept gay and lesbian clergy - on the condition they had declared their sexuality and were ordained before 2009. |
At that General Assembly, the theological commission was set up to report this year, before a final decision on the issue of gay ordination would be taken. | At that General Assembly, the theological commission was set up to report this year, before a final decision on the issue of gay ordination would be taken. |
The 94-page report does not offer any conclusion or recommendations, but set out different paths the Kirk may want to take. | The 94-page report does not offer any conclusion or recommendations, but set out different paths the Kirk may want to take. |
The Church of Scotland spokesman said it had been put forward by the seven members of the commission who had a broad spectrum of views. | The Church of Scotland spokesman said it had been put forward by the seven members of the commission who had a broad spectrum of views. |
Last June, a Glasgow Kirk became the first to split from the Church of Scotland over the issue of gay clergy. St George's Tron Church said its 500-strong congregation believed the General Assembly's decision in 2011 had "marginalised the Bible". | Last June, a Glasgow Kirk became the first to split from the Church of Scotland over the issue of gay clergy. St George's Tron Church said its 500-strong congregation believed the General Assembly's decision in 2011 had "marginalised the Bible". |
And in February, the Rev Dominic Smart and his congregation of 300 at Gilcomston South in Aberdeen left the Church over the same issue. | And in February, the Rev Dominic Smart and his congregation of 300 at Gilcomston South in Aberdeen left the Church over the same issue. |
A total of six ministers have now left the church over gay ministers. | A total of six ministers have now left the church over gay ministers. |
One of them, Rev Paul Gibson, is now minister of the Free Church in Perth. | |
He said: "I decided to leave following the General Assembly of 2011, where there was confirmation by the Church of Scotland that it was going to operate in a way that wasn't Biblical, with regards to the matter of homosexuality in the ministry. | He said: "I decided to leave following the General Assembly of 2011, where there was confirmation by the Church of Scotland that it was going to operate in a way that wasn't Biblical, with regards to the matter of homosexuality in the ministry. |
"If the Church genuinely exists for the Christian good of Scotland, it absolutely must reverse, unconditionally and fully, the trajectory that it has set itself upon. | "If the Church genuinely exists for the Christian good of Scotland, it absolutely must reverse, unconditionally and fully, the trajectory that it has set itself upon. |
"Because it cannot stand with any integrity in a Christian sense, whilst walking in a direction that is away from the Bible, and is therefore away from the Lordship of the one who is king of king's, Jesus Christ." | "Because it cannot stand with any integrity in a Christian sense, whilst walking in a direction that is away from the Bible, and is therefore away from the Lordship of the one who is king of king's, Jesus Christ." |
Some fear a major fall-out, whatever is decided. | Some fear a major fall-out, whatever is decided. |
Muriel Armstrong, a writer on Church affairs, said: "The Church of Scotland has always had different views within it and that has always been its great strength in the past and I hope it will continue." | Muriel Armstrong, a writer on Church affairs, said: "The Church of Scotland has always had different views within it and that has always been its great strength in the past and I hope it will continue." |
She appealed to people in the Church to stay within it, even if they are uncomfortable with any decision made, saying: "It will make the Church a better place if it has a variety of views and opinions on theological, political and social matters." | She appealed to people in the Church to stay within it, even if they are uncomfortable with any decision made, saying: "It will make the Church a better place if it has a variety of views and opinions on theological, political and social matters." |