For immediate release
The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement welcomes vote in the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for the acceptance of ministers in same sex relationships.
On Monday 23 May the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland voted by a majority of 351 to 294 votes for the Kirk to move towards the acceptance of ministers in same sex relationships. It has also welcomed the blessing of same sex relationships involving life-long commitments.
The vote is a significant move towards full equality in the Kirk but there will be a two-year moratorium during which ministers and deacons ordained before 31 May 2009 who are in same-sex relationships may be inducted into pastoral positions.
A commission is to be set up which will report in 2013 before a final decision on the issue of lesbian and gay ordination is taken.
Rev Sharon Ferguson, Chief Executive of LGCM said: “We welcome this significant step forward towards a fully inclusive church and acknowledge the work of One Kirk in this respect. Clearly there is much work still to be done to win over all members of the Kirk but the outcome of Monday’s General Assembly debate and vote is encouraging.”
The appointment of Reverend Scott Rennie, an openly gay man, to Queen’s Cross Church in Aberdeen caused much controversy and threatened to split the Church two years ago.
It has been proposed that one in five members of the Kirk have threatened to leave if it is agreed that lesbian and gay people can be ordained. Significantly though, there is also much support for the Kirk’s inclusive policies with one in ten saying they would leave if the Kirk ruled against ordination.
ENDS
For further details please contact Tony Green on 07900 883910
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