News Articles
24th May 2007
Kirk backs off in battle over same sex civil partnerships
(Source: The Herald)
The Church of Scotland yesterday postponed the expected battle over same sex civil partnerships,
the issue that is dividing its members.
The 800-plus membership of the Kirk's General Assembly declined to "take hold of the thorns" on
whether ministers should be allowed to conduct ceremonies for gay and lesbian people, instead
encouraging further debate on the topic at local level.
The issue of same sex marriage has been difficult for the church, with the assembly's decision last
year to allow ministers to conduct civil partnerships rejected by the presbytery, meaning ministers
who do so are open to discipline if complaints are made.
Yesterday, at the assembly in Edinburgh, delegates debated a report by the Kirk's Mission and
Discipleship Council on attitudes towards homosexual relationships and representatives backed the
report's recommendations for further discussions. But they seemed to take a step back when they
argued over the current stance of gay and lesbian people within the church.
A motion was made by the Rev Sandra Black which asked the Kirk to "affirm that sexual orientation
is not a barrier to baptism or communion or serving God as a church member or in any leadership
capacity".
This was described by the Rev Bruce Gardner as "a section too far". He added: "We have tried to
introduce this matter sensitively to the church and give people the opportunity to reflect on these
issues and it is not true to say that everybody present would be in total agreement (with the motion).
I feel that we are deciding the outcome before the debate has begun."
However, church officials pointed out that the Kirk already holds that stance, and in that light Ms Black
withdrew the motion.
The Rev Peter Donald, convener of the Kirk's working group on sexuality, said: "It might have been
news to some people (that that was the stance) because it had been (established) so long ago."
He said the church had moved further forward and not sidestepped the issue, adding: "In more recent
reports the church hadn't clearly spelled out that there was no right to discrimination against gay and
lesbian people or their orientation."
The Rev Peter Johnston, spokesman for OneKirk, a network of people striving for an "inclusive,
affirming and progressive church", said after the debate: "Our point of view is that we are so aware
that the church is divided on this issue and so we can understand why the church is wanting to wait.
"There are steps in the report which are a step further than what has been said before which is
encouraging from our point of view, such as the acknowledgement that sexual orientation itself is not
in any way sinful nor should it be seen as sinful in any way.
"We have a realisation that this is a process that is going to take some time. What we would be really
keen that happens, which is what the assembly has agreed, is at a local level in churches that the
church will take hold of the thorns and say let's discuss it now."
