Presbyterians split over gay marriage

THE Presbyterian Church in Ireland has had a tearful split from its mother church in Scotland after a bitter falling-out over gay marriage.

It accused the Scottish church of ‘drifting far from biblical truth in relation to marriage’, and ‘ignoring the authority of Scripture’ by allowing gay people to marry in its churches.

It has now voted to stop attending Presbyterian general assemblies in Scotland and to ban Scottish leaders from coming to its events.

The motion to end the relationship was passed by 255 to 171 at the Irish Presbyterian church’s annual assembly in Belfast on Wednesday.

It led to a tearful walkout by the Rev Dr George Whyte, the principal clerk of the Church of Scotland, who was attending with its moderator, the Right Rev Susan Brown.

Rev Whyte, his voice breaking and holding back tears, told the assembly: ‘We have no choice but to leave, to assure you that we will continue to pray for you, and that if you should change your mind, then our door is always open.’

Rev Brown and Rev Whyte, both in tears, immediately left the assembly hall.

Yesterday, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland said in a statement that it had no choice and that it was ‘a sad day’ for the church.

It said the ban also applies to the reformed UK Presbyterian church known as the United Reformed Church.

‘At general assembly, members took the significant decision to no longer accept invitations for the moderator to attend the Church of Scotland’s general assembly, and the general assembly of the United Reformed Church, and no longer invite the Scottish moderator and URC moderator to the Irish general assembly,’ it said.

The Rev Trevor Gribben, clerk of the Irish general assembly, said the annual assembly in Belfast ‘took the significant decision’ and that it was ‘a sad day’ for many people.

He said most Irish assembly members felt that both the Church of Scotland and the URC ‘have drifted far from biblical truth in relation to marriage, and were in fact ignoring the authority of Scripture’.

Mr Gribben said: ‘Both are now moving towards a position where so-called same-sex marriage can be performed in the context of their worship services. Our church is very clear that marriage, as defined in God’s word, is between one man and one woman and, significantly, it is God’s word that is authoritative.’

The split ends hundreds of years of solidarity between the two. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland largely sees itself as originating with the Scottish church and looks to it for guidance.

The split came at the same time the general assembly agreed its leaders should meet Pope Francis when he comes to Ireland in August. The Catholic Church is also against same-sex marriage, and ties with the Presbyterian church, once fractious, have been much closer in recent years.

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, with a strong Northern Ireland influence, has long been more conservative than counterparts in the UK.

The North is the only part of Ireland or the UK where samesex marriage is illegal.

‘Sad day for many people’