Church’s gay-marriage first splits Anglicans
Scottish Episcopal branch’s decision to allow same-sex weddings ‘will not change teachings’ in England
THE first Anglican church in the UK has voted to allow same-sex couples to marry – but the Church of England insists its teachings remain “unchanged”.
The Scottish Episcopal Church’s move will create a divide, with gay couples able to marry in Scottish churches as early as the autumn.
Gay people are unable to marry in the Church of England or Church in Wales, and neither has plans to change its rules. A spokesman for the Church of England said it was “unable by law to marry couples of the same sex and the teaching of the Church of England remains unchanged”. He went on to acknowledge that there was “real and profound disagreement in the Church of England” over the matter.
Under the Episcopal Church’s new policy, clergy who want to officiate at gay marriages will have to “opt-in”, and the Church said this meant that those who disagreed with the change would not have to act against their conscience.
Representatives from seven dioceses across Scotland voted at the annual meeting to remove a doctrinal clause from the Church’s canon on marriage which states that it is a union between a man and a woman. It was replaced with a “conscience clause” which says: “In the light of the fact that there are differing understandings of the nature of marriage in this Church, no cleric of this Church shall be obliged to conduct any marriage against their conscience.”
In an impassioned two-hour debate, the Rev Canon Ian Ferguson, of the Aberdeen diocese, said the Church had been “broken” by the decision and described it as a sad and painful day. He added that the Church was “disagreeing with Jesus”.
The conservative Anglican group Global Anglican Future Conference said before the vote: “If this action is taken it will further marginalise faithful Anglicans in Scotland who seek to uphold Jesus’s teaching on marriage.”
But supporters said it was a “broad church” and the understanding of scripture had changed over time. Victoria Stock, a lay representative from Edinburgh, called on the Church to “stand up for what is right” and spoke of her “deep hurt” at being told there
‘Our Church now affirms that a same-sex couple are not just married but are married in the sight of God’
was something wrong with her when she came out as gay. She told the synod: “If Jesus was standing right here in this room today, he would be telling us just to get on with it.”
The Most Rev David Chillingworth, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, said the change was a momentous step, adding: “By removing gender from our marriage canon, our Church now affirms that a same-sex couple are not just married but are married in the sight of God.
“A new chapter opens up – inclusion has taken a particular form.
“This same decision is difficult and hurtful for others whose integrity in faith tells them that this decision is unscriptural and profoundly wrong.
“For them, this new chapter will feel like an exclusion – as if their Church has moved away from them. So, the journey which we now begin must also be a journey of reconciliation.”
The change was backed by 80 per cent of the Church’s bishops, 80 per cent of the laity and 68 per cent of the clergy. The three houses had to approve the motion by a two-thirds majority. The Anglican Communion represents 80 million Christians around the world with the majority opposing gay marriage. Archbishop Josiah Idowu-fearon, its secretary general, said the vote put the Scottish Church at odds with the majority stance.
Early last year the Anglican Communion sanctioned the US Episcopal Church when it voted in favour of gay marriage.
Last month, the Church of Scotland backed a report which could allow ministers to conduct same-sex weddings in future, and in February a report opposing gay marriage was itself opposed by the Church of England’s Synod. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Scotland since late 2014.