Episcopal church first to back gay marriages

Gay couples could be married in Scottish churches within a year after the Scottish Episcopal Church voted in favour of allowing its clergy to preside over same-sex weddings.

The historic decision, reached after an impassioned debate at the Church’s General Synod in Edinburgh, makes it the first mainstream Christian church in the UK to allow gay marriage. It also means that gay Christians from any Anglican Church can now ask to be married in Scotland, giving many their first opportunity for a church wedding.

Members of the Church’s houses of Bishops, Clergy and Laity were asked to vote on whether to replace Canon 31, the doctrinal clause stating that marriage is between a man and a woman.

All three houses were required to approve the motion by a two-thirds majority. It received the backing of 80 per cent of Bishops, 67 per cent of Clergy and 80 per cent of Laity. Under the new rules, clergy who want to preside over gay weddings will have to put themselves forward for the role, allowing those who object to the decision to opt out.

Introducing the motion, the Bishop of Edinburgh Dr John Armes said the new definition of marriage would “protect the consciences both of those who believe that they must not – and of those who believe that they must – offer God’s blessing on a marriage of a samesex couple”.

The decision puts the Church at odds with most of the rest of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and some members condemned the proposed changes during the preceding debate.

The Rev Canon Ian Ferguson, of the Aberdeen diocese, said if the motion was passed it would be “one of the saddest and most painful days” in the history of the Church, describing it as a “broken” institution.

“I’m deepwly concerned that in the passing of this Canon, the Scottish Episcopal Church will be disagreeing with the teachings of our Lord Jesus, who has made it clear that marriage is a union

0 John Maguire and Laurence Scott-mackay were the first same-sex couple married in Scotland of one man and one woman,” he added.

“Changing our definition of marriage... is a schismatic move that will cause serious harm to our unity and future relationship with our sisters and brothers throughout the Anglican Communion.”

But other gay members of the Church spoke passionately about the importance of changing the doctrine. Victoria Stock, a lay representative from of Edinburgh, urged other members to “stand up for what is right”.

The Most Rev David Chillingworth, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, described the decision as “the end of a long journey” and called for members to come together in reconciliation.

Last month, the Church of Scotland backed a report which could lead to same-sex weddings in churches. The Kirk’s legal questions committee is examining the practicalities of the plan.