The Herald

Church is first in UK to hold gay marriages

Episcopali­ans to lead the way with same sex ceremonies within months

- BRIAN DONNELLY NEWS REPORTER

CHURCH weddings for same-sex couples are expected to be held for the first time in Scotland this autumn in what will be a milestone for gay rights campaigner­s across the UK, The Herald understand­s.

The Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) is expected to become the first major faith to take the unpreceden­ted step within months after its General Synod backed a motion to officiate at gay marriages.

In March, six of the seven diocesan synods of the SEC voted in favour of a proposal to amend canon law to allow clerics to conduct marriages for samesex couples in church. Only the diocesan synod of Aberdeen and Orkney voted against the change.

A first reading of the motion to remove from Canon 31 the doctrinal statement that marriage is to be understood as a union “of one man and one woman” was passed by the General Synod last year.

A second will be debated during the next sessions of the General Synod in Edinburgh next week.

Last night a senior source in the church said: “Given what happened last year and with the diocese, people are expecting it to go through.”

They added: “We don’t know for sure yet but the first one would probably be early autumn.”

Clergy who do not wish to preside over same-sex weddings in the SEC will not be compelled to do so.

The Rt Rev John Armes, Bishop of Edinburgh, will commend a motion to change church law – which includes a conscience clause for those who do not wish to officiate at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexua­l marriages – that would reinforce the vote in favour of change at the last Synod.

Clergy who want to officiate at gay weddings will put themselves forward for nomination to do so, while those who are against carrying out same-sex marriages need not officiate.

Bishops will decide which churches can be made available on a case-bycase basis and whether non-religious settings are appropriat­e for church weddings.

“For marriages not in SEC church buildings, written permission for marriages to take place in buildings other than a church building of the SEC must be sought from the bishop in whose diocese the alternativ­e venue is situated,” said Mr Armes.

The College of Bishops reveal in the report to go before members at the annual gathering in Edinburgh that allowing same-sex marriages in church would be “received with support and enthusiasm in many quarters.

“At the same time, we recognise that not all are content and for some the matter is one of deep distress.”

There has been no indication any of the church’s 54,000 members will quit the denominati­on in protest although some opposition is expected at the Synod and a backlash from some Anglicans is likely.

The move will put the SEC at odds with the Church of England, despite indication­s from the latter that it is edging towards a more tolerant stance.

Other denominati­ons, including the Church of Scotland, are taking strides towards marriage equality.

The Kirk last week took another step closer to allowing LGBT weddings but this still may be up to six years away.

The worldwide Catholic Church remains opposed to same-sex marriages.

The SEC last year became the first branch of the Anglican faith to pave the way towards allowing its clergy to perform same-sex marriages. At that

stage the General Synod voted that the change to its canon law governing marriage should be sent for discussion to the SEC’s dioceses.

Last year the Synod vote received support from five of the seven bishops, 69 per cent of the clergy and 80 per cent of the laity – indicating that it has a good chance of succeeding now.

The proposal would remove the doctrinal clause that states that marriage is between a man and a woman.

Clause 1 from Canon 31, to be erased, states that “marriage is a physical, spiritual and mystical union of one man and one woman”.

The replacemen­t reads: “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.

“Any marriage which is to be conducted by a cleric shall be solemnised strictly in accordance with the civil law of Scotland.”

Same-sex marriage became law in Scotland in 2014.

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