sammie19
May 29, 2011, 8:34 AM
I am not a Christian, but my partner is a member of the Church of Scotland and my mother is methodist. All of us found this development heartening in the face of so many of the Christian churches and their anti homosexual paranoia and schizophrenia.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/23/church-of-scotland-gay-lesbian-ministers
The Church of Scotland is the established church in Scotland and fills the same role in Scottish society that the Church of England does south of the border, but is presbyterian and not anglican. It is a traditionally conservative and normally very fuddy duddy institution not known for progressive movement when it comes to sexuality or sex issues.
The decision to ordain gay ministers whatever we think of christianity as a religion can only be a good thing and it is quite brave of the CofS to debate and pass the resolution and without opposition. It has also decided to seriously consider whether or not gay marriages (civil partnerships) should be solemnised and performed in their churches.
Both decisions are not without controversy, but in the face of a threat of a substantial minority of ministers and parishioners leaving the church and creating what they are calling a second schism, it becomes an even more courageous decision and hats off to the delegates to the General Assembly who voted to pass these motions.
I may not be religious but recognise the places that the established churches of Scotland and England have in both countries and see these moves as an invaluable step forward in the march to achieving equality for gay and bisexual people in both countries.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/23/church-of-scotland-gay-lesbian-ministers
The Church of Scotland is the established church in Scotland and fills the same role in Scottish society that the Church of England does south of the border, but is presbyterian and not anglican. It is a traditionally conservative and normally very fuddy duddy institution not known for progressive movement when it comes to sexuality or sex issues.
The decision to ordain gay ministers whatever we think of christianity as a religion can only be a good thing and it is quite brave of the CofS to debate and pass the resolution and without opposition. It has also decided to seriously consider whether or not gay marriages (civil partnerships) should be solemnised and performed in their churches.
Both decisions are not without controversy, but in the face of a threat of a substantial minority of ministers and parishioners leaving the church and creating what they are calling a second schism, it becomes an even more courageous decision and hats off to the delegates to the General Assembly who voted to pass these motions.
I may not be religious but recognise the places that the established churches of Scotland and England have in both countries and see these moves as an invaluable step forward in the march to achieving equality for gay and bisexual people in both countries.