KIRK leaders believe they have averted a split in the Church of Scotland over gay ministers by adopting a compromise proposed by traditionalists.After a six-and-a-half-hour debate, the General Assembly backed a plan to stick to its traditional teaching – that all sex outside marriage is wrong – while allowing individual congregations to choose ministers who are in civil partnerships.
Because the necessary church legislation has yet to be drafted, the issue will have to be debated again at next year’s Assembly and then go down to local presbyteries for approval, meaning yesterday’s decision could still be overturned and cannot in any case be implemented until 2015 at the earliest.
An alternative “live and let live” compromise would have seen the Kirk approve the ordination of gay ministers, but let individual congregations opt out as a matter of conscience.
The Assembly rejected a simple reaffirmation of the traditionalist stance, then voted by 340 to 282 in favour of the “opt in” compromise proposed by the Very Rev Albert Bogle rather than the “opt out” plan.
Mr Bogle, who ended his year as moderator on Saturday, said he came from the traditionalist view but recognised others had “more enlightenment”. Asking the Assembly to back his plan, he said: “It will give everyone what they want, but it will keep us together.”
Moderator the Right Reverend Lorna Hood said: “This is a massive vote for the peace and unity of the Church.”
More here-
http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/kirk-avoid-gay-minister-rift-by-backing-compromise-1-2938265
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