The Church of Scotland has been accused of taking its cue from culture rather than Christ, as a majority of presbyteries vote in favour of allowing same-sex weddings in the church.
A report to the 2022 General Assembly shows that 29 of them approved the plan, with 12 voting against.
‘The Bible is crystal clear that true, God-honouring marriage is only between one man and one woman. Jesus’ own teaching on this in Matthew 19 could not be clearer.
The General Assembly was set to vote on the matter at the end of May, after this edition of ET went to print.
The Kirk says it will respect freedom of conscience and no one will be forced to participate in a same-sex wedding.
But Revd Mike Goss of Barry Parish Church in the Angus presbytery said, ‘There’s still a continued struggle within the Church of Scotland,’ adding that there are still ‘folk who stand by the Bible’.
The Church of Scotland says it recognises there are a range of views, and says debates should be gracious and respectful.
Civil partnerships were introduced in Scotland for same-sex couples in 2005 and full gay marriage in 2014.
The Church of Scotland allowed its clergy to engage in same-sex relationships as far back as 2009. But until now it has not allowed gay wedding ceremonies to take place in its churches.
The increasing acceptance of liberal moral values within mainline churches has been matched with a decline in attendance.
Back in 2002, 12 per cent of the Scottish population attended Church of Scotland services. But by 2016, it was 7 per cent, according to the Scottish Church Census by UK-based Brierley Consultancy.
The Christian Institute’s Scotland Officer Nigel Kenny commented, ‘This is a very sad development in the life of the National Kirk, which has in its constitution a commitment to the Bible as the supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice.
‘The Bible is crystal clear that true, God-honouring marriage is only between one man and one woman. Jesus’ own teaching on this in Matthew 19 could not be clearer.
‘But it seems that the majority of [the Kirk’s] presbyteries are more interested in taking their cue from culture rather than Christ.’
Evangelical presbyterian churches, including The Free Church of Scotland and The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), are holding to the Bible’s definition of marriage.
