Scottish Episcopal Church allows same-sex marriages

Anglicans in Scotland have taken the “momentous” decision to allow same-sex couples to marry in church, following a vote at the Scottish Episcopal Church general synod last week.

The historic vote, which required the backing of at least two thirds of each house of Bishops, Clergy and Laity, makes it the first major Christian Church in the UK to allow same-sex marriages. It means gay Christians from England, Wales and Northern Ireland may now have a church wedding in Scotland. The decision followed an amendment to a canon law clause which had stated that marriage is between a man and a woman. Clergy who object will be able to opt out of performing same-sex marriages under a conscience clause.

The Episcopal Church’s Bishop of Edinburgh, Dr John Armes, welcomed the outcome saying that same-sex couples can now be “recognised by the Church and blessed by God”. “I’m very pleased for what this means about our Church,” he added. “But any change like this creates pain and hurt in some as well, so as a bishop of the Church I feel for them.”

The move is likely to create further tensions within the Anglican Communion. Shortly after the vote, the Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon), which represents conservative Anglicans worldwide, named a “missionary bishop” for Scotland, Canon Andy Lines, to “serve the needs of those who oppose gay marriage”.

The secretary general of the Anglican Communion Office, Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, said: “There are differing views about same-sex marriage within the Anglican Communion but this puts the Scottish Episcopal Church at odds with the majority stance that marriage is the lifelong union of a man and a woman.

“This is a departure from the faith and teaching upheld by the overwhelming majority of Anglican provinces on the doctrine of marriage.”
Following the vote, the Church of England said that the decision was a matter for the Scottish Episcopal Church. “The Church of England is unable by law to marry couples of the same sex and the teaching of the Church of England remains unchanged,” a statement said. However, it added, this was a matter on which there is “real and profound” disagreement in the Church.