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| Scottish Episcopal church leaps towards allowing gay marriage | Scottish Episcopal church leaps towards allowing gay marriage |
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| Scottish Anglicans have taken a historic step toward allowing same-sex marriage, in a move that puts them on a collision course with other Anglican churches across the world. | |
| The Scottish Episcopal church voted on Friday by 97 to 51, with three abstentions, to remove a clause in its canon law that states that marriage is a union of a man and a woman. Before the change can be enacted, it must win a two-thirds majority in a second vote next year. | |
| If it passes, same-sex couples will be able to marry in a church service conducted by Scottish clergy. A conscience clause, however, will allow individual clergy to opt out of conducting same-sex marriages. | |
| Related: Desmond Tutu's daughter: 'painful' to give up ministry after marrying woman | Related: Desmond Tutu's daughter: 'painful' to give up ministry after marrying woman |
| The move will help cement Scotland’s reputation as the most gay-friendly part of the UK. Last year, it was named as the best country in Europe in terms of legal protections for LGBT people. Four out of six leaders of Scottish political parties are openly gay. The Church of Scotland voted last month to allow clergy to be in same-sex civil marriages. | |
| Friday’s decision will also raise the prospect of a 21st-century Gretna Green, the border village once famous for runaway weddings of young English couples who had not secured legally required parental approval. By the end of next year, same-sex couples who want a religious wedding may head north. | Friday’s decision will also raise the prospect of a 21st-century Gretna Green, the border village once famous for runaway weddings of young English couples who had not secured legally required parental approval. By the end of next year, same-sex couples who want a religious wedding may head north. |
| The vote at the Scottish Episcopal church’s annual synod in Edinburgh follows two years of debate. Synod members voted to delete the first clause of canon 31, which states: “The doctrine of this church is that marriage is a physical, spiritual and mystical union of one man and one woman.” | The vote at the Scottish Episcopal church’s annual synod in Edinburgh follows two years of debate. Synod members voted to delete the first clause of canon 31, which states: “The doctrine of this church is that marriage is a physical, spiritual and mystical union of one man and one woman.” |
| A new first clause refers to “differing understandings of the nature of marriage in this church”, adding that “no cleric of this church shall be obliged to conduct any marriage against their conscience”. | A new first clause refers to “differing understandings of the nature of marriage in this church”, adding that “no cleric of this church shall be obliged to conduct any marriage against their conscience”. |
| The synod heard one member call for an end to the “pain and hurt and confusion” felt by LGBT Christians, and the need to “dismantle systems that have kept the oppressed oppressed”. Another said the reference to “differing understandings” gave members the best chance “to walk together in one church” and move on. | The synod heard one member call for an end to the “pain and hurt and confusion” felt by LGBT Christians, and the need to “dismantle systems that have kept the oppressed oppressed”. Another said the reference to “differing understandings” gave members the best chance “to walk together in one church” and move on. |
| Others opposed the move on scriptural grounds and because it would “risk the unity” of the global Anglican communion. The removal of the reference to marriage being between a man and a woman meant marriage could mean anything that anyone chooses and amounted to the destruction of marriage, said one synod member. | |
| The move puts the Scottish Episcopal church sharply at odds with the Church of England and other members of the Anglican communion. | The move puts the Scottish Episcopal church sharply at odds with the Church of England and other members of the Anglican communion. |
| The issue of same-sex relationships and marriage has caused bitter divisions within the C of E for the past 20 years. Same-sex marriage is legal in England, but the C of E does not allow religious weddings for same-sex couples in its churches and forbids its clergy to be married to a person of the same sex. | The issue of same-sex relationships and marriage has caused bitter divisions within the C of E for the past 20 years. Same-sex marriage is legal in England, but the C of E does not allow religious weddings for same-sex couples in its churches and forbids its clergy to be married to a person of the same sex. |
| The church will discuss the issue behind closed doors at its synod in York in July, but as yet there is no solid proposal to change traditional teaching that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. | |
| The issue has also threatened to split the global Anglican communion. Earlier this year, it imposed de facto sanctions on the US Episcopal church, which has endorsed same-sex marriage. There may be similar calls to take punitive measures against the Scottish church. | |
| Tim Hopkins of the Equality Network, a Scottish LGBT campaign group, welcomed Friday’s vote. “We’d like to see all marriage treated the same, whatever the gender of the people in involved,” he said. | Tim Hopkins of the Equality Network, a Scottish LGBT campaign group, welcomed Friday’s vote. “We’d like to see all marriage treated the same, whatever the gender of the people in involved,” he said. |
| Despite a huge change in public attitudes in Scotland over the past 25 years, there was still significant discrimination against LGBT people, Hopkins added. One in four had reported discrimination at work or accessing public services, and one in six had been physically assaulted. | |
| Jayne Ozanne, a prominent campaigner on LGBT issues in the C of E and a member of its synod, said: “I am thrilled that the Scottish Episcopal church has sent such a clear signal to us, the LGBT community, that they wish to amend their canons to make provision for us to be married in their churches. | |
| “This came after careful and considered debate, where due consideration and accommodation was given to those who cannot embrace this view. The Church of England would do well to learn from this debate and process, and reflect on how it is possible to move forward – together – in a way that makes room for the views of all.” | “This came after careful and considered debate, where due consideration and accommodation was given to those who cannot embrace this view. The Church of England would do well to learn from this debate and process, and reflect on how it is possible to move forward – together – in a way that makes room for the views of all.” |
| A C of E spokesperson said: “The Church of England is currently engaged in a series of shared conversations on human sexuality … It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.” | A C of E spokesperson said: “The Church of England is currently engaged in a series of shared conversations on human sexuality … It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.” |
| Friday’s vote was carried overwhelmingly in all three houses of the Scottish Episcopal church. Bishops voted 5-2 in favour; clergy 43-19 and laity 49-12, suggesting that a two-thirds majority was achievable in the second vote next year. |