Church of Scotland lifts ban on appointing gay ministers
CATALYST: Rev Scott Rennie was first openly gay minister.
THE Church of Scotland yesterday took the momentous decision to end a two-year ban on congregations appointing gay ministers.
The Kirk’s leadership agreed to allow gay ministers who were ordained before May 2009 – when a temporary ban was imposed after the appointment of the Reverend Scott Rennie in Aberdeen – to put themselves forward to take over congregations if they chose to do so.
However, a decision on whether to allow gay men and women to be ordained in the future will be delayed for two years until the report of a theological commission is received.
Kirk leaders said they believed gay ministers already ordained would not push for open recognition while the new theological commission is undertaken....
