By the BBC
The Church of Scotland’s ruling General Assembly has voted to allow actively gay men and women to become ministers.
Assembly commissioners in Edinburgh voted in favour of a proposal that allows liberal parishes to opt out of the church’s policy on homosexuality.
Legislation will be drafted for next year, then go to regional presbyteries and return for final approval in 2015.
Divisions were caused when the first openly homosexual minister was appointed by the Kirk four years ago.
Two congregations and six ministers broke away.
The vote to allow gay ministers in civil partnerships follows a report by the church’s theological commission, which set out arguments on both sides.
General Assembly rules dictate it must be approved at a presbytery level. Draft legislation will be presented at next year’s assembly, go out to regional presbyteries and then get official approval at the 2015 gathering.
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Right Reverend Lorna Hood, said: “This is a massive vote for the peace and unity of the Church.”
Read more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22580322
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GA Junkie’s post on the subject: http://blog.gajunkie.com/2013/05/21/church-of-scotland-2013-general-assembly-debate-on-the-theological-commission-report.aspx
” what do we have to do with another’s servants? “