Scottish church moves toward gay ministry

The Church of Scotland General Assembly voted Monday to open the door to the ordination of openly homosexual ministers. The 351-294 vote followed 6 hours of debate and threats that thousands of members might leave the church, The Scotsman reported. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which is part of the same religious tradition, recently voted to allow gay ministers. The assembly voted "to consider" lifting a moratorium on the ordination of gay ministers. But it also voted that those homosexuals ordained before the moratorium was imposed in 2009 may remain in the ministry and move to new congregations if they wish. A commission is to report back by 2013 on the effect of allowing openly gay to enter the ministry. "I believe it will be ruinous for unity of the church, potentially multiplying homosexual inductions (into the ministry) the length and breadth of the country," the Rev. Andrew Coghill of the Presbytery of Lewis said. "The church almost pulled apart over one such induction."