Photo: Tim Evanson / Flickr
The Church of Scotland could become the first national British church to allow ministers to conduct same-sex weddings.
Reverend Bryan Kerr called on the general assembly to draft new pro-LGBTI laws.
The motion passed 345 to 170.
Church of Scotland passes motion to allow new same-sex marriage laws
Speaking before the vote, the Rev Tom Gordon said: ‘I have two daughters, both of whom are married. I have one gay daughter in a same-sex marriage.
‘When my older daughter got married she had a choice – to ask me to conduct her service as a minister or for me to walk her down the aisle as her dad.
‘But when my younger daughter got married, she had no such choice.
‘Give people a choice: allow their marriage to be conducted by a minister. With God’s blessing.’
The motion only passed because they allowed ministers to refuse to perform same-sex marriages if they did not wish to do so.
Reverend Mark Malcolm said he would refuse to conduct all marriages if he was forced to bless same-sex couples.
In June last year, the Scottish Episcopal church took the decision to allow same-sex couples to be married in church. The historic move made it the first branch of the Anglican faith in the UK to allow same-sex marriage.
The general assembly meets for a week every year in May. It has the authority to make laws determining how the church operates and can also act as the Kirk’s highest court. This year’s assembly closes on 25 May.
‘Give people a choice’
Rev Kevin Holdsworth is a gay priest in the Scottish Episcopal church and believes same-sex couples should have access to religious services.
Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth told Gay Star News: ‘I’m a gay priest and we march in Pride every year.’
He added: ‘People at St Mary’s were part of the campaign to allow gay and lesbian couples to get married in Scotland so it is not surprising that we would want to be able to offer such weddings in the cathedral itself.
‘St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow is one of the most stunning places that anyone can get married. It is wonderful that more people now have the chance of coming here for their special day.
‘I want to live in a world where same-sex couples can feel safe walking down the street hand-in-hand and in which they can feel joy walking hand-in-hand down the aisle of a church too.’
