A TRADIONALIST presbytery has become the first to act over the Church of Scotland's move towards allowing same-sex marriage among ministers.

The Lewis Presbytery is one of the Kirk's 45 presbyteries asked to vote on taking the next step towards allowing openly gay ministers to take up roles within the Church by December.

It has given an early signal that it will stand against same-sex marriage among ministers but this stance was considered less hardline than was expected among many in the Church.

In May the Kirk voted to agree to allow same-sex marriages but in a separate vote it decided to send the decision to presbyteries to ratify, using a safety mechanism called the Barrier Act.

Lewis is the first to indicate its position over the General Assembly's decision that put the Church on a trajectory towards accepting same-sex marriage among ministers.

The Church said Lewis Presbytery held a special Presbytery Service on Wednesday at which around 300 people from congregations across the island attended St Columba's Old Parish Church, Stornoway.

A statement agreed by the presbytery makes clear the presbytery strongly disagrees with the motion passed by the General Assembly in relation to ministers and deacons in same-sex civil partnerships, and that "the presbytery will continue to assert its liberty to preach the Gospel within the Church".

The statement read: "The Presbytery of Lewis wants to address members and adherents, and indeed all within its bounds, following the recent decisions of the General Assembly to allow those in same-sex civil partnerships to be eligible to serve as Ministers and Deacons within the Church.

The decision to extend this provision to those in same-sex marriages was also narrowly approved; but this additional proposal has not yet become a Law of the Church, since it requires the approval of the majority of presbyteries under the Barrier Act; and will be considered by presbyteries in the first part of the winter to come.

"We want to state firmly and categorically, that while as a presbytery we recognise and remain under the authority of the General Assembly, on this matter, we strongly disagree with and distance ourselves from the decisions that have been made.

"We believe that these decisions represent a denial of and departure from the clear teaching of God's Word: that such relationships are to be between

one man and one woman, and that always within the context of marriage."

The Church said that presbytery clerk John Cunningham said the special service was called because people within the presbytery are hurting and confused following the decisions made by this year's General Assembly in relation to sexuality and the ministry.

He described the service as "uplifting and inspirational, with worship, reflection and fellowship in English and Gaelic under the leadership of presbytery".

Mr Cunningham said he believed the service had achieved its aim to show solidarity across the presbytery, with several ministers and congregations contributing.

George Whyte, Acting Principal Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said: "We fully respect the views held in Lewis and are glad to hear that they are in good heart and facing the future positively within their own context and within their terms."

During last month's assembly Moderator Angus Morrison called for a time of reflection after the debate over same-sex relationships.