A traditionalist Church of Scotland presbytery has announced it has voted against allowing gay ministers to marry.
Inverness Presbytery members voted 45-10 to reject moves towards accepting same-sex marriage among ministers that have divided some Kirk members.
It 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 the end of December.
The result will be known inn January and it well go back to the next annual gathering.
Lewis Presbytery gave an early signal that it will stand against same-sex marriage among ministers.
In a report presented to presbytery members on Tuesday, Rev Professor Andrew McGowan, convener of the presbytery’s doctrine and worship committee, argued that the Assembly’s proposal stood contrary to the plain teaching of Scripture, would seriously damage ecumenical relationships with other churches at home and overseas and place many ministers in a difficult position in relation to equalities legislation.
Mr McGowan said: “I hear the argument that Jesus never said anything about civil partnerships, but he said that at Creation, God made people male and female, and for this reason, a man should leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife.
“The decision before us is - are we going to be followers of Jesus or are we going to walk in the other direction?
“Scripture has nothing positive to say about homosexuality and this is damaging ecumenical relationships.”
A Church of Scotland spokesman said “The vote is under way and presbyteries have until December 30 to submit their returns.
"Those presbyteries who have yet to decide will be doing so in the coming weeks, and each presbytery will be debating and voting according to their own individual points of view. The outcome of the vote will be known in the new year.
"If the overture (proposal) is supported by a majority, it will then have to be voted on by the General Assembly in May 2016.”
Above: Rev Scott Rennie
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