On Saturday 21 May 2016, the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland voted 339 to 215 in favour of permitting its ministers and deacons to be in same sex marriages.
This was quickly reported to be an historic decision by the Church of Scotland as well as by the news media. For the national church to legislate for behaviour which is contrary to the clear teaching of the Bible has left many dismayed, since this decision has an impact far beyond the Church of Scotland.
Crossing the Rubicon
Speaking at a press conference, the Principal Clerk to the General Assembly, said: ‘In some ways we crossed the Rubicon last year when it was agreed that kirk sessions could call someone in a civil partnership and for many people what today was about was simply tidying up and making the law of the church consistent with Scots law.’
