Should gay clergy be allowed into the ministry?
If you thought Saturday's vote backing the gay minister was the end of the matter, you'd be wrong. Today the Church of Scotland debates its general policy on whether to allow gay clergy into the ministry. And if the debate on today's Morning Extra was anything to go by, both the church and society remain divided on this issue.
The General Assembly debate has been sparked by a motion from the Presbytery of Lochcarron and Skye. They're demanding that the Church of Scotland should not accept anyone to be a minister or a deacon who is involved in a sexual relationship outside of marriage with a man or a woman.
Rev Ian Watson, from the evangelical group Forward Together, which supports the overture says: "What the bible calls for from the very start of creation is that a man and a woman, one man, one woman, should be committed to each other for life and that is where sexual intercourse and expression is best expressed."
On the BBC's Politics Show Scotland, the Reverend Scott Rennie told us he'd been "personally hurt" by the row over his appointment. He says he "felt God's call" to Queen's Cross Parish Church in Aberdeen" and believes there are many other gay ministers in the Church of Scotland. However, they're "caught between a rock and a hard place" because the Kirk doesn't recognise civil partnerships. Changing that attitude, he suggested, may be a way forward. You can watch the full interview on the BBC News website.
Audio/visual links
The Rev Scott Rennie's interview with Glenn Campbell in full
BBC Radio Scotland's series on the Assembly
BBC 2's General Assembly, 2009 programme
Recent stories
Kirk to discuss gay clergy policy (25 May 2009)
Kirk votes to back gay minister (24 May 2009)
Online protest over gay minister (4 May 2009)
Kirk magazine backs gay couples (21 April 2009)
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