What is in Kelvin's Head?

Church of Scotland rejects biblicist position on sex and marriage

21/05/2014

It is going to be important not to underestimate the significance of the votes in the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland today. A last ditch attempt was made to get that church to commit to the idea that sex belongs only between a married heterosexual couple. That idea was comprehensively rejected.

People with widely differing opinions never thought we would see this day. Though the legislation that the Church of Scotland is now consulting on accepting is a dreadful mess, and a long way from equality for LGBT people, today was a huge and historic boost for those who reject the ideas of those who claim the Christian tradition to be by definition narrow and anti-gay in character.

It seemed to me, as I watched the debate, as though those seeking to promote an anti-gay view had made a huge strategic mistake by going for an all or nothing approach and trying to get the Assembly to affirm only their view.

Generosity won the day in Edinburgh today. Generosity that has divine fingerprints all over it.

Church of Scotland, gay, LGBT

20 responses to “Lambeth Conference – Some are Welcome in this Place”

asphodeline

23/05/2007

Aargh, horrible decision. My first “gut” reaction was no, make a point of not going and make it clear why not. Then I read the responses here and they’ve got a point too.

I hope you make the right decision for yourself that you feel comfortable with. Interesting point too about the Catholic bit. I don’t consider myself Protestant as such, more a Catholic who is exlcuded from many things Catholic by the Catholic church. I’ve always been a bit confused though!

Good luck x

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kelvin

23/05/2007

I’m interested that all voices responding so far are female.

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chris

24/05/2007

Does the excess of female voices not simply represent the majority of congregations? Not, of course, of clergy – yet. :=(

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kelvin

24/05/2007

I’ve no idea what other congregations are like – St Mary’s is pretty gender balanced, as was my previous congregation.

Are there really congregations that are mostly female? How very odd.

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Elizabeth

24/05/2007

A convent maybe? Do you have convents in the SEC?

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kelvin

24/05/2007

There are convents, but not terribly large ones.

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Eamonn

24/05/2007

Not only are all the comments so far from women (so let me make a modest effort to redress the balance), but there are far fewer voices than one might have expected, given the seriousness of this exclusion, which in the long run could affect all Episcopalians and Anglicans worldwide. The notion that one has to ‘qualify’ to attend Lambeth by criteria other than lawful episcopal consecration is a new and disquieting departure. Why are more people not protesting?

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vicky

24/05/2007

Thought this might be of interest.

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chris

25/05/2007

I’ve only ever belonged to my current congretation. There are men, but old, unwired ones for the most part.
I’ve had another thought, though. Maybe women comment because women have been sidelined in the church for 2000 years. Coming out in sympathy, perhaps?

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kelvin

25/05/2007

“unwired men” – what a helpful description.

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