CHURCHES in the Dumbarton area last week rejected a move to give ministers the right to bless same sex partnerships. Members of Dumbarton Presbytery voted against a General Assembly ruling to affirm a minister’s freedom of conscience in the matter. The decision — by 12 votes — came following a lengthy debate on the issue which some clerics claim is threatening to split the Kirk. In May, the Assembly accepted its law committee’s recommendation that ministers be granted freedom of conscience in the blessing of civil partnerships. The controversial nature of the issue resulted in its being passed down to all of Scotland’s 46 Presbyteries — made up of ministers and elected elders — for them to register their individual votes. Despite a bid at last Tuesday’s meeting in Riverside Church hall, Dumbarton, to have the debate delayed for more information, members chose to tackle the issue, a decision on which is required by the Kirk before the end of the year. Elder Hamish Scott explained that his wife had been asked to attend a civil partnership ceremony between two men with church connections. Urging the presbytery to approve the Assembly decision — called an overture — he said: “It seems to me that for my wife to have refused that invitation would have been damaging to the relationship with these gentlemen. “It was entirely the right decision. There are occasions when it would be right to give some sort of acceptance to a civil partnership and others when it would be right to refuse.” The Rev David Scott of Bearsden stressed the right of different theological positions to co-exist. “Unity does not come by forcing a particular theological opinion on to another,” he said. “This legislation recognises the theological breadth within the Church.” But Milngavie minister, the Rev Fergus Buchanan, called for the overture to be rejected ‘in the interests of the unity and peace of the Church’. He said: “The Biblical testimony to me is clear — that homosexual practice is outwith the will of God according to Scripture. Whatever your perception, this is a marriage of people of the same sex. “Ministers have restricted individual conscience in many areas. That happens across the whole field of employment. “Everyone knows what it is like to be under authority and to accept that authority. I feel this is too much for people to accept at this time.” The Rev Alan Hamilton of Bearsden said he hoped that no-one, because of their sexual orientation or activity, would find themselves ostracised or denied a place at the heart of the church. He added: “Nevertheless our most important relationship is with God. Far from creating unity, this will create division. “There will be tremendous pressure on ministers to conform not with their freedom of conscience but with the presbytery and their colleagues around them. This is too far too fast.” The Rev Christine Liddell of the West Kirk, Dumbarton, reminded the presbytery that the Kirk was once against the ordination of women and the marriage of divorced people but had since changed its view. This was echoed by the Rev Roddy Hamilton of Clydebank who said the Church recognises that stances it has held in the past on issues such as slavery, divorce and women clergy are no longer consistent with a Christian witness of justice, truth, love and grace. “Civil partnerships have changed the landscape again,” he said. “That is hard for people brought up by traditional values. We are not changing those values, just the context in which we interpret them.” In the vote, 27 were in favour of the overture and 39 against. The voting results from Presbyteries will be reported to the 2007 Assembly. If the majority say no the matter will not be debated further at that time. If the majority vote yes, it will be discussed. | 
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