Scottish Episcopal Church takes steps towards permitting gay marriage

The Scottish Episcopal Church is the first of any Anglican faith to take steps towards allowing gay marriage.

The church’s General Synod has taken a vote to allow its seven dioceses to discuss the potential change to its laws and views on gay marriage.

This proposal could see marriage redefined by the church as a “union between a man and a woman”, while allowing a “conscience clause” for those who do not wish to perform the marriage of a gay couple.

The Synod vote saw the proposal gain majority support, with five out of seven bishops backing the change as well as 69 per cent of the clergy and 80 per cent of the laity welcoming the idea.

The support received for the proposed reform indicates that it has a good chance of succeeding when the vote returns next year.

The Right Reverend Dr Gregor Duncan, Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway and acting convener of the Church’s faith and order board, said the decision was important because “it represents the beginning of a formal process of canonical change” and “will enable the Church to come to a formal decision”.