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.’
The decision permits departure from the traditional understanding of marriage as a union between one man and one woman so that congregations can now call a minister who is in a same sex marriage. However, in a statement immediately after the vote, it was declared that the decision does not compromise the traditional view of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. This point has been emphasised many times over the years of the debate. In effect, the current position is one where the Church of Scotland claims to affirm orthodox teaching on human sexuality, yet at the same time permits congregations and ministers to depart from it if they wish to do so.
Cannot conduct
It was also clearly stated that, while ministers can now be in same sex marriages, this does not mean they can themselves conduct same sex marriages for others. In addition, this decision was not to be taken as the inevitable endorsement of same sex marriages by the Church of Scotland in the future. The next stage of this long debate will be a report by the Theological Forum for the General Assembly in 2017 which will then give a substantial reflection on the theology of same sex marriage.
The facts of this recent decision of the Church of Scotland do suggest that the Rubicon has indeed been crossed. As this did not happen in a day, it’s worth taking a brief look at how practising homosexuality came to be affirmed in the Church of Scotland, since the ramifications impact every denomination as the pressure to follow suit is likely to take place in a similar way.
A brief history
In 2009, a case was brought before the General Assembly regarding a minister in a same sex relationship. Without debating the issue in principle, the General Assembly voted to appoint the minister to a church in Aberdeen. During these past seven years, the Church of Scotland has travelled down a road from opposition to same sex relationships to affirmation of same sex relationships for those in the ministry.
At various stops on the road, there has been the opportunity to turn back through the Assembly procedures. Yet, at every single opportunity the General Assembly has decided to move forward at even greater speed. In 2013 a Theological Commission brought recommendations to the General Assembly by presenting ‘The Revisionist Case’ and ‘The Traditionalist Case’ and invited commissioners to consider each and make a decision. Instead, the Assembly chose to compromise by opting for a third way or middle ground which sought to affirm the historic and current doctrine and practice of the Church of Scotland in relation to human sexuality while allowing Kirk Sessions to ‘opt out’. This was an attempt to keep evangelicals onside. Since that decision in 2013 and through the various legal practices and procedures at successive General Assemblies in 2014, 2015 and 2016, the position has now become the law of the Church of Scotland.
Impacting everybody
Such a decision by a presbyterian denomination inevitably impacts every member, elder and minister. Decisions made by the General Assembly, the highest court of the denomination, become the official position and impact all, whether people agree or disagree. Therefore, it is difficult for evangelicals to repudiate the official position while remaining subject to the General Assembly.
Officially, it was stated at the Assembly that 3% of ministers (25) had left the Sad denomination over this issue. A Departure by David J. Randall records 40 ministers and the majority of members in 21 congregations. In the debate itself, when this latest vote was taken, it was stated that thousands had left over this issue. Those who have left have taken their gifts and money with them and many new churches have begun as a result. Many will never leave, but will continue to support the Church of Scotland by way of membership and money, believing that the situation can be reversed.
Dispensing with biblical authority
The fundamental issue at stake has been the authority of the Bible and whether the Church of Scotland has been prepared to uphold its teaching on human sexuality. The General Assembly, it seems, has chosen the unity of the denomination above the truth of Scripture.
This current position has been regarded widely as a fudge because it leaves the Church of Scotland in an inconsistent place that seems to defy theology and presbyterian church government, as well as logic. Sustaining such a position will be difficult, if not impossible, in the future.
The tide is flowing against evangelicals who have been consistently outmanoeuvred and defeated. Subtle compromise instead of strong contending for the faith in this process has resulted in a slow but sure departure from the biblical gospel we find in Scripture and the historic and orthodox Christianity of the worldwide Church.
