Kirk's move on gays accepted

Published on Tuesday 26 May 2009 10:21

BOTH sides in the Church of Scotland's row over gay ministers today accepted a compromise which will see a two-year ban on the ordination of practising homosexuals while a special commission looks at the issue.

After voting on Saturday to allow the openly gay Rev Scott Rennie to take up an appointment at an Aberdeen church, the Kirk's General Assembly last night agreed a moratorium on any more gay ministers until the nine-member commission reports in 2011.

The Rev Peter Macdonald of St George's West, Shandwick Place, a leading supporter of Mr Rennie, said:"We do have to pause, given the nature of the decision", while an opponent, who asked not to be named, called the decision "the best we could hope for".