Bill Naphy: It just needs a little goodwill to resolve row

A COMPARISON can be made between the debate on the ordination of gay clergy and with the place of women in the Church.

Christianity, generally, was very accepting of women becoming equal at all levels, except holding office. That was the last one to go, and that says something about ideas about power and the hierarchy – not attitudes towards sexuality.

A comparison could also be made with the idea of divorcees marrying, and I think it will go exactly the same way. The initial decision, as I understand it, was largely to allow the matter to be decided by individual ministers and individual congregations and not to force anyone.

Of course, over time social attitudes changed completely, and now, as far as I know, it isn’t an issue in the Church at all.

As long as no-one is forced against conscience – either minister or congregation – then my guess is that, in time, the ordination of gay clergy will be a non-issue.

• Bill Naphy is a professor of history at Aberdeen University and an expert in both the history of sexuality and Calvinism.