Church restates marriage position

Thursday November 21 2013

The Church of Scotland has restated its position that marriage is between one man and one woman.

The Scottish Parliament yesterday (Wednesday) approved stage one of the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill, under which same-sex marriage would be legalised.

But the Rev Dr Alan Hamilton, Convener of the Church's Legal Questions Committee, said that the Church would hold to the traditional view of marriage 'until any future General Assembly decides otherwise'.

He added: "Our commitment to care for all people, gay and straight, is no less. We stand against homophobia.

"We also recognise that there is a wide spread of public opinion about whether legalising same sex marriage is the right thing, and that spread of public opinion is reflected among members of our congregations across the country. One thing is very clear and that is there is not unanimous support for this legislation in Scotland.

"As the bill progresses through Holyrood, the Church of Scotland will continue to be a constructive voice in the national debate about it. We would also seek robust and detailed legal assurances and protection for those who do not wish to conduct same sex marriages as a matter of conscience.

"The Church is conducting a wide-ranging review of marriage but there are no plans on the table for the Church to stop conducting marriages."

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