One Small Step Forward: Church of Scotland--or Presbyterians of Scotland--Move Forward with Permission to Officiate Same Sex Weddings

 One small step forward, indeed.

The Church of Scotland--which is, for all sense and purposes the Presbyterian Church of Scotland--is making a small step forward in its recent General Assembly. 

Ministers of the Word and Sacrament and Deacons of the Church of Scotland will be able to apply for a license to be authorized celebrants at LGBTQIA+ weddings. Of course, no one could be forced to do an LGBTQIA+ wedding, as no one who is clergy can be forced to do a non-LGBTQIA+ wedding. 

Currently, LGBTQIA+ people can be Ministers of the Word and Sacrament or Deacons in the Church of Scotland, so there is that.

Here is a link for more information: https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news/2021/articles/general-assembly-to-bring-forward-legislation-on-same-sex-marriage.

As I read this story, I was more or less struck by how many hoops and barriers and obstacles we in the US in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in other parts of the Presbyterian family tree must work through, break through, and overcome as we seek to be treated as equals with our non-LGBTQIA+ clergy and ordained offices in our respective churches. 

For example, as I've written before, I cannot seek a "call" in certain Presbyteries in the US because I am an openly out LGBTQIA+ clergy person. It has nothing to do with anything I've done or said, or not done or said. It is all about who I simply am: an out gay Presbyterian pastor.

And a church's Pastor Nominating Committee can still discriminate against out-LGBTQIA+ clergy in the call or hiring process. However, they cannot discriminate against someone because of one's gender or race or disability.

Sigh.

So, thanks to the good news from Scotland. Yeah. Ministers of the Word and Sacrament and Deacons can now apply for licenses to marry LGBTQIA+ people. 

One step forward at a time.


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