At its meeting in Edinburgh from 11-13 June, the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church chose to delete any reference to marriage as being between a man and a woman in order to facilitate its clergy in marrying two people of the same sex.
In contrast to that decision, we reaffirm the doctrine of marriage as given in the Old Testament in Genesis 2:24, reaffirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19:5 and by Paul in Ephesians 5:31 - ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’
We are committed to loving and supporting all the people in our congregations, including many gay people, and in particular at this time those who are left confused and distressed by the decisions of the General Synod.
We will take some time to pray and reflect on what the General Synod has committed to, before we discern what must be done to support people in congregations all over Scotland who will be unable to support this innovation.
Names can be added by email to [email protected]. Any member of the Scottish Episcopal Church who wishes to affirm this response is welcome to sign it. This statement is also available at http://scottishanglican.net.
Signed:
Church Leaders
Rev Andrew Baldock, Holy Trinity, Ayr
Rev Captain Gerry Bowyer, CAF4E, Emerging Church Community, Aberdeen
Rev Canon Ian Ferguson, Westhill Community Church, Aberdeenshire
Rev Canon Ken Gordon, St Clement’s Church, Mastrick, Aberdeen
Rev Terry Harkin, The Priory Church of St Mary of Mount Carmel, South Queensferry
Rev Canon Dr Douglas Kornahrens, Holy Cross, Davidsons Mains, Edinburgh
Rev Sydney Maitland, All Saints, Jordanhill, Glasgow
Rev Alistair MacDonald, St Drostan’s, Insch & All Saints, Woodhead of Fyvie
Rev Dave McCarthy, St Thomas’, Corstorphine, Edinburgh
Rev. Dean Norby- All Souls Fife- St Serf’s (Burntisland), St Columba’s (Aberdour) and St Peter’s (Inverkeithing)
Rev Mike Parker, St Paul’s & St George’s & Interim Minister, St Silas’, Glasgow
Rev Canon Dave Richards, St Paul’s & St George’s, Edinburgh
Rev Jane Ross, St Ninian's, Prestwick
Rev Canon Malcolm Round, St Mungo’s, Balerno
Rev Canon John Walker, The Donside Churches Group
Rev Paul Watson, St Devenick’s, Bieldside, Aberdeen
Clergy
Rev Dr James Clark-Maxwell
Rev Bruce Gordon, St Thomas’ Corstorphine, Edinburgh
Rev Jenny Jones, retd. Diocese of Moray, Ross & Caithness
Rev Ross Kennedy, (retd. - permission to officiate) Holy Trinity, Dunfermline
Rev Dr Chris Knights, Permission to Officiate, Diocese of Edinburgh and Hebrew Scriptures Module Coordinator, Scottish Episcopal Institute
Rev Dr Iain MacRobert, The Priory Church of St Mary of Mount Carmel, South Queensferry
Rev Dr Philip Noble, retd.
Rev Alan Price, Moray, Ross & Caithness
Rev Carol Price, Moray, Ross & Caithness
Lay People
Mr Ian Ansdell, Vestry Member, All Saints, Jordanhill, Glasgow
Mr Miller Bogie, St Thomas', Corstorphine, Edinburgh
Mr Jamie Campbell, Tain - Moray, Ross & Caithness
Mr Nigel Feilden, Lay Reader - St Mary's, Inverurie
Mr Alan Finch, Lay Reader - St Clement’s, Mastrick
Mrs Margaret Finch, Vestry Member - St Clement’s, Mastrick
Mrs Catherine Knights
Mr Malcolm Maclennan, Vestry Member - St Clement’s, Mastrick
Mr Geoff Mason, Lay Reader, St Peter's, Musselburgh
Mrs Sylvia Mason, St Peter's, Musselburgh
Mr Ken Mavor, Westhill Community Church
Mr Alan McArthur, St James', Muthill
Mr Adrian Neville, St Thomas' Corstorphine, Edinburgh
Mr Ian A. Nicholson, St Baldred's, North Berwick
Professor Brian Stanley, St Thomas' Corstorphine, Edinburgh
Mr Neil Swinnerton, Lay Representative & Rector’s Warden - Holy Cross, Davidsons Mains
Mr George Thomson, Server - St Andrew's, Uddingston
Ms Liz Traill, St Baldred's, North Berwick
Mrs Alison Wilson, People's Warden - St Mungo's, Balerno
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