Editing Church of Scotland (section)

=== Homosexuality ===
The Church of Scotland allows its clergy to enter into same-sex marriages and civil partnerships.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scotland |first=The Church of |date=24 April 2017 |title=General Assembly allows ministers and deacons in same-sex marriages |url=http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news_and_events/news/recent/general_assembly_allows_ministers_and_deacons_in_same-sex_marriages |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502090830/http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news_and_events/news/recent/general_assembly_allows_ministers_and_deacons_in_same-sex_marriages |archive-date=2 May 2017 |access-date=24 April 2017 |website=www.churchofscotland.org.uk |language=en}}</ref> In May 2022, the General Assembly voted in favour of permitting the church's clergy to conduct same-sex marriages.<ref name="BBC News">{{Cite news |date=2022-05-23 |title=Church of Scotland to allow same-sex marriages |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-61547729 |access-date=2022-05-23}}</ref>

In May 2009, there was opposition to an attempt to install as minister an openly homosexual man who intended to live with his partner once appointed to his post.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Will & Testament: Presbyterians prepare for a theological battle |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ni/2009/05/presbyterians_prepare_for_a_th.html |website=BBC|author-first1=William|author-last1=Crawley|date=15 May 2009}}</ref> In a landmark decision on 23 May 2009 the General Assembly (GA) ratified by 326 to 267 the appointment of [[Scott Rennie]], the church's first out, non-celibate gay minister. Rennie had won the overwhelming support of his prospective church members at Queen's Cross, Aberdeen, but his appointment was in some doubt until extensive debate and this vote by the commissioners to the assembly. The GA later agreed upon a moratorium on the appointment of further non-celibate gay people until after a special commission has reported on the matter.<ref>[https://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.2510044.0.0.php Church backs first openly gay minister – Herald Scotland<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527082737/http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.2510044.0.0.php |date=27 May 2009 }}</ref> (See: [[LGBT clergy in Christianity]].)

As a result of these developments, a new grouping of congregations within the church was begun "to declare their clear commitment to historic Christian orthodoxy", known as the [[Fellowship of Confessing Churches]].<ref>[http://www.confessingchurch.org.uk/membership/member-churches/ Member Churches] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007235633/http://www.confessingchurch.org.uk/membership/member-churches/ |date=7 October 2011 }} confessingchurch.org.uk, accessed 7 July 2009</ref> In May 2011, the GA of the Church of Scotland voted to appoint a theological commission with a view to fully investigating the matter, reporting to the General Assembly of 2013. Meanwhile, openly homosexual ministers ordained before 2009 would be allowed to keep their posts without fear of sanction.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Severin Carrell |title=Church of Scotland votes to allow gay and lesbian ministers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/may/23/church-of-scotland-gay-lesbian-ministers |website=The Guardian|date=23 May 2011 }}</ref> On 20 May 2013, the GA voted in favour of a proposal that allowed liberal parishes to opt out of the church's policy on homosexuality.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Church of Scotland General Assembly votes to allow gay ministers |work=BBC News |date=20 May 2013 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22580322 }}</ref> Since 2008, 25 out of 808 (3%) ministers had left over the issue.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gledhill |first=Ruth |date=21 May 2016 |title=Church of Scotland votes in favour of ministers in gay marriages |work=Christian Today |url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.of.scotland.votes.in.favour.of.ministers.in.gay.marriages/86553.htm |access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref> It was reported that seceding congregations had a combined annual income of £1 million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kirk could lose £1m a year over gay ordination |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/kirk-could-lose-1m-a-year-over-gay-ordination.21351948 |website=Herald Scotland|date=16 June 2013 }}</ref>

In 2015, the Church of Scotland's GA voted in favour of recommending that gay ministers be able to enter into same-sex marriages.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carrell |first=Severin |date=21 May 2015 |title=Church of Scotland opens door for appointment of married gay ministers |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/may/21/church-of-scotland-married-gay-ministers |access-date=12 April 2016 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Church of Scotland decision on married gay clergy delayed |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/church-scotland-decision-married-gay-clergy-delayed-194152527.html?ref=gs |access-date=21 May 2016 |website=www.yahoo.com |archive-date=10 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610223411/https://www.yahoo.com/news/church-scotland-decision-married-gay-clergy-delayed-194152527.html?ref=gs |url-status=dead }}</ref> and allowing pastors to enter in same-sex civil partnerships.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 May 2015 |title=Church of Scotland votes to allow gay ministers in civil partnerships |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-32760416 |access-date=26 May 2017}}</ref> On 21 May 2016, the GA voted in favour of the approval for gay and lesbian ministers to enter into same-sex marriages.<ref>{{Cite web |agency=Press Association |date=21 May 2016 |title=Church of Scotland votes to allow ministers to be in same-sex marriages |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/may/21/church-of-scotland-ministers-same-sex-marriages |access-date=21 May 2016 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> In 2017, there was a report to be debated at the church's General Assembly in May that proposed "having a church committee research allowing nominated ministers and deacons to carry out the ceremonies, but...to retain the ability for 'contentious refusal' from those opposed to same-sex marriage."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Church of Scotland to debate allowing same-sex marriages - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |language=en |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/church-of-scotland-to-debate-allowing-samesex-marriages-35633363.html |access-date=24 May 2017}}</ref>

A Theological Forum report calling for the approval of same-sex marriage, and an apology to homosexuals for past mistreatment was approved by the General Assembly on 25 May 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 May 2017 |title=Kirk moves towards allowing gay marriage |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-40036225 }}</ref> In 2018, the church's assembly voted in favour of drafting a new church law to allow same-sex marriages<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 May 2018 |title=Kirk moves closer to gay marriage services |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-44180103 |access-date=21 May 2018}}</ref> and to give ministers the option of performing same-sex marriages. The church was expected to vote on a final poll in 2021<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 May 2018 |title=Church of Scotland to draft new same-sex marriage laws |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/may/19/church-of-scotland-same-sex-marriage-draft-laws |access-date=21 May 2018 |website=The Guardian |language=en |agency=Press Association}}</ref> but, after being considered at a GA in May 2021, a draft plan might still be being considered by commissioners prior to being shared with all presbyteries for their consideration under the Church of Scotland's Barrier Act 1697 and being brought back to a future General Assembly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/19321692.church-consider-same-sex-marriage/|title = Church of Scotland to consider allowing same-sex marriage ceremonies| date=22 May 2021 }}</ref> On 23 May 2022 the GA voted in favour of same-sex marriage with 274 for and 136 against. Clergy will be allowed to conduct the marriages but will not be forced to.<ref name="BBC News"/>

Many church congregations and clergy affirm the full inclusion of transgender and other LGBTI people within the church through [[Affirmation Scotland]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Affirmation Scotland – seeking to create a more inclusive church |url=http://www.kaleidoscot.com/affirmation-scotland-810 |access-date=18 May 2016 |website=KaleidoScot}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Church |first=Queen's Cross |title=Affirmation! Scotland · Our Partners · Queen's Cross Church |url=http://www.queenscrosschurch.org.uk/get-involved/our-partners/detail/affirmation-scotland/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609230037/http://www.queenscrosschurch.org.uk/get-involved/our-partners/detail/affirmation-scotland/ |archive-date=9 June 2016 |access-date=18 May 2016 |website=www.queenscrosschurch.org.uk}}</ref>