October 20, 2011
Kirk on sexuality consultation: No comment – yet Comments Off
Rev Alan J Hamilton (pictured) and Rev John P Chalmers write to The Scotsman on behalf of the Church of Scotland:
In view of the various comments made by correspondents and commentators over the past few weeks, we wish to clarify the Church of Scotland’s position on the government consultation on the registration of civil partnerships and same sex marriage.
The Church of Scotland will make a properly considered response well within the 14-week consultation period. Before we do so we will meet with the deputy first minister and her officials, at her invitation.
This meeting and our response are being co-ordinated by the Church’s legal questions committee with the intention of taking full advantage of the consultation process and producing a submission which will count as one of the most substantial and clear headed.
We recognise that some of our sister denominations have already publicised their response. We do not criticise them for doing so. Nevertheless, having regard to our responsibilities to the Scottish nation as well as to our own members, we do not believe that there is anything to be gained from submitting an ill-considered and hastily constructed response.
Also, out of respect for the process we are of the view that our response should first be submitted to the government before it is published in the columns of a newspaper.
• Full story at The Scotsman.
• Photo: Killermont Parish Church.
