A “missionary bishop” is to be appointed by conservative Anglicans to provide pastoral care to people appalled by the imminent prospect of gay weddings in Scottish churches.
The move was announced by Gafcon, an alliance of “authentic Anglicans” with deep roots in Africa.
The first same-sex wedding is likely to be held by the Scottish Episcopal Church this autumn if, as expected, a doctrinal change is approved by its general synod.
In a communique, Gafcon explicitly highlighted its rift with the “Anglican north”, which it believes is straying from “the unchanging, transforming Gospel” by permitting gay weddings.
It said: “Of immediate concern is the reality that the Scottish Episcopal Church is likely to formalise its rejection of Jesus’ teaching on marriage. If this were to happen, faithful Anglicans in Scotland will need appropriate pastoral care.”
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Next week the episcopal church’s synod will be asked to ratify a motion, passed last year, that would amend Canon 31, of the solemnisation of Holy Matrimony.
The new version strikes out a statement reading “marriage is a physical, spiritual and mystical union of one man and one woman”. The replacement text reads: “In the light of the fact that there are differing understandings of the nature of marriage in this Church, no cleric of this Church shall be obliged to conduct any marriage against their conscience.”
“Six of the seven diocesan synods of the episcopal church voted to enable clergy to conduct marriages for same-sex couples in church
In March, six of the seven diocesan synods of the episcopal church voted to enable clergy to conduct marriages for same-sex couples in church. Only the diocesan synod of Aberdeen and Orkney voted against the change. The same proposal is likely to be endorsed by the synod though it has to be approved by a two-thirds majority in all three houses of the synod: the bishops, clergy and laity.
In a move that is likely to bolster the vote in favour of change, the Right Rev John Armes, Bishop of Edinburgh, will commend a motion to change Canon 31.
Any such innovation is certain to prompt sanctions from Lambeth Palace, which has struggled for years to satisfy both its liberal and conservative wings to prevent schism over gay marriage.
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Last year the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, was accused of “threatening” the Most Rev David Chillingworth, Primus of the episcopal church, after the first vote in favour of gay marriage.
The Anglican Communion had earlier avoided collapse when hardline African churches threatened a walkout at the prospect of same-sex weddings in more liberal provinces of the church, after the Episcopal Church of the US had voted in favour of gay marriage.
A compromise saw “consequences” imposed on the Episcopal Church of the US, limiting its participation in the global organisation of the Anglican church, and similar measures are thought likely to be imposed on the Scottish church if it endorses gay marriage.
Last night Lambeth Palace refused to comment on the imminent vote in Edinburgh.