Gay clergy row threatens mass resignations from Church of Scotland

from VirtueOnline 

Gay clergy row threatens mass resignations from Church of Scotland
Breakaway church possible with up to 150 ministers ready to quit over ordination of gay clergy

By Severin Carrell, Scotland correspondent
The Guardian
www.guardian.co.uk
November 14, 2011
Protesters in favour of gay ministers stand outside the Church of Scotland Assembly as it upheld a decision to appoint a gay minister. Up to 150 clergymen now quit in protest at that decision. Photograph: Murdo Macleod for the Guardian

The Church of Scotland is braced for mass resignations over moves to allow the ordination of gay ministers, with up to 150 conservative and evangelical ministers threatening to quit, the Guardian can reveal.

The rebellion began after the Church of Scotland became the first major presbyterian church in the world to allow openly gay and lesbian ministers to take up parishes at its general assembly in May, despite evidence that 20% of its elders and office-bearers could leave in protest.

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