Yet another Protestant church in Europe is redefining marriage.  The Kirk, Scotland’s historic Calvinist Presbyterian Church, is expected to approve in May the celebration of same-sex marriages.

As it has happened in other places, there has been a debate happening inside the Church of Scotland for many years between those who defend a historically Biblical understanding of marriage and those promoting a more theologically liberal approach to sexual ethics. The Church allowed in 2016 its worship ministers to enter civil same-sex marriages or unions.

May General Assembly

Now a report published in the preparations for the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly showed that 29 presbyteries (the administrative bodies representing local churches of a certain region) were supporting a new church legislation that would allow ministers and deacons to apply to become celebrants of same-sex unions. Only 12 presbyteries opposed it.

Shuna Dicks, a reverend from the Presbytery of Aberdeen and Shetland, told UK broadcaster Premier she was “delighted” to soon be able to marry gay couples. “There will be people from the LGBT community who will rejoice because finally, the church that they belong to will able to celebrate their love that they have found in each other in a Christian ceremony and that, I think, is good news”.

But others, like Mike Gross, a reverend from Angus, said those “who stand by the Bible, we’re not going away, we’re still there”. He said he expected “struggles” in the “continued relationships between congregations and between ministers”.

The report to be voted at the end of month says that no minister would be forced to get involved in gay weddings if they disagree. It also asks church leaders to protect “peace and unity and pastoral needs of the congregation” in the process of implementing gay marriage rites. A new liturgy will be written if the new law is finally approved.