Church of Scotland votes to allow gay clergy marriages

The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has voted to allow its ministers to be in same-sex marriages.

The gathering, which opened in Edinburgh today, passed an historic vote to extend a law passed last May that permits ministers to be in same-sex civil partnerships.

The decision means ministers will be allowed to continue to serve if they are in a gay marriage.

The outcome follows years of deliberation on the issue within the Church.

Any wider consideration of the theological understanding of same-sex marriage will not take place until the Theological Forum presents its report to the Kirk next year.