|TOP|The Scottish Anglican Network has raised concern over a statement from the Scottish Primus and College of Bishops which provides information for the clergy of the Scottish Episcopal Church on how to approach the issues raised by the controversial Civil Partnerships Act.

While the Network expressed its gratitude to the Primus and the College of Bishops for providing the clergy with the much needed guidance, it voiced concern over the statement which it said “lacks clarity”.

While the statement by the Primus and College of Bishops reaffirmed that civil partnerships can neither be performed nor blessed officially in Scottish Episcopal Churches, the Scottish Anglican Network added that, “by implication it leaves room for unauthorised blessings taking place even after consultation with the bishops”.

The Network also added that the information failed to give “clear and positive teaching” on the importance of marriage.

|QUOTE|“The legislation is being widely championed as ‘same-sex marriage’, despite protestations to the contrary by politicians and church leaders that it is not,” read the SAN response.

“It might have been helpful to the Anglican Communion if the bishops had sought to affirm the biblical and traditional understandings of marriage,” it continued.

The signatories of the response, which included the General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance Scotland, Rev. Mike Parker, added that “the bishops do not offer any explanation of how they intend to handle clergy who enter into civil partnerships.”

The response read: “The Church has not changed its position on sexual practice outside of marriage - it is forbidden.”

|AD|‘Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy’ were recently published providing information on ‘those who are not married, including those with a vocation to celibacy’.

Speaking of the Guidelines, the Scottish Anglican Network continued: “This permits relationships for church leaders which have never been sanctioned in the history of the church.

“As such, it appears to subvert and prejudge the much-vaunted ‘listening process'.”

The Scottish Anglican Network also warned of the long-term damage that could result from same sex blessings.

“If a clergy person enters a civil partnership with a member of the same sex or irregular blessings of such Partnerships takes place in the Scottish Episcopal Church, with the tacit approval of any of the diocesan bishops, it will cause offence in many parts of the Anglican Communion.

“These events would also place further strain on our congregations as we continue to work for the transformation of communities and individuals.”

Signatories of the Scottish Anglican Network response to the statement on civil partnerships by the Primus and the College of Bishops were:

Rev Canon Ian Ferguson (Trinity, Westhill, Aberdeen)
Rev Ian Hopkins (St Thomas’, Corstorphine, Edinburgh)
Rev David McCarthy (St Silas’, Glasgow)
Rev Canon Philip Noble (St Ninian’s, Glasgow)
Rev Mike Parker (General Secretary, EA Scotland)
Rev Dave Richards (St Paul’s & St George’s, Edinburgh)
Rev Malcolm Round (St Mungo’s, Balerno)