Herald newspaper report

There’s a news story in the Herald newspaper today:

CLERGY in the Scottish Episcopal Church have been threatened with disciplinary action if they enter a same-sex marriage, sparking a fierce backlash amongst its ministry and membership.

An edict by Episcopalian bishops warns clerics already in a civil partnership that converting their relationships into marriage would put them “outwith doctrinal understanding”, a move sources say could effectively make them homeless or strip them of their livelihood.

People training to enter the clergy and in civil partnerships, accepted within the Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC), are also warned that if they marry they cannot be ordained. The ban also extends to ‘lay readers’, non-clergy trained to preach, teach and lead worship.

Prominent SEC figures have now condemned their hierarchy, claiming there had been no expectation the bishops would make demands of the private lives of their clergy.

One source said the stance amounted to “direct discrimination” which remained lawful due to churches have exemptions from equalities legislation.

Read the full thing here: http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/news/home-news/church-faces-backlash-after-banning-gay-clergy-from-marrying.114724446