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Gregor: What Assembly isn't doing
The Eighth Assembly is not directly heading towards the blessing of same-sex relationships, according to Assembly general secretary, Rev Gregor Henderson.
Responding to questions at a press conference yesterday, Mr Henderson said it was important to clarify significant misconceptions.
"We have no recommendation here that the Church will immediately go towards blessing same-sex relationships," he said.
"The recommendation we have — which is completely up to the Assembly to determine — is whether we spend three years considering whether we might recognise same-sex relationships in any way and, if so, making recommendations to the next Assembly in three years time as to how we might recognise same-sex relationships.
"That's a vastly different thing to saying we would bless same-sex relationships by decision of this Assembly. It's instead taking three more years to consider that issue."
Gregor also outlined current policy on the ordination of gay and lesbian ministers.
"There is no bar to ministers being gay or lesbian at the moment," said Gregor.
"The stated policy is that every person applying for ministry, and every current minister who is under the oversight of the church, is assessed on an individual basis.
"What we look for primarily is their gifts for ministry, their call from God, and their suitability to be minsters.
"We take into account how they express their sexuality, but that applies equally to homosexual and heterosexual minsters in our current policy."
However, Gregor said if "controversial" decisions are made, some proposals before the Assembly would call for the concurrence of Synods and presbyteries before decisions could be implemented.
"It remains to be seen how this will work but we have proposals here from two synods and several presbyteries for such concurrence on some decisions.
"It would mean the decisions of Assembly would be subject to the approval of a majority of synods and a majority of presbyteries.
"We would still end up with a national decision but it may be that the Assembly decides it needs the concurrence of a majority of the Church's other councils."