Fellowship impaired by Scottish vote
Scottish Anglican Network
Press Statement – 8 June 2017
The Scottish Anglican Network is a movement of Christians - including clergy and laity - within the Scottish Episcopal Church who are seeking to follow the teaching of Jesus Christ, and therefore to retain and restore the Bible to the heart of Anglican churches in Scotland.
Today the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church approved an amendment to its canons in order to change its doctrine of marriage and permit same-sex weddings to be celebrated by nominated clergy in its churches.
We completely disagree with this action.
As Christians, we believe that it is through Jesus Christ - and only through him - that we can truly know God, and truly know ourselves. Jesus clearly taught that marriage is a good gift from God, and is a faithful, lifelong union between one man and one woman. Though all of us fall short of his standards, not least in the area of sexual morality, we believe that following this teaching is essential to the flourishing of his forgiven people.
The Scottish Episcopal Church is today rejecting this. In doing so, it is failing to support those in our churches who are same-sex attracted but who choose to live their lives in obedience to Jesus’ teaching, misleading the church and the world, and acting in a schismatic way towards the worldwide Anglican Communion and the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church of which it claims to be a part.
Our fellowship with the Scottish Episcopal Church has therefore been impaired by this action, and we will now work on how this must be expressed.
We will continue to trust, uphold and contend for the teaching of Jesus Christ in his church in Scotland, and to share the momentous news that he died and rose again so that anyone can come to him for forgiveness and eternal life.
We are thankful for support we have received from many in the Anglican Communion and particularly from the Archbishops who lead the GAFCON movement. We are grateful for their support in prayer, their counsel and their practical support, not least in their decision to consecrate a missionary bishop for Europe. We now look forward to building stronger relationships with the leaders and churches of the global Anglican Communion who remain faithful to Jesus Christ and the authority of the Bible.
For more information, please contact:
Rev David McCarthy (Edinburgh)
Rector, St Thomas Church
e: [email protected]
t: 07411 236433
Rev Canon Ian J Ferguson (Aberdeen)
Rector, Westhill Community Church
e: [email protected]
t: 07833 976304
Rev Martin Ayers (Glasgow)
Rector, St Silas Church e: [email protected]
t: 0141 337 2276
[1] Global Anglican Future Conference – see www.gafcon.org