REGARDING your editorial about the Church of Scotland and its continuing worries surrounding same-sex marriage ("A question of faith on gay marriage", The Herald, April 28), I think many Scots of all faiths and none will find it mystifying that the Kirk continues to be obsessed with this issue while nevertheless continuing to welcome gay people as ministers, as do many of those who fill its pews.
It is timely to recall the words of the Reverend Scott Rennie, who said of the Scottish Government's marriage consultation in July 2012 : "I believe that love shared and celebrated in society, between two people of the same sex, should make no-one afraid and can only enrich the communities in which we live. This legislation will provide both civil and religious marriage for those who wish to celebrate it and a respectful space of objection for those who do not. Faith groups and the churches will be free to come to their own conclusions in their own time."
The Kirk says it wants to play a full part in the life of the nation, but it clearly remains anxious to exclude many Scots in so doing. It is not alone in this of course, but other faith groups have fully embraced the new dawn. To use the Rev Rennie's words, it appears his own church remains afraid and unwilling to engage fully with that community enrichment and inclusion process.
Alistair McBay,
National Secular Society,
5 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh.
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