SEEF Members' Statement: Response to General Synod Marriage Decision

Statement by members of the Scottish Episcopal Evangelical Fellowship – Received by email and now online here. [See also Gadget Vicar: SEC General Synod – Moving the Boundary Stones]

June 14, 2015

[Signatories updated June 17th]

At its meeting in Edinburgh from 11-13 June, the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church chose to delete any reference to marriage as being between a man and a woman in order to facilitate its clergy in marrying two people of the same sex.

In contrast to that decision, we reaffirm the doctrine of marriage as given in the Old Testament in Genesis 2:24, reaffirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19:5 and by Paul in Ephesians 5:31 – ”˜For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’

We are committed to loving and supporting all the people in our congregations, including many gay people, and in particular at this time those who are left confused and distressed by the decisions of the General Synod.

We will take some time to pray and reflect on what the General Synod has committed to, before we discern what must be done to support people in congregations all over Scotland who will be unable to support this innovation.

Names can be added by email to admin at scottishanglican dot net. Any member of the Scottish Episcopal Church who wishes to affirm this response is welcome to sign it.

Signed

Church Leaders

Rev Andrew Baldock, Holy Trinity, Ayr

Rev Captain Gerry Bowyer, CAF4E, Emerging Church Community, Aberdeen

Rev Canon Ian Ferguson, Westhill Community Church, Aberdeenshire

Rev Canon Ken Gordon, St Clement’s Church, Mastrick, Aberdeen

Rev Terry Harkin, The Priory Church of St Mary of Mount Carmel, South Queensferry

Rev Canon Dr Douglas Kornahrens, Holy Cross, Davidsons Mains, Edinburgh

Rev Alistair MacDonald, St Drostan’s, Insch & All Saints, Woodhead of Fyvie

Rev Dave McCarthy, St Thomas’, Corstorphine, Edinburgh

Rev Mike Parker, St Paul’s & St George’s & Interim Minister, St Silas’, Glasgow

Rev Canon Dave Richards, St Paul’s & St George’s, Edinburgh

Rev Canon Malcolm Round, St Mungo’s, Balerno

Rev Canon John Walker, The Donside Churches Group

Rev Paul Watson, St Devenick’s, Bieldside, Aberdeen

Clergy

Rev Dr James Clark-Maxwell

Rev Bruce Gordon, St Thomas’ Corstorphine, Edinburgh

Rev Jenny Jones, retd. Diocese of Moray, Ross & Caithness

Rev Dr Chris Knights, Permission to Officiate, Diocese of Edinburgh and Hebrew Scriptures Module Coordinator, Scottish Episcopal Institute

Rev Dr Iain MacRobert, The Priory Church of St Mary of Mount Carmel, South Queensferry

Rev Dr Philip Noble, retd.

Rev Alan Price, Moray, Ross & Caithness

Rev Carol Price, Moray, Ross & Caithness

Lay People

Mr Nigel Feilden, Lay Reader – St Mary’s, Inverurie

Mr Alan Finch, Lay Reader – St Clement’s, Mastrick

Mrs Margaret Finch, Vestry Member – St Clement’s, Mastrick

Mrs Catherine Knights

Mr Malcolm Maclennan, Vestry Member – St Clement’s, Mastrick

Mr Ken Mavor, Westhill Community Church

Mr Alan McArthur, St James’, Muthill

Mr Adrian Neville, St Thomas’ Corstorphine

Mr Neil Swinnerton, Lay Representative & Rector’s Warden – Holy Cross, Davidsons Mains

Mrs Alison Wilson, People’s Warden – St Mungo’s, Balerno