A long-awaited report on homosexuality from the Church of Scotland's Mission & Discipleship Council has been described as a "major disappointment" by a group of evangelicals who said it failed to give clear theological guidance on the issue.
The "A challenge to unity" report, which will now be presented to the General Assembly in May, intended to offer theological perspectives on same-sex partnerships and human sexuality. It concluded that gay and lesbian members have a right to serve in the Church so long as they remain celibate and that homosexual orientation did not preclude service to Christ and the Church.
OneKirk, a liberal group in the Church of Scotland, welcomed the conclusions of the report, which took two years to write, saying it was "encouraged by the further movement in this latest report to greater openness within the Church of Scotland".
But the Rev Ian Watson, Secretary of Forward Together, a group of evangelicals in the Church of Scotland, said, however, "The report is a major disappointment in that it merely describes the two positions that are held in the Church - the evangelical and the liberal - but it really doesn't tell us anything new about the debate."
The Rev Peter Johnston, Convenor of the OneKirk Working Group, said: "Some may question whether the report has been a waste of time. I do not believe OneKirk members would draw that conclusion. The report is a part of a longer process and therefore represents a fair and honest appraisal of where the Church of Scotland is at this time on the subject."
The 12-member working group behind the report comprised of 12 liberals and evangelicals. They also concluded that the Church had shown a "historically intolerant" attitude towards gay people.
OneKirk welcomed the Church's "humble admission" that it had been insensitive to gay and lesbian people in the past.
"I think we've got to own up to that," said Rev Watson.
The report has identified a number of questions which the Church of Scotland should address in coming years, including whether homosexual acts are sinful, the extent to which faithful gay and lesbian relationships are akin to marriages, and whether ministers may conduct a liturgy for a couple following a civil partnership.
Rev Watson said he expected there would be anger among some Church members who expected the report to give clear theological guidance on the issue of homosexuality.
"But there is absolutely nothing new in this report," said Rev Watson. "I just don't see how it's going to contribute to the debate."
The report concluded with a call to both sides of the debate to continue to listen to one another. "There is little to be gained, and rather much to be lost, by one set of views being stampeded over, and against the conscience of others," it said.
