The moderator of the Church of Scotland has issued a warning to the Kirk that the acrimonious debate over the appointment of gay ministers has led to “cheap labelling” and sinful criticism of fellow believers.
The Rt Rev John Chalmers said members of congregations should learn to “speak well of each other” and “if we do not have something good to say about one another we should probably say nothing at all”.
Last year, The Times revealed that a majority of presbyteries in the Church of Scotland have agreed to a historic legal change, enabling individual congregations to opt out of traditional teaching on marriage and appoint a gay minister who is in a civil partnership.
A final vote on the issue will be held