Church of Scotland OKs Gay Marriage for Its Ministers

The Church of Scotland has voted to let its ministers enter same-sex marriages—though it says it "maintains its traditional view of marriage between a man and woman," the AP reports. The church's general assembly voted Saturday to allow congregations to "opt out" from traditional teaching if they wish to appoint a minister or a deacon in a same-sex marriage. However, Church of Scotland clergy will not be allowed to conduct same-sex weddings. A debate on whether to sanction gay marriages within the church won't be held until the church's Theological Forum presents a report next year. Scotland's official church is a Presbyterian denomination with about 400,000 members. (More gay marriage stories.)