Iglesia episcopal escocesa

Christian church in Scotland

Iglesia episcopal escocesa
Emblema de la Iglesia Episcopal Escocesa, con dos mitras y báculos
Clasificación	protestante
Orientación	anglicano
Sagrada Escritura	Sagrada Biblia
Teología	Doctrina anglicana
Gobierno	Episcopal
Hornillo de camping	Mark Strange
Asociaciones	Consejo Mundial de Iglesias , Comunión Anglicana , Comunión Porvoo , Acción conjunta de las iglesias en Escocia
Región	Escocia
Sede	Edimburgo , Escocia
Origen	Concordato de Leith 1572, Ley de los episcopales escoceses de 1711
Congregaciones	350 [1]
Miembros	30.909 (2017) [2] 28.647 (2018) [3] 27.585 (2019) [4]
Clero activo	370 [1]
Página web oficial	escocia .anglican .org
Eslogan	"Verdad Evangélica y Orden Apostólico"

La Iglesia Episcopal Escocesa ( gaélico escocés : Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba ; escocés : Kirk episcopal escocés ) es la provincia eclesiástica de la Comunión Anglicana en Escocia .

Una continuación de la Iglesia de Escocia según lo previsto por el rey James VI , y como lo fue desde la Restauración de Carlos II hasta el restablecimiento del presbiterianismo en Escocia después de la Revolución Gloriosa , ^[5] reconoce al Arzobispo de Canterbury como presidente de los Instrumentos de Comunión Anglicanos , pero sin jurisdicción en Escocia per se . Esta relación cercana pero ambivalente, que consiste en un reconocimiento parcial de la autoridad de la Iglesia de Inglaterra , pero una afirmación concurrente de independencia, es el resultado de la historia única de la Iglesia Episcopal Escocesa.

La tercera iglesia más grande de Escocia, ^[6] la Iglesia Episcopal Escocesa tiene 303 congregaciones locales. ^[7] En términos de membresía oficial, los episcopales de hoy constituyen menos del 1 por ciento de la población de Escocia, lo que los hace considerablemente más pequeños que la Iglesia de Escocia. La membresía de la iglesia en 2019 fue de 27,585, de los cuales 19,784 eran miembros comulgantes. La asistencia semanal fue de 11.782. ^[8] Las cifras equivalentes para 2018 fueron 28,647 miembros, 19,983 miembros comulgantes y asistencia semanal de 12,430, ^[9] . En 2017, la membresía de la iglesia había sido 30,909, de los cuales 22,073 eran miembros comulgantes. ^[2]

El Primus actual de la Iglesia Episcopal Escocesa es Mark Strange , elegido en 2017.

Nombre oficial

Catedral de San Niniano , Perth

La Iglesia Episcopal Escocesa se llamaba anteriormente Iglesia Episcopal en Escocia , lo que refleja su papel como provincia escocesa de la Comunión Anglicana. ^{[ cita requerida ]} Aunque no se incorporó hasta 1712, la Iglesia Episcopal Escocesa rastrea sus orígenes incluyendo pero extendiéndose más allá de la Reforma y se ve a sí misma en continuidad con la iglesia establecida por Ninian , Columba , Kentigern y otros santos celtas. La Iglesia de Escocia reclama la misma continuidad.

En Escocia a veces se hace referencia a la iglesia de manera peyorativa como la "Kirk inglesa", pero esto puede ofender. ^{[10] [11]} Esto se debe probablemente en parte al hecho de que, sin embargo, es una unión de los episcopales que no juraban con las " congregaciones calificadas " que adoraban de acuerdo con la liturgia de la Iglesia de Inglaterra. También se le conoce a veces como "Laird's Kirk" debido a sus asociaciones históricas con la aristocracia terrateniente de Escocia, cuya membresía de la iglesia excedía la de otras denominaciones. A mediados del siglo XIX se registró que las tres cuartas partes de los "terratenientes de Escocia" eran episcopales. ^{[12] [13]}

Historia

Artículo principal: Historia de la Iglesia Episcopal Escocesa

Orígenes del cristianismo en Escocia

San Ninian dirigió la primera misión cristiana a lo que hoy es el sur de Escocia.

En 563 d.C., San Columba viajó a Escocia con doce compañeros, donde según la leyenda aterrizó por primera vez en el extremo sur de la península de Kintyre , cerca de Southend . Sin embargo, estando todavía a la vista de su tierra natal, se trasladó más al norte a lo largo de la costa oeste de Escocia. Se le concedió tierras en la isla de Iona frente a la isla de Mull, que se convirtió en el centro de su misión evangelizadora a los pictos . Sin embargo, hay un sentido en el que no dejó a su gente nativa, ya que los gaélicos irlandeses habían estado colonizando la costa oeste de Escocia durante algún tiempo. ^[14]Aparte de los servicios que brindó como guía del único centro de alfabetización en la región, ^{[ cita requerida ]} su reputación como hombre santo lo llevó a desempeñar su papel de diplomático entre las tribus; también hay muchas historias de milagros que realizó durante su trabajo para convertir a los pictos. Visitó al rey pagano Bridei , rey de Fortriu , en su base en Inverness , ganándose el respeto del rey y posteriormente Columba jugó un papel importante en la política de ese país. También fue muy enérgico en su trabajo evangélico; además de fundar varias iglesias en las Hébridas, trabajó para convertir su monasterio en Iona en una escuela para misioneros. Fue un renombrado hombre de letras, habiendo escrito varios himnos y se le atribuye haber transcrito personalmente 300 libros. Murió en Iona y fue enterrado en la abadía que estableció.

La iglesia escocesa continuaría creciendo en los siglos siguientes, y en el siglo XI, Santa Margarita de Escocia (reina consorte de Malcolm III de Escocia ) fortaleció los lazos de la iglesia con la Santa Sede , al igual que sucesivos monarcas como el hijo de Margarita, David. , quien invitó a varias órdenes religiosas a establecer monasterios .

Reforma

La Reforma escocesa se formalizó en 1560, cuando la Iglesia de Escocia rompió con la Iglesia de Roma durante un proceso de reforma protestante liderado, entre otros, por John Knox . Reformó sus doctrinas y su gobierno, basándose en los principios de Juan Calvino a los que Knox había estado expuesto mientras vivía en Suiza . En 1560, el Parlamento escocés abolió la jurisdicción papal ^[15] y aprobó la Confesión de Fe de Calvino, pero no aceptó muchos de los principios establecidos en el Primer Libro de Disciplina de Knox., que argumentó, entre otras cosas, que todos los bienes de la antigua iglesia debían pasar a la nueva. El Acuerdo de la Reforma de 1560 no fue ratificado por la corona durante algunos años, y la cuestión del gobierno de la iglesia también permaneció en gran parte sin resolver. En 1572 las leyes de 1560 fueron finalmente aprobadas por el joven Jacobo VI , pero bajo la presión de muchos de los nobles, el Concordato de Leith también permitió que la corona nombrara obispos con la aprobación de la Iglesia. ^{[16] El} propio John Knox no tenía opiniones claras sobre el cargo de obispo, prefiriendo verlos renombrados como "superintendentes"; pero en respuesta al nuevo Concordato surgió un partido presbiteriano encabezado por Andrew Melville , el autor del Segundo Libro de Disciplina .

La Iglesia Episcopal Escocesa comenzó como una iglesia distinta en 1582, cuando la Iglesia de Escocia rechazó el gobierno episcopal (por obispos) y adoptó un gobierno presbiteriano de ancianos, así como la teología reformada . Los monarcas escoceses hicieron repetidos esfuerzos para presentar obispos y dos tradiciones eclesiásticas competían.

Gobierno episcopal impuesto por los Estuardo

Cronología del desarrollo de las iglesias escocesas desde 1560.

Retrato de Jacobo VI por John de Critz , c. 1606.

En 1584, James VI de Escocia hizo que el Parlamento de Escocia aprobara las Black Acts , designando a dos obispos y administrando la Iglesia de Escocia bajo control real directo. Esto encontró una fuerte oposición y se vio obligado a admitir que la Asamblea General debería continuar dirigiendo la iglesia. Una facción episcopal se opuso a los calvinistas a los que les disgustaba el estilo más ceremonioso de la liturgia. Después de ascender al trono inglés en 1603, James detuvo la reunión de la Asamblea General, aumentó el número de obispos escoceses y en 1618 celebró una Asamblea General en Perth ; esta reunión adoptó cinco artículosde las prácticas episcopales. Muchos líderes de la iglesia escocesa y sus congregaciones respondieron a los Cinco Artículos con boicots y desdén.

El hijo de James, Charles I, fue coronado en Holyrood Abbey , Edimburgo , en 1633 con ritos anglicanos completos . Posteriormente, en 1637, Charles intentó presentar una versión del Libro de oración común , escrito por un grupo de prelados escoceses, en particular el arzobispo de St. Andrews , John Spottiswoode , y el obispo de Ross , John Maxwell , y editado para su impresión. por el arzobispo de Canterbury , William Laud ; era una combinación del Libro de orden común de Knox, which was in use before 1637, and English liturgy in hopes of further unifying the (Anglican) Church of England and the (Presbyterian) Church of Scotland. When the revised Book of Common Prayer was used for the first time during worship on 23 July 1637 in St Giles' Edinburgh, it sparked a riot which was so representative of the strength of popular feeling in Scotland that it indirectly precipitated the Bishops' Wars and this successful challenge of royal authority helped encourage many unhappy Irish Catholics into partaking in the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and the already increasingly uncooperative English Parliament into likewise declaring war on the king in the English Civil War. As a result of the weakness of the king, Presbyterian Covenanters were able to become the de facto government in Scotland until disagreement between the Scottish and English Parliaments over how to run Britain in terms of both civil and religious governance after the king was defeated led to another war and Scotland's conquest by the Covenanters' erstwhile allies the English Parliament's New Model Army.

Following the Restoration of the monarch in 1660, the government of Charles II reimposed episcopacy, and required all clergymen to swear allegiance to the king and bishops and renounce the Covenants, or be prevented from preaching in church. Up to a third, at least 270, of the ministry refused, mostly in the south-west of Scotland, and numerous ministers also took to preaching in the open fields in conventicles across the south of Scotland, often attracting thousands of worshippers. This was forcibly repressed by the government, in actions later dubbed The Killing Time. The conflict continued under King James VII of Scotland (also James II of England) until the Glorious Revolution led to his removal from power.

With the 1689 refusal of the Scottish bishops to swear allegiance to William of Orange whilst James VII lived and had not abdicated, the Presbyterian polity was finally re-established in the Church of Scotland. However, the Comprehension Act of 1690 allowed Episcopalian incumbents, upon taking the Oath of Allegiance, to retain their benefices, though excluding them from any share in the government of the Church of Scotland without a further declaration of Presbyterian principles. Many "non-jurors" also succeeded for a time in retaining the use of the parish churches.^[17]

The excluded Scottish bishops were slow to organise the Episcopalian remnant under a jurisdiction independent of the state, regarding the then arrangements as provisional, and looking forward to a reconstituted national Episcopal Church under a sovereign they regarded as legitimate (see Jacobitism). A few prelates, known as college bishops, were consecrated without sees, to preserve the succession rather than to exercise a defined authority. At length the hopelessness of the Stuart cause and the growth of congregations outside the establishment forced the bishops to dissociate canonical jurisdiction from royal prerogative and to reconstitute for themselves a territorial episcopate.^[17]

The Scottish Book of Common Prayer came into general use at start of the reign of William and Mary. The Scottish Communion Office, compiled by the non-jurors in accordance with primitive models, has had a varying co-ordinate authority, and the modifications of the English liturgy that would be adopted by the American Church were mainly determined by its influence.^[17]

Among the clergy of post-Revolution days the most eminent are Bishop John Sage, a well-known patristic scholar; Bishop Rattray, liturgiologist; John Skinner, of Longside, author of Tullochgorum; Bishop Gleig, editor of the 3rd edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica; Dean Ramsay, author of Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character; Bishop A. P. Forbes; G. H. Forbes, liturgiologist; and Bishop Charles Wordsworth.^[17] Bishop James Sharp, a former moderate Covenanter and Resolutioner, was appointed Archbishop of St Andrews and primate of Scotland in 1661. He was reviled by Covenanters, and his murder in 1679 led to an escalation of hostilities.

From the Union of England and Scotland in 1707

The death of Charles Stuart led to better conditions for church growth.

In 1707 Scotland and England were merged into a single Kingdom of Great Britain. The Scottish Episcopalians Act of 1711 protected the Episcopal Church, which marked its virtual incorporation as a distinct society. However, matters were still complicated by a considerable, though declining, number of Episcopalian incumbents holding parish churches. Moreover, the Jacobitism of the non-jurors provoked a state policy of repression in 1715 and 1745, and fostered the growth of new Hanoverian congregations, using the English Prayer Book (served by clergy who had been ordained by a bishop but amenable to none), who qualified themselves under the act of 1711. This act was further modified in 1746 and 1748 to exclude clergy ordained in Scotland.^[17]

These causes reduced the Episcopalians who, by 1689, had been a large section of the population to a minority, save in a few corners of the west and north-east of Scotland. Their official recognition of George III, on the death of Charles Edward Stuart in 1788, removed the chief bar to progress. In 1792 the penal laws were repealed, but clerical disabilities were only finally removed in 1864.^[17] The Qualified Chapels were gradually absorbed in the early 19th century.

After the independence of the Thirteen Colonies, the Scottish Episcopal Church also took the step of consecrating Samuel Seabury at Aberdeen in 1784. He became the first bishop of the American Episcopal Church after being refused consecration by Church of England clergy. In this way, it can be said that the Episcopal Church in the United States owes as much of its origins to the Scottish Episcopal Church as to the Church of England.

The Theological College was founded in 1810, incorporated with Trinity College, Glenalmond, in 1848, and re-established at Edinburgh in 1876.^[17] Theological training is now provided by the various dioceses and is supervised by the Theological Institute of the Scottish Episcopal Church (TISEC).

In 1900 the church had 356 congregations, with a total membership of 124,335 and 324 working clergy.^[17] Membership did not grow in the following decades as it was believed it would.

In 1989 there were approximately 200 stipendiary and 80 non-stipendiary clergy. Membership was 65,000, with 31,000 communicants.^[18]

In 1995, the Scottish Episcopal Church began working through a process known as Mission 21. Canon Alice Mann of the Alban Institute was invited to begin developing a missionary emphasis within the congregations of the church throughout Scotland. This led to the development of the Making Your Church More Inviting programme which has now been completed by many congregations. In addition to working on making churches more inviting, Mission 21 emphasises reaching out to new populations which have previously not been contacted by the church. As Mission 21 has developed, changing patterns of ministry have become part of its remit.

21st century

In terms of official membership, Episcopalians constitute well under 1 per cent of the population of Scotland, making them considerably smaller than the Church of Scotland. The church has 310 parishes with a 2012 adult membership of 34,916 and communicant numbers some 10,000 fewer at 24,650.^[1][19][20] As with other churches in Scotland, attendance has declined over recent years: the overall figures reflect rises in some dioceses and decline in others,^[21] but amount to an overall fall in attendance of 15 per cent between 2007 and 2012.^[20] The church's 2016 annual report noted a "continuing decline in overall numbers",^[22] and in almost identical language it was reported in 2018 that the church faced "continuing decline in members and attendance".^[23]

In recent decades, the Scottish Episcopal Church has taken a left-of-centre stand on various political issues including economic justice, the ordination of women and "inclusion". A church canon was altered to allow same-sex marriage after it was formally approved by the General Synod in June 2017, despite the protests of some, including the representatives of the conservative Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney.

Following the vote, a number of individual congregations have begun to leave the church, although they have been obliged to leave their buildings and funds behind them. In November 2017 a high-profile female supporter of same-sex marriage, Anne Dyer was appointed Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney by the other bishops, rather than elected as usual. This drew protests, but the primus attacked these as "subversion",^[24] and Dyer was consecrated in March 2018.^[25] A number of clergy subsequently resigned, and in January 2019 the Westhill Community Church voted to leave the SEC.^[26]

The Scottish Episcopal Institute, a theological college for the whole of the Scottish Episcopal Church, was founded in 2015. It provides training for both lay ministers and ordained clergy.

Structure

Bishops and Primus

See also: List of Anglican dioceses in the United Kingdom and Ireland

Map of the dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church

As an episcopal denomination, the church is governed by bishops, differentiating it from the national Church of Scotland which is presbyterian and governed by elders. However, unlike the Church of England, the bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church are elected in a procedure involving clergy and laity of the vacant diocese voting at an electoral synod.

The church is composed of seven dioceses, each with its own bishop:

Diocese	Present bishop
Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney	Anne Dyer
Diocese of Argyll and The Isles	Sede vacante; most recently held by Kevin Pearson (translated to Glasgow and Galloway 2020) [27]
Diocese of Brechin	Andrew Swift
Diocese of Edinburgh	John Armes (consecrated 12 May 2012)
Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway	Kevin Pearson
Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness	Mark Strange (consecrated 13 October 2007)[28]
Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane	Ian Paton (consecrated 20 October 2018)

All sees except Edinburgh (founded by Charles I) stem from sees of the Catholic Church in Scotland. The bishops of the Episcopal Church are direct successors of the prelates consecrated to Scottish sees at the Restoration.^[17] The bishops are addressed Right Reverend.

The College of Bishops constitutes the episcopal synod, the supreme court of appeal.^[17]

This synod elects from among its own members a presiding Bishop who has the title of Primus (the title originates from the Latin phrase Primus inter pares – 'First among equals').

The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the presiding bishop of the Scottish Episcopal Church, is elected by the episcopal synod from among its members. His duties are:

• to preside at all Provincial Liturgical Functions
• to preside at all meetings of the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church
• to preside at all meetings of the Episcopal Synod
• to declare and carry out the resolutions of the General Synod, the Episcopal Synod and the College of Bishops
• to represent the Scottish Episcopal Church in its relation to all other Churches of the Anglican Communion and other Communions
• to perform the functions and duties of Primus as specified in the Canons of the Scottish Episcopal Church
• to correspond on behalf of the Scottish Episcopal Church with Primates, Metropolitans and the Secretary General of the Anglican Consultative Council.

The incumbent is Mark Strange, who was elected on 27 June 2017.

The Primus does not have any metropolitan jurisdiction—the last to hold such jurisdiction was Archbishop Arthur Rose (of St Andrews) up to his death in 1704.^[29] The Primus is addressed Most Reverend.

Representative bodies

The church is governed by the General Synod. This consists of the House of Bishops, the House of Clergy and the House of Laity. The General Synod makes canon law, administers finance and monitors the work of the boards and committees of the Church. Most decisions are arrived at by a simple majority of members of the General Synod voting together. More complex legislation, such as changes to the Code of Canons requires each of the Houses to agree and to vote in favour by a two-thirds majority.

Each diocese has its synod of the clergy and laity. Its dean (similar to an archdeacon in the Church of England) is appointed by the bishop, and, on the voidance of the see, summons the diocesan synod, at the instance of the primus, to choose a bishop.^[17] Each diocese has one or more (in the case of some united dioceses) cathedrals. The senior priest of a Scottish Episcopal cathedral is styled as provost (as the title of "dean" is given to the senior priest of the diocese as a whole, see above). The only exception in Scotland is the Cathedral of the Isles on the island of Great Cumbrae which has been led by a member of the clergy styled as Precentor. Diocesan deans and cathedral provosts are both addressed as Very Reverend.

Worship and liturgy

The Scottish Episcopal Church is mainly in the High Church (or Anglo-Catholic) tradition.^[30]

It embraces three orders of ministry: deacon, priest (referred to in the 1929 Scottish Prayer Book as presbyter) and bishop. Increasingly, an emphasis is being placed on these orders to work collaboratively within the wider ministry of the whole people of God.^{[citation needed]}

Liturgies

In addition to the Scottish Prayer Book 1929, the church has a number of other liturgies available to it. In recent years, revised Funeral Rites have appeared, along with liturgies for Christian Initiation (e.g. Baptism and Affirmation) and Marriage. The modern Eucharistic rite (Scottish Liturgy 1982) includes Eucharistic prayers for the various seasons in the Liturgical Year and is commonly known as "The Blue Book", a reference to the colour of its covers. A further Eucharistic prayer is provided in the Marriage liturgy.

Doctrine and practice

Religion in Scotland
Church of Scotland Catholic Church Free Church of Scotland Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) United Free Church of Scotland Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Reformed PresbyterianChurch of Scotland International Presbyterian Church Associated Presbyterian Churches Scottish Episcopal Church Eastern Orthodox Churches Oriental Orthodox Churches Baptist Union of Scotland Methodist Church of Great Britain Latter-day Saints Salvation Army Congregational Federation Action of ChurchesTogether in Scotland Scottish Reformation Bahá'í Faith Buddhism Hinduism Islam Judaism Sikhism
v t e

See also: Anglicanism and Anglican doctrine

The centre of teachings of the Scottish Episcopal Church is the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The basic teachings of the church, or catechism, includes:

• Jesus Christ is fully human and fully God. He died and was resurrected from the dead.
• Jesus provides the way of eternal life for those who believe.
• The Old and New Testaments of the Bible were written by people "under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit". The Apocrypha are additional books that are used in Christian worship, but not for the formation of doctrine.
• The two great and necessary sacraments are Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist.
• Other sacramental rites are confirmation, ordination, marriage, reconciliation of a penitent, and unction.
• Beliefs in heaven, hell, and Jesus's return in glory.

The threefold sources of authority in Anglicanism are scripture, tradition, and reason. These three sources uphold and critique each other in a dynamic way.

This balance of scripture, tradition and reason is traced to the work of Richard Hooker, a sixteenth-century apologist. In Hooker's model, scripture is the primary means of arriving at doctrine and things stated plainly in scripture are accepted as true. Issues that are ambiguous are determined by tradition, which is checked by reason.^[31]

Social issues

The Scottish Episcopal Church has been involved in Scottish politics.

The church was one of the parties involved in the Scottish Constitutional Convention, which laid the groundwork for the creation of the devolved Scottish Parliament in 1999. Canon Kenyon Wright of the Episcopal Church chaired the convention (1989–1999).

The church actively supports the work of the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office in Edinburgh and the Society, Religion and Technology Project.

The General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church was invited in June 2016 to pass a motion calling on the UK government to cancel the renewal of the Trident nuclear programme. It declined to do so.

All orders of ministry are open to both male and female candidates. On 9 November 2017, the first woman, Anne Dyer, was elected bishop in the Episcopal Church in Scotland. She was consecrated as Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney in March 2018.^[25]

In the area of human sexuality, a debate continued for many years as to the propriety of fully permitting the presence of non-celibate lesbian and gay church members (there never having been a prohibition on membership or ordination of celibate homosexuals). In 2000, a former primate called for the church to bless same-sex couples.^[32] Clergy became able to enter into a same-sex civil partnership in 2005, and the church does not require sexual abstinence of such civil unions.^[33] Since 2008, St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow has offered blessings for civil partnerships.^[34] In 2015 the General Synod passed a vote which could lead to the formal blessing of same-sex marriage.^[35] A number of congregations have hosted the blessings of same-sex couples including St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow and St Paul's Cathedral, Dundee.^[36]

In 2016, the General Synod voted in favour of changing the canon of marriage to include same-sex couples.^[37] The change was formally approved by the church in June 2017.^[38] As a result, at the Anglican Communion primates' meeting in October 2017 the Scottish Episcopal Church was suspended for three years from communion "decision making on any issues of doctrine or polity", a mirror of the sanction applied to the U.S. Episcopal Church in 2016 for the same reason.^[39]

Ecumenical relations

Like many other Anglican churches, the Scottish Episcopal Church has entered into full communion with the Old Catholics of the Utrecht Union. The Scottish Episcopal Church is also a member of the Porvoo Communion and is a member of several ecumenical bodies, including Action of Churches Together in Scotland and the World Council of Churches.

In December 2009, there were reports that certain High Church traditionalists within the Scottish Episcopal Church were in favour of joining the Roman Catholic Church.^[40]

Relation with the Anglican realignment

Conservative members have organised in the Scottish Anglican Network and are associated with the GAFCON. The Scottish Anglican Network announced on 8 June 2017, the same day that the SEC voted to approve same-sex marriage, that they would be in "impaired communion" with the denomination, due to this decision.^[41] The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia passed a motion on 7 September 2017, condemning SEC's decision to approve same-sex marriage as "contrary to the doctrine of our church and the teaching of Christ", and declaring itself in "impaired communion" with the province. It also expressed their "support for those Anglicans who have left or will need to leave the Scottish Episcopal Church because of its redefinition of marriage and those who struggle and remain", and presented their prayers for the return of SEC "to the doctrine of Christ in this matter and that impaired relationships will be restored."^[42] The Global South Primates expressed their support for the Scottish Anglican Network at their Communiqué from 9 September 2017.^[43]

To date 9^{[citation needed]} churches have left the SEC since 2011, largely over the issue of the approval of same-sex marriage within the denomination. 5 joined Presbyterian churches^{[citation needed]} and 4 GAFCON, through ACNA (list below):

• Christ Church, Harris (departed 2017)^[44]
• St Thomas', Corstorphine (departed 2018)^[45]
• Westhill Community Church (departed 2019)^[46]
• St Silas, Glasgow (departed 2019)^[47]

The latter three of these congregations are amongst the largest in the denomination, thus representing a sizeable proportion of the denominations members and regular worshippers leaving.

See also

• Bishop of Argyll and The Isles
• List of Scottish Episcopal churches
• Religion in Scotland

References

1. "Scottish Episcopal Church". Bishops Selection Advisers Handbook. Church of England. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
2. "35th Annual Report and Accounts SEC" (PDF). The Scottish Episcopal Church. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
3. 36th Annual Report page 63
4. Scottish Episcopal Church 37th Annual Report
5. Pittock, Murray (1994). Poetry and Jacobite politics in eighteenth-century Britain and Ireland. Cambridge studies in eighteenth-century English literature and thought. 23. Cambridge University Press. p. 237. ISBN 978-0-521-41092-2.
6. "Scottish Episcopal Church could be first in UK to conduct same-sex weddings". Scottish Legal News. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
7. "Scottish Church Census" (PDF). Brierley Consultancy. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
8. Scottish Episcopal Church 37th Annual Report
9. Scottish Episcopal Church 36th Annual Report
10. "We're NOT English Kirk! - Local Headlines". Lanark Gazette. 4 April 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
11. Macleod, Murdo (16 July 2006). "Church fury over historic mistakes on 'English kirk'". The Scotsman. Edinburgh.
12. https://www.newstatesman.com/node/193327
13. https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/perth/stninianscathedral/index.html
14. Fletcher, Richard (1989). Who's Who in Roman Britain and Anglo-Saxon England. Shepheard-Walwyn. pp. 23–24. ISBN 0-85683-089-5.
15. See Papal Jurisdiction Act 1560
16. Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Established Church of Scotland" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
17.  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: James Gilliland Simpson (1911). "Scotland, Episcopal Church of". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. 9 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 467–468.
18. Church of England Year Book 1990
19. "Scottish Episcopal Church". Oikoumene.org. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
20. "Scots need greater numbers 'to pay the rent'". Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
21. http://www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/media/k2/attachments/Scottish_Episcopal_Church___Membership__Attendance_1989_2004.pdf
22. http://www.scotland.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/34th-Annual-Report-and-Accounts-for-the-year-ended-31-December-2016.pdf
23. https://www.scotland.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/2018-General-Synod-Agenda-and-Papers-1.pdf
24. Scottish Primus accuses protesters against next Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney of ‘subversion’, 8 January 2018
25. "First female Bishop in the Scottish Episcopal Church is elected the new Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney - The Scottish Episcopal Church". The Scottish Episcopal Church. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
26. "Aberdeen congregation votes to secede from the Scottish Episcopal Church". www.anglicannews.org.
27. "New Bishop elected for Glasgow and Galloway". Scottish Episcopal Church. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
28. "News and Issues - The Scottish Episcopal Church".
29. "A Short History of the Episcopal Church in Scotland" by Frederick Goldie (revised edition - 1975) ISBN 0-7152-0315-0
30. Page31: http://www.worldmap.org/uploads/9/3/4/4/9344303/uk.pdf
31. Anglican Listening Archived 23 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine goes into detail on how scripture, tradition, and reason work to "uphold and critique each other in a dynamic way".
32. "Bless gay couples, says bishop". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
33. "'Death sentence' deportation of Iraqi Christians stayed after ACLU court action | Christian News on Christian Today". www.christiantoday.com. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
34. "Same-Sex Nuptials". Weddings at St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow. 2 April 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
35. "Scottish Episcopal Church passes initial vote in favour of same-sex marriage".
36. "Dundee cathedral hosts historic same-sex marriage". www.thecourier.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
37. "Scottish Episcopal Church takes first step towards same sex marriage". www.anglicannews.org. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
38. "Scottish Episcopal church votes to allow same-sex weddings". The Guardian. 8 June 2017.
39. "Communiqué from the Primates' Meeting" (PDF). Anglican Communion. 6 October 2017.
40. "Traditionalist Anglicans in Scotland celebrate Christmas". Forward in Faith. 17 December 2009. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
41. "Scottish Anglican Network Press Statement, 8 June 2017" (PDF).
42. "BREAKING: Australian General Synod notes SEC marriage canon "contrary to the doctrine of our Church and the teaching of Christ"". 7 September 2017.
43. "Global South Anglican - Global South Primates' Communique, September 9, 2017 (Cairo)". www.globalsouthanglican.org.
44. "Profile: the new Anglican congregation in Harris". Scottish Anglican Network. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
45. "SCOTTISH ANGLICAN NETWORK: CONTENDING & LEARNING | VirtueOnline – The Voice for Global Orthodox Anglicanism". www.virtueonline.org. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
46. Wyllie, James. "Aberdeenshire church to break away amid gay marriage row". Press & Journal. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
47. "St Silas votes leave Scottish Episcopal Church". www.virtueonline.org. Retrieved 26 June 2019.

Further reading

• William Carstares, State Papers
• Robert Keith, Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops (Russel's edition, 1824)
• John Parker Lawson, History of the Scottish Episcopal Church from the Revolution to the Present Time (1843)
• Thomas Stephen, History of the Church of Scotland from the Reformation to the Present Time in 4 Volumes (John Lendrum, 1844): Volume One.

Volume Two. Volume Three. Volume Four.

• Thomas Lathbury, History of the Nonjurors (1845)
• George Grub, Ecclesiastical History of Scotland in Four Volumes (Edmonston and Douglas, 1861): Volume 1. Volume 2. Volume 3. Volume 4.
• John Dowden, Annotated Scottish Communion Office (1884).
• Goldie, F., A Short History of the Episcopal Church in Scotland from the Restoration to the Present Time London S.P.C.K 1951

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Scottish Episcopal Church.

• Official website
• Historical resources on Scottish Anglicanism from Project Canterbury
• Theological Institute of the Scottish Episcopal Church
• Island Retreats
• Scottish Episcopal Church Experimental Liturgy 1977
• Works by Episcopal Church in Scotland at Project Gutenberg
• Works by or about Scottish Episcopal Church at Internet Archive
• Dioceses
  • Aberdeen & Orkney
  • Argyll & the Isles
  • Brechin
  • Edinburgh
  • Glasgow & Galloway
  • Moray, Ross & Caithness
  • St Andrew's, Dunkeld & Dunblane