Church of Scotland endorses gay minister's appointment

The 37-year-old's appointment at Queen's Cross Church in Aberdeen, on Scotland's northeast coast, provoked opposition from traditionalist members of the church and has led to fears it could cause a damaging split.
A gay minister at the center of a row about his appointment to a church in a Scottish city said he was "humbled" after the Church of Scotland upheld his appointment.
In a ground-breaking move, the Church's ruling body voted by 326 to 267 in support of the Reverend Scott Rennie, the British Press Association reported Sunday.

In a statement released after Saturday night's vote in the Scottish capital, Rennie said: "I am humbled that the General Assembly has recognized God's call upon my life."

Ewen Gilchrist, interim moderator at Queen's Cross Church, was quoted by PA as saying: "It's a good decision for the General Assembly to have made because it sends out a message that we desire to be welcoming, accepting and inclusive.