Kirk Commission Embraces Mr Facing-Both-Ways?

The following from "Christian Institute" site:

Kirk commission publishes civil partnership liturgy

    A report for the Church of Scotland on same-sex relationships has suggested an order of service for a civil partnership blessing. The liturgy contains ideas for scripture readings, including passages about David and Jonathan, and Ruth and Naomi. The report by the special Theological Commission, which was appointed in 2011, also presents the traditional view of marriage as between a man and a woman.

Opinion

     The Church of Scotland said the report described the breadth of theological opinion that existed and did not represent the views of the Church. 

     A spokesman said:

“On the one hand the report offers the Church a way of allowing the ordination of ministers in same-sex relationships who have entered into a civil partnership, while protecting both individuals and congregations who in conscience do not agree with the theological principles which underpin that choice. On the other hand the report, while reaffirming its belief that homophobia is sinful, invites the Church to reaffirm its traditional stance that the only appropriate expression of sexual activity should be within marriage between one man and one woman.”

Report

     The report does not offer any recommendations. The Church of Scotland’s governing body will vote in May on the future position of the Kirk based on the report.

     Revd John Chalmers, the principal clerk to the General Assembly, said:

“The Report and the options which it provides are offered at this stage without comment from the convener or members of the commission; it will be for the General Assembly alone, based on the substance of the theological arguments to come to a mind on this matter.”

He added:

“In the meantime, the report, which is wide ranging and detailed, is commended to the whole Church for prayerful study and consideration.”

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Following NOT from Christian Institute site! -

John BUNYAN: "Pilgrim's Progress" (extract) -

     CHRISTIAN. "Pray, Sir, what may I call you?" said Christian.

     BY-ENDS. "I am a stranger to you, and you to me: if you be going this way, I shall be glad of your company; if not, I must be content."

     CHR. "This town of Fair-speech", said Christian, "I have heard of; and, as I remember, they say it is a wealthy place."

     BY-ENDS. "Yes, I will assure you that it is; and I have very many rich kindred there."

     CHR. "Pray, who are your kindred there? if a man may be so bold."

     BY-ENDS. "Almost the whole town; and in particular, my Lord Turn-about, my Lord Time-server, my Lord Fair-speech, (from whose ancestors that town first took its name), also Mr. Smooth-man, Mr. Facing-both-ways, Mr. Any-thing; and the parson of our parish, Mr. Two-tongues, was my mother's own brother by father's side; and to tell you the truth, I am become a gentleman of good quality, yet my great-grandfather was but a waterman, looking one way and rowing another, and I got most of my estate by the same occupation."

     CHR. "Are you a married man?"

     BY-ENDS. "Yes, and my wife is a very virtuous woman, the daughter of a virtuous woman; she was my Lady Feigning's daughter, therefore she came of a very honourable family, and is arrived to such a pitch of breeding, that she knows how to carry it to all, even to prince and peasant. It is true we somewhat differ in religion from those of the stricter sort, yet but in two small points: first, we never strive against wind and tide; secondly, we are always most zealous when religion goes in his silver slippers; we love much to walk with him in the street, if the sun shines, and the people applaud him."

     Then Christian stepped a little aside to his fellow, Hopeful, saying, "It runs in my mind that this is one By-ends of Fair-speech; and if it be he, we have as very a knave in our company as dwelleth in all these parts." Then said Hopeful, "Ask him; methinks he should not be ashamed of his name." So Christian came up with him again, and said, "Sir, you talk as if you knew something more than all the world doth; and if I take not my mark amiss, I deem I have half a guess of you: Is not your name Mr. By-ends, of Fair-speech?"

     BY-ENDS. "This is not my name, but indeed it is a nick-name that is given me by some that cannot abide me: and I must be content to bear it as a reproach, as other good men have borne theirs before me."

     CHR. "But did you never give an occasion to men to call you by this name?"

     BY-ENDS. "Never! never! The worst that ever I did to give them an occasion to give me this name was, that I had always the luck to jump in my judgment with the present way of the times, whatever it was, and my chance was to get thereby; but if things are thus cast upon me, let me count them a blessing; but let not the malicious load me therefore with reproach."

     CHR. "I thought, indeed, that you were the man that I heard of; and to tell you what I think, I fear this name belongs to you more properly than you are willing we should think it doth."

     BY-ENDS. "Well, if you will thus imagine, I cannot help it; you shall find me a fair company-keeper, if you will still admit me your associate."

     CHR. "If you will go with us, you must go against wind and tide; the which, I perceive, is against your opinion; you must also own religion in his rags, as well as when in his silver slippers; and stand by him, too, when bound in irons, as well as when he walketh the streets with applause."

     BY-ENDS. "You must not impose, nor lord it over my faith; leave me to my liberty, and let me go with you."

     CHR. "Not a step further, unless you will do in what I propound as we."

     Then said By-ends, "I shall never desert my old principles, since they are harmless and profitable. If I may not go with you, I must do as I did before you overtook me, even go by myself, until some overtake me that will be glad of my company."

     Now I saw in my dream that Christian and Hopeful forsook him, and kept their distance before him...

     (Excerpt from: "The Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan)

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See also:
"Embracing Truth: Homosexuality and the Word of God"
including KINDLE Edition. 
Also epilogue essay (with additional notes) from above book:
"Drawing a Line in Shifting Sands"
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Crìosdaidh a' freagairt Fhir-nan-Car 's a chuid chàirdean.
Christian responding to By-ends and friends.

     Mar sin chunnaic mi cho luath ‘s a dh’fhàg iad an fhèill, gun rug iad air fear a bha gabhail na slighe rompa d’am b'ainm Fear-nan-Car.

     “Dè as dùthaich dhuit, a dhuine? Agus dè cho fada 's a tha dùil agad a dhol air an rathad seo?” Thuirt e riu gun tàinig e à baile Cainnt-Mhìn, agus gun robh e dol a chum a' Bhaile Nèamhaidh, ach cha do dh’innis e ainm dhaibh.

     "À Cainnt-Mhìn?" arsa Crìosdaidh. "A bheil maith air bith a chòmhnaidh an sin?"

     "Tha mi an dòchas gu bheil", arsa Fear-nan-Car.

     Cr: “Agus le ur cead, dè an t-ainm leis an sloinn mi thu?”

     Fear-nan-Car: “Tha sinn nar coigrich da chèile: ma tha thu gabhail na slighe seo bidh mi toilichte le do chuideachd. Mura h-eil, chan eil cothrom air.”

     Cr: “Chuala mi mun bhaile seo, Cainnt-Mhìn; agus mas maith mo chuimhne, chuala mi gur baile beartach e.”

     FnC: “‘S e sin a tha ann, agus tha mòran de chàirdean saidhbhir agam ann.”

     Cr: “Agus cò iad do chàirdean anns a' bhaile, ma dh'fhaodas duine bhi cho dàna?”

     FnC: “Thà, am baile gu lèir, gu ìre bhig; ach gu sònraichte an Tighearna Coileach-gaoithe, mo Thighearna Leam-Leat, agus mo Thighearna Teanga-Mhìn, on d'fhuair am baile an t-ainm, agus cuideachd Mgr Liogach, Mgr Bodach-eadarra-cheathairn, Mgr Nì-air-Bith, agus is e ministeir a' bhaile againn, An t-Urramach Dà-theangach, bràthair mo mhàthar; agus a dh’innse na fìrinn, tha mi fhìn air fàs nam dhuine uasal d’am buin inbhe, gidheadh cha robh nam sheanair ach maraiche, fear a bhiodh ag iomradh an darna taobh, agus aig an robh aghaidh an taobh eile. Is ann ris an dearbh cheàrd sin a rinn mi fhìn a' chuid as mò dhem shaidhbhreas.”

     Cr: “A bheil thu pòsta?”

     FnC: “Thà, agus is e bean air leth subhailceach a tha nam mhnaoi, nighean mnà beusail. Bu nighean i don Bhan-tighearna, a' Bhean charach. Mar sin is ann do theaghlach uasal a bhuineadh i, agus tha i air a leithid a dh'inbhe a thoirt a-mach ann an gnàths nan uaislean, 's nach ruig a leas diùide a bhi oirre an làthair tuath no prionnsa. Tha gun teagamh an diadhachd againn eadar-dhealaichte o dhiadhachd na muinntire dian-chràbhaich, gu h-àraidh an dà phuing bheag. An toiseach: chan eil sinn uair air bith a' cur an aghaidh sruth is gaoithe. Agus a-rithist: tha sinn an còmhnaidh gu math dealasach nuair a tha diadhachd na sliopairean airgid; tha toil mhòr againn a bhi sràidimeachd còmhla rithe air a' chabhsair, nuair a tha an là grianach, agus a tha am mòr-shluagh ga moladh.”

     An sin thug Crìosdaidh ceum a thaobh far an robh a chompanach Dòchas, agus thuirt e: “Is e mo bharail gur e siod Fear-nan-Car à Baile na Cainnte-Mìne; agus mas e th'ann, tha againn nar cuideachd cealgaire cho mòr 's a tha sna ceàrna seo idir.”

     An sin thuirt Dòchas: “Faighnich dheth; is cinnteach nach eil nàire air airson ainme.”

     Leis a sin, thàinig Crìosdaidh suas ris a-rithist, agus thuirt e: "A dhuine-uasail, tha thu còmhradh mar gum biodh fhios agad air rudeigin air nach eil fhios aig an t-saoghal uile; agus mura h-eil mi gu mòr air mo mhealladh, is i mo bharail gu bheil mi a' dèanamh bloigh aithnich ort. Nach tu Mgr Fear-nan-Car à Cainnt-Mhìn?”

     FnC: “Chan e sin m' ainm, ged is e far-ainm a tha aig cuid a dhaoine orm, daoine aig nach eil mòran mu mo dhèidhinn, agus feumaidh mi cur suas leis mar mhasladh, mar a bha aig daoine maithe romham ri ghiùlan.”

     Cr: “An e nach tug thu riamh adhbhar do dhaoine an t-ainm seo a thoirt ort?”

     FnC: “Cha tug a riamh! B'e an nì bu mhiosa rinn mi a thoirt fàth gum biodh an t-ainm seo air a thoirt orm, gun robh mi an còmhnaidh cho fortanach ‘s gun robh mi dol lem bheachd a rèir gnàth an àm a bha làthair, ge brith e; agus thionndaidh sin a-mach gu math dhomh; ach ma tha leithid sin gu bhi air a thilgeil orm, measaidh mi e mar bheannachd; na biodh daoine mì-runach a’ càrnadh masladh orm.”

     Cr: “Gu dearbh bha mi smaoineachadh gur tu an duine mun cuala mi, agus, a dh’innse dhut an nì a tha mi smaoineachadh, tha an t-ainm seo nas freagarraiche dhut nas maith leat a nochdadh dhuinn.”

     FnC: “Mas e sin do bharail, chan eil àrach agams air. Gheibh thu mi am chompanach math, ma tha thu deònach leigeil leam a bhi nad chuideachd.”

     Cr: “Ma thèid thu còmhla ruinne feumaidh tu dhol an aghaidh sruth is gaoithe, nì a tha mi a' dèanamh a-mach a tha an aghaidh do bheachd. Feumaidh tu cuideachd diadhachd aideachadh ged bhiodh i sna luideagan, cho cinnteach 's nuair a tha i na sliopairan airgid; agus seasamh air a taobh cuideachd nuair a tha i ceangailte an iarainn, cho maith ‘s nuair a tha i gabhail sràid 's i ga moladh leis a’ mhòr-shluagh.”

     FnC: “Chan fhaod thu an t-eallach a dhèanamh trom, no mo chreidimh a chuibhreachadh. Fàg mi aig mo shaorsa agus leig dhomh imeachd còmhla riut.”

     Cr: “Cha tèid thu aon cheum nas fhaide, mura dèan thu sa chùis seo mar a nì sinne.”

     An sin thuirt Fear-nan-Car: “Cha trèig mi a-chaoidh mo sheana chleachdannan, on a tha iad neo-lochdach is buannachdail. Mura faod mi dhol còmhla ruibh feumaidh mi dèanamh mar a rinn mi mun do thachair mi oirbh, gabhail romham am aonar gus an tachair cuideigin rium a bhios toilichte lem choluadair."

     An sin chunnaic mi nam bhruadar gun dhealaich Crìosdaidh agus Dòchas ris, agus gun robh iad a' cumail astar eadar iad fhèin is esan…

     (Earrann à "Turas a' Chrìosdaidh" le Pòl Bunian)

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