The Church of Scotland vote to allow civil partnered gay and lesbian ministers, despite no change in the official teaching on sexuality, shows that the drift towards accepting gay people in the Kirk is continuing, says Simon Barrow. Indeed, while seeking pastoral sensitivity towards their opponents, the advocates of change believe that full inclusion is now inevitable.

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Lorna Hood, has called for respect for different views among Kirk members.

The Church of Scotland has welcomed the the OFT’s compliance review of payday lenders and the proposal to refer the sector to the Competition Commission.

A new churches' report shows how evidence and statistics have been misused, misrepresented and manipulated to create untruths that stigmatise the poor.