Mr. Fortuyn, 54, was a former sociology professor who said he wanted to become the country's first gay prime minister.

Sixty percent of respondents stated that they would have no objections to having an openly gay minister or a head of the government.

While not replacing McClurkin, the campaign added a gay minister to the tour.

The Church of Scotland votes to allow openly gay ministers, who can live in civil unions.

However, her future remains unclear because the church reaffirmed the ban against gay ministers.

During its May 2013 annual meeting the question of ordaining openly gay ministers was again discussed.

Another proposal, which would have allowed local regions of the church to decide whether to allow openly gay ministers, was also defeated, 638 to 303.

The two churches that hired the gay ministers came to their decisions by very different routes.

Mohamad also warned gay ministers in foreign countries not to bring along their partners while visiting the nation.

In 2007, Nathan C. Walker became the first openly gay minister to be called to the serve the church.