Vote on gay ministers could cause schism in Church of Scotland
The split over the ordination of gay ministers could have a catastrophic effect on Church of Scotland membership, it was warned.
- By Stefan Morkis
- Published in the Courier : 26.05.11
- Published online : 26.05.11 @ 03.03pm
Rev Steven Reid said a "line has been crossed" after a General Assembly vote to relax the rules on gay clergy that could drive churchgoers away.
On Monday, the General Assembly voted to allow gay ministers to put themselves forward to take over congregations, so long as they were ordained by May 2009, when gay minister Scott Rennie was appointed to Queen's Cross Parish Church in Aberdeen.
Although he was a popular minister when at Brechin Cathedral, his appointment sparked outrage in more conservative corners of the Kirk, who believe the Bible's stance on homosexuality explicitly prohibits openly-gay clergy.
A commission on same-sex relationships and the ministry was set up as a result of the furore. It set out possible paths for the Church to take on the issue and on Monday the assembly voted 351 to 294, with 208 abstentions to allow gay ministers.
A theological commission has been set up and will spend two years seeking a definitive answer on whether the Church of Scotland should allow openly homosexual ministers.
Monday's vote has appalled members of the church's traditional wing, opposed to any change in the Kirk's police on homosexual clergy. The vote prompted 239 commissioners of the assembly to lodge formal notices of protest on Tuesday.
Rev Steven Reid, chairman of the traditionalist group Forward Together, said, "I find it difficult to believe people from the traditional side of the Kirk will learn to accept this change."
He said it was unlikely parishes will leave the Church of Scotland but that individual members could turn away from the Kirk.
"Whether a schism is inevitable I can't say as it is a complicated legal process," he said. "But I think there will be members who will just leave the church as individuals, that can just happen.
"A line has been crossed and this is really the problem. We've been saying this all along and even in the survey they did the question was asked and people indicated how they felt about it, but they have gone ahead anyway."
Out of step
The liberal wing believes the Kirk is out of step with society and in danger of breaching anti-discrimination laws.
Former moderator of Dundee Presbytery, Rev Erik Cramb, said it was hard to predict what would happen to the Church because of Monday's vote.
He said, "I wouldn't say there's been a line drawn but it there is certainly an indication about what will happen in two years.
"When introducing the debate, the moderator said what he didn't want was one bona fide argument triumphing over another by a narrow margin and that is exactly what happened. I hope the traditionalists don't leave the church but I can understand why they feel very flattened by it."
Charles Webster, an elder at St James' Parish Church in Broughty Ferry, is worried about the effect the row — likely to continue until the commission reports in 2013 — will have on church attendances.
He said, "There is always concern for the Church when anything comes before it that is likely to be divisive. The Church of Scotland has got falling numbers and a division could be catastrophic."
He said ministers and elders take ordination vows, which require them to be faithful to the church and to avoid creating any division within it, adding, "An issue like this can cause divisions between the two."
David Robertson, from the Free Church of Scotland in Dundee, also expects some members of the Kirk to leave for other churches, including his own.
"I'm hopeful that what we'll see is change and development in the Free Church as part of a church," he said. "My concern is not that ministers are gay — it is the question of actively practising homosexuals and gay marriage.
"There are a lot of people who are really unhappy and a number of my friends in the Church of Scotland don't know what to do. Some will stay and some leave.
"Some congregations may leave but it is more likely to be individuals. They would be very welcome at the Free Church."
10.36am - 27.05.2011 John Sutherland - Skelmorlie, UK Report This
the Church of Scotland has failing finances, falling attendances and ageing membership. It has forgotten that its remit is to preach the gospel. Once it does this, it will prosper, as Scotland's evangelical churches do. Its false ministers who should leave, not true members.
01.50pm - 29.05.2011 J - Forfar, Angus Report This
I am at a loss, The church of Scotland by taking this stand is publicly declaring that it does not believe the scriptures. I grew up c of S, I love the Lord and would dearly like to be able to worship in my local church, but I can not raise my children in a church which does not teach the truth
03.27pm - 10.06.2011 J E Brown - Dundee, Scotland, UK Report This
It is strange that evangelicals are termed "traditionalists" as if they were making up their own custom to set aside God's word, when those who are termed "progressive" are doing just that and putting the church back to the time of the Pharisees, albeit in a different fashion.
05.26pm - 02.02.2012 George Falconer - Not saying, not saying Report This
It is obvoius that the Gay lobby is organised and are determined to impose themselves on the rest of us. I suspect that many individuals who love the lord and want to adhere to his word, will leave the church of scotland and go elsewhere.
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