A Broughty Ferry church has been rocked by a revolt over the Kirk’s views on homosexuality and humanism.
The minister of St James Church is leading most of his elders and many worshippers to form a new congregation in protest at the radical changes.
They are also objecting to Dundee Presbytery’s decision to stop St James from appointing a new permanent minister because of a review of churches in Broughty Ferry.
The Rev Alberto de Paula, 45, who is originally from Brazil, said the extreme action is being taken to leave the Church of Scotland over its stance on the authority of the Bible.
The minister at St James since 2005 said: “The Church of Scotland has, at one General Assembly after another, made decisions on human sexuality that are at odds with its stated position that its supreme authority in matters of faith and practice is the Bible, the word of God. Some parts of scripture are difficult to understand, but this is not the case with the teaching on marriage and human sexuality.
“The Church of Scotland has decided to train, ordain, and induct into the ministry those who are practising homosexuals and so depart from its source of authority.
“To add to our distress, Dundee Presbytery decided the growing and vibrant congregation of St James is no longer to be allowed a minister completely ignoring how this church has been performing.”
Mr de Paula described as “beyond belief” the recent statement from the Church of Scotland and the Scottish Humanist Society on changing religious observance in schools to a “time for reflection” and the Church “walking together” with the Scottish Humanist Society.
Mr de Paula’s regular congregation has grown to about 120 in his time, and he will lead the exodus to a new place of worship in Broughty Ferry a venue yet to be decided in August.
The Presbytery’s long-term plan is for one or two ministers to serve Broughty Ferry’s four churches, and they have pledged to support members who stay at St James’ within the Church of Scotland.
The building will remain for at least five years under an interim minister.
A Church of Scotland spokesman said they were sorry Mr de Paula and some of the members of St James have decided to leave, as they would have made a positive contribution to the future of Church of Scotland life in Broughty Ferry.
The church is still debating the issues involved and no final decision has been made.
Disputing the accuracy of some of the information released by St James, he said: “The reference to the Church’s position of religious observation in schools does not reflect either the reality of what happens in schools nor does it express accurately the nature of the conversations that the Church and Society Council have had with Humanist Society.”