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| Protest staged over gay minister | Protest staged over gay minister |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| About 20 people have staged a demonstration outside the General Assembly meeting which is due to debate the appointment of a gay minister. | About 20 people have staged a demonstration outside the General Assembly meeting which is due to debate the appointment of a gay minister. |
| The protest, at The Mound in Edinburgh, was led by Pastor Jack Bell of the Zion Baptist Church in Glasgow. | The protest, at The Mound in Edinburgh, was led by Pastor Jack Bell of the Zion Baptist Church in Glasgow. |
| The Reverend Scott Rennie was backed by a majority of the congregation and the local presbytery as the new minister at Queen's Cross Church, Aberdeen. | The Reverend Scott Rennie was backed by a majority of the congregation and the local presbytery as the new minister at Queen's Cross Church, Aberdeen. |
| But some have since said they were unaware of Mr Rennie's sexuality. | But some have since said they were unaware of Mr Rennie's sexuality. |
| The matter was referred to the General Assembly, the church's supreme court and will be debated on Saturday evening. | The matter was referred to the General Assembly, the church's supreme court and will be debated on Saturday evening. |
| Mr Rennie, a 36-year-old divorced father-of-one, was previously a minister at Brechin Cathedral. | Mr Rennie, a 36-year-old divorced father-of-one, was previously a minister at Brechin Cathedral. |
| He has said he was open with the congregation at Queen's Cross about being gay and living with his male partner. | He has said he was open with the congregation at Queen's Cross about being gay and living with his male partner. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| But more than 400 Kirk ministers and almost 5,000 Church of Scotland members are said to have signed an online petition opposing the appointment. | But more than 400 Kirk ministers and almost 5,000 Church of Scotland members are said to have signed an online petition opposing the appointment. |
| One of those ministers, the Reverend David Randall, said he believed that "a minister is somebody who ought to live by the Bible". | One of those ministers, the Reverend David Randall, said he believed that "a minister is somebody who ought to live by the Bible". |
| He said: "We believe that the Bible's teaching is quite clear in this matter - that marriage is the right and only context for sexual relationships. | He said: "We believe that the Bible's teaching is quite clear in this matter - that marriage is the right and only context for sexual relationships. |
| "After all, if a minister sought to move in with a man, with a woman, to whom he was not married, that would obviously be unacceptable - how much more so when we're talking about a homosexual." | "After all, if a minister sought to move in with a man, with a woman, to whom he was not married, that would obviously be unacceptable - how much more so when we're talking about a homosexual." |
| But the Reverend Ewen Gilchrist, caretaker Minister at Queen's Cross, said there should be more acceptance. | But the Reverend Ewen Gilchrist, caretaker Minister at Queen's Cross, said there should be more acceptance. |
| "Sexuality is something that the church doesn't have a good track record about", he said. | "Sexuality is something that the church doesn't have a good track record about", he said. |
| "We constantly lock it up and frown about it. Here's an opportunity to welcome it, to acknowledge the diversity of human sexuality and to bring that richness into our life and worship." | "We constantly lock it up and frown about it. Here's an opportunity to welcome it, to acknowledge the diversity of human sexuality and to bring that richness into our life and worship." |
| Mr Rennie's appointment has raised fears of a split in the Kirk | Mr Rennie's appointment has raised fears of a split in the Kirk |
| During the demonstration, Pastor Bell said: "We are protesting against the very real possibility of Scott Rennie having a majority tonight. | During the demonstration, Pastor Bell said: "We are protesting against the very real possibility of Scott Rennie having a majority tonight. |
| "We are absolutely opposed to that on the basis of what God has to say about homosexuality in the Bible." | "We are absolutely opposed to that on the basis of what God has to say about homosexuality in the Bible." |
| The Reverend Lindsay Biddle of Affirmation Scotland, a group which supports gay and lesbian clergy, said she hoped Mr Rennie would be accepted into the church. | The Reverend Lindsay Biddle of Affirmation Scotland, a group which supports gay and lesbian clergy, said she hoped Mr Rennie would be accepted into the church. |
| "We are praying that the General Assembly will affirm the call process tonight and allow Scott into the church," she added. | "We are praying that the General Assembly will affirm the call process tonight and allow Scott into the church," she added. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYWe can't force religions to go against what they believe in, even if what they believe in amounts to petty discrimination. George, Bedford Send us your comments | |
| "There are many gay ministers in the Church of Scotland, there always have been and there will continue to be. | "There are many gay ministers in the Church of Scotland, there always have been and there will continue to be. |
| "The only difference is that people now know there is an openly gay minister in the church." | "The only difference is that people now know there is an openly gay minister in the church." |
| She added: "Scripture does not address homosexuality, much less condemn it." | She added: "Scripture does not address homosexuality, much less condemn it." |
| The Church of Scotland decided on a "period of reflection" when it considered the viability of gay relationships two years ago. | The Church of Scotland decided on a "period of reflection" when it considered the viability of gay relationships two years ago. |
| The Kirk's editorially-independent in-house magazine Life and Work last month called on believers to come to terms with gay relationships. | The Kirk's editorially-independent in-house magazine Life and Work last month called on believers to come to terms with gay relationships. |
| The Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas, which has previously staged protests at the funerals of soldiers and Aids victims, had threatened to picket the General Assembly over the row. Its leader, Fred Phelps, has been banned from entering the UK. | The Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas, which has previously staged protests at the funerals of soldiers and Aids victims, had threatened to picket the General Assembly over the row. Its leader, Fred Phelps, has been banned from entering the UK. |