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Gay row minister urges 'justice' Kirk votes to back gay minister
(30 minutes later)
A gay minister whose appointment is being discussed by Church of Scotland leaders says he hopes "justice is done" for all gay ministers in Scotland. Church of Scotland leaders have voted to uphold the decision to appoint a gay minister to a church in Aberdeen.
The Rev Scott Rennie, 37, said there were "many" gay ministers in the Church and rejected claims his sexuality contradicted Bible teachings. The Reverend Scott Rennie, 37, had earlier urged the General Assembly in Edinburgh to ensure "justice was done" for all gay ministers in Scotland.
He is backed by a majority of his congregation at Queen's Cross Church, Aberdeen, and the local presbytery. He was backed by a majority of his congregation at Aberdeen's Queen's Cross Church and the local presbytery.
About 20 people protested against the appointment at the General Assembly. Demonstrations were held outside the meeting by supporters and opponents of Mr Rennie's appointment.
A counter-demonstration was held by a larger group supporting Mr Rennie. Mr Rennie, a divorced father-of-one, was previously a minister at Brechin Cathedral and said he was open with the congregation at Queen's Cross about being gay and living with his male partner.
The demonstration at The Mound in Edinburgh was led by Pastor Jack Bell of the Zion Baptist Church in Glasgow.
"We are protesting against the very real possibility of Scott Rennie having a majority tonight," he said.
"We are absolutely opposed to that on the basis of what God has to say about homosexuality in the Bible."
'Moved on''Moved on'
Mr Rennie, a divorced father-of-one, was previously a minister at Brechin Cathedral and has said he was open with the congregation at Queen's Cross about being gay and living with his male partner.
Arriving at the assembly earlier, he said: "There are many gay ministers in the Church of Scotland and I hope that justice is done for them tonight."Arriving at the assembly earlier, he said: "There are many gay ministers in the Church of Scotland and I hope that justice is done for them tonight."
He also dismissed claims the issue would divide the Church.He also dismissed claims the issue would divide the Church.
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"The same talk was about when women were ordained and I think that argument suits those that don't want any change," he said."The same talk was about when women were ordained and I think that argument suits those that don't want any change," he said.
Mr Rennie's appointment has raised fears of a split in the Kirk
He added: "We don't stone women, we don't stone adulterers, we've moved on from that."He added: "We don't stone women, we don't stone adulterers, we've moved on from that."
However, more than 400 Kirk ministers and almost 5,000 Church of Scotland members are said to have signed an online petition opposing the appointment.However, 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 Rev David Randall, said he believed that "a minister is somebody who ought to live by the Bible".One of those ministers, the Rev 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."
'An opportunity' 'Poor record'
But the Rev Ewen Gilchrist, caretaker minister at Queen's Cross, said there should be more acceptance. The demonstration at The Mound in Edinburgh on Saturday was led by Pastor Jack Bell of the Zion Baptist Church in Glasgow.
"We are absolutely opposed to that on the basis of what God has to say about homosexuality in the Bible," he said.
But earlier, the Rev Ewen Gilchrist, caretaker minister at Queen's Cross, said there should be more acceptance.
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
"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.
Mr Rennie's appointment has raised fears of a split in the Kirk
"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."
The Rev 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.
"There are many gay ministers in the Church of Scotland, there always have been and there will continue to be.
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
"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."
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.