presbytery rebels object to scott rennie’s lifestyle
Kirk ministers attempt to bar gay churchman from new job
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Twelve Church of Scotland ministers and elders are trying to block the appointment of a gay minister in Aberdeen, it emerged last night.
They object to the decision to instal Scott Rennie at Queen’s Cross Church because they do not approve of his lifestyle.
The Aberdeen Presbytery members, who include ministers Louis Kinsey of St Columba's at Bridge of Don, Peter Dickson of High Holburn, Hugh Wallace of Newhills and Nigel Parker of Bucksburn Stoneywood, have signed a letter of protest to Kirk’s HQ in Edinburgh.
Prof Trevor Salmon, Queen’s Cross joint session clerk, said members, office-bearers and Mr Rennie are “dismayed” by the protest and branded the dissenters “small-minded”. A Kirk spokesman confirmed an appeal has been lodged against Mr Rennie’s appointment.
“The next step in the process will be for the dissent and complaint to go before the church’s committee on overtures and cases which consider preliminary technical legal issues of competency, relevance and transmissibility,” he said.
If the complaint is upheld, it will be referred to the Kirk’s General Assembly in May.
Aberdeen Presbytery voted 60-24 in favour of appointing 36-year-old Mr Rennie the new minister at Queen’s Cross Church on January 6.
He is currently minister at Brechin Cathedral and is regarded as one of Scotland’s finest young preachers.
Prof Salmon said: “Office-bearers at Queen’s Cross are united and support the call (appointment). We are happy that the congregation and the presbytery supports it and dismayed there are 12 people who wish to go to the General Assembly.”
Aberdeen-born Mr Rennie is separated from his wife, with whom he has a young daughter, and shares the manse with another man.
The Aberdeen University graduate stood in the Angus constituency for the Liberal Democrats in the 2005 general election and the 2007 Holyrood election.
Mr Rennie, who attended Bankhead Academy, was chosen to succeed the Rev Bob Brown, who retired recently.
Kirk rules state all appointments must be ratified by presbyteries. It is illegal to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation.
The presbytery spent two hours debating the issue in private meeting at Holburn West Church. Neither the ministers who signed the letter nor Mr Rennie wished to comment last night.
