A MINISTER claimed last night the Church of Scotland is “finished” as a place of worship for traditionalists, and urged them to join the Free Church of Scotland.
The Rev David Robertson said the Free Church could “provide a home” for members unhappy with appointment of a gay minister in Aberdeen and the Kirk’s same-sex marriage stance.
The minister at St Peter’s in Dundee said he had been approached by many people “very hurt and angry” about how the Kirk’s General Assembly decided to appoint Scott Rennie – formerly minister of Brechin Cathedral – to Queen’s Cross in Aberdeen.
Mr Robertson, 47, added they were open to seeing the Free Church, which has 12,000 members, as an “alter-native” place to worship, but added it too must modernise to accommodate them.
Mr Robertson, who has expressed his views in the latest edition of the Free Church of Scotland’s magazine, The Monthly Record, which he edits, said: “The Church of Scotland is finished as a place for people who hold a more biblical view. We need a realignment where Christians who share the same basic understanding of the Bible co-operate and work together.
“It would be better if we were more formally joined together.
“Instead of joining independent churches or fighting on for years and years and being a small minority within the Kirk, people should unite with other people who share the same point of view.”
A Church of Scotland minister, who asked not to be named, has stated that he and many others would be willing to listen if the Free Church of Scotland made “agreeable noises” to join them.
The Free Church of Scotland has already decided to review its policy of psalm singing and no music, in a move which would make it more attractive to Church of Scotland members.
Free Church of Scotland spokesman the Rev Iver Martin, who leads the congregation at Stornoway, said: “We would be enthusiastic about moving towards a united body of Bible-believing Christians.
“But it would have to be done properly and carefully so we do not cause any further tension.”