A Church of Scotland congregation rocked by the gay clergy row has been given a huge morale boost.
The moderator of the Kirk’s General Assembly, the Right Reverend John Chalmers, conducted a service in front of about 200 people at Stornoway High Church on Lewis on Sunday.
He assured parishioners that “God will not let them down”.
The message will come as a great comfort to around 100 people who have decided to remain members of the church.
A group of about 250 worshippers – including the entire kirk session – left to join the Free Church in May in protest to a proposal that will allow congregations to appoint people in civil partnerships if they wished.
Mr Chalmers, who took up his 12 month position in May and is on a eight day visit to the islands, said he and his wife Liz “could not have experienced any warmer a welcome”.
“We have learned much about the community and our visit has provided a much needed opportunity to affirm the work being done by the Church of Scotland throughout the islands,” he added.
“It was wonderful to preach to such a well attended service in which I was able to share my enthusiasm for all that the Church of Scotland is doing across Scotland and encourage folk in their journey of faith.
“The motto of the town of Stornoway is God’s providence is our inheritance and I enjoyed assuring the people of the High Kirk that, in keeping with their town motto, God will not let them down.”
John Cunningham, Presbytery of Lewis clergy, said it was a “great privilege” to host the moderator – the Kirk’s public figurehead – and his wife as their support was “valued”.
“He has visited a number of organisations and individuals and has enjoyed hearing how peoples’ Christian faith has enriched their lives and helped them deal with the challenges which life presents from day to day,” added Mr Cunningham.
Mr Cunningham said issues discussed with the moderator and local Kirk members included religious observance in schools and civil partnerships and the ministry.
Mr Cunningham said the moderator presenting the Stornoway High congregation with a framed ‘Dove of Peace’, made by impoverished Bethlehem tradesmen from broken glass collected from bombed sites on the West Bank.