A former Dundee minister has become the first clergyman to break away from the Church of Scotland over its decision to lift a ban on gay ministers.
The Rev Dominic Smart, minister at Gilcomston South Church, Aberdeen, said his congregation disagrees with the General Assembly’s decision to relax rules on the ordination of openly gay ministers and will leave the Kirk as a result.
It will be the first church to leave the Kirk since the General Assembly made its decision last month. A Fife minister has also stood down in protest at the Church of Scotland’s stance.
The Rev Brian McDowell, minister of Elie and Kilconquhar and Colinsburgh linked parishes, told his congregation on Sunday that he would be retiring before he intended to because of the decision taken by the General Assembly.
The Ulsterman was in Ireland on Thursday and unable to comment, and his session clerk declined to talk about the matter.
Meanwhile, Gilcomston’s 380-strong congregation will discuss the issue on June 27, ahead of a vote in August or early September. The church could be wholly independent of the Church of Scotland within a year.First of manyMr Smart, the former minister of Logie and St John’s (Cross) Parish Church in Dundee, said that Gilcomston could be the first of many to abandon the Church of Scotland over the issue of ministers in same-sex relationships.
The General Assembly has been considering the issue since the Rev Scott Rennie, who is gay, was appointed to Queen’s Cross Church in Aberdeen in 2009. Mr Rennie was formerly minister at Brechin Cathedral.
Last month it voted to allow gay ministers who were ordained before Mr Rennie’s appointment to be appointed to churches.
Mr Smart said, “Obviously there is a depth of feeling but nobody is running wild and ranting. We’ve taken a long time to come to this decision and will take however long is necessary to withdraw from the denomination in the best way.
“This decision is not about Scott Rennie. It’s about how the Bible has become marginalised that is the key issue.
“That view is shared by most Christians around the world and has been for 2000 years of Christian history so it is sad the church has gone down this road.”Standard-bearersMr Smart, who left Logie and St John’s (Cross) Parish for Aberdeen in 1998, said other churches may leave the Kirk, but he stressed he and his congregation do not want to become standard-bearers.
A statement from Gilcomston said, “It is with great sadness that we feel we can no longer be part of the Church of Scotland and will take such measures as will allow us and the congregation to leave the denomination.
“The Kirk Session has therefore agreed to call a congregational meeting on Monday, June 27. Our decision is not a knee-jerk reaction it is the culmination of careful study, sincere discussion and prayer over the past two and a half years.”
It added, “It is possible that other churches will do the same thing but we are not leading anything or any group. All of this is just a decision we are making on our own as a congregation.”
The General Assembly will debate the subject again in 2013 once a report on related theological issues is completed.
A spokesman said, “We have not received any official notification from the congregation that they are seceding from the Church of Scotland.
“We have already recognised that the decision taken by the General Assembly will have caused hurt to some people within the church. It is disappointing that any congregation would feel the need to leave the church when no final decisions have been taken.
“And the church has agreed to hold more dialogue on this issue leading to a further report, which will not be heard until 2013.”
An elder of Elie Parish Church said the congregation was distraught to be losing Mr McDowell.
Ian Sandison, of Colinsburgh, said, “He told us when he was inducted to us he had made a solemn promise to obey the orders of St Andrews Presbytery and the General Assembly.
“He feels now the General Assembly is taking this stance he can no longer keep this solemn promise and in these circumstances the only thing he can do is stand down.
“He is a hugely popular minister. He is the most decent man I have ever met.”
Mr Sandison has written to the Church of Scotland and the St Andrews Presbytery to tell them he deplores last month’s decision.
He said, “Most of us think this is lip service and they have already decided they will allow the ordination of ministers in same-sex relationships. The two years is simply to allow opposition to die down.”
Mr McDowell, who was ordained in 1978, was inducted to Elie and Kilconquhar and Colinsburgh in September 2007. In September he was granted permission by St Andrews Presbytery to continue for five years beyond retirement age.
A Kirk spokesman said, “We can confirm that the Rev Brian McDowell has announced his decision to retire on September 30, 2011.”