Shocking figures which show the Church of Scotland is losing 300 members a week have prompted claims that the Kirk faces a bleak future of “spiritual malaise”.
“The Church of Scotland is literally dying,” said the Rev David Robertson,who takes up the role of moderator of the Free Church next month.
Divisions over issues like same-sexmarriage and assisted suicide meant new people were not willing to join the church as congregations died off, he said.
Mr Robertson also claimed the Kirk’s demise would continue if it does not return to “more fundamental” values.
Figures contained in a 2015 General Assembly report show membership fell by more than 155,000 between 2004 and 2014.
Meanwhile, the number of baptisms fell by almost 2,600 and the number of elders dropped by just under 9,000.
“The present situation in the kirk deeply saddens me,” said Mr Robertson.“But I also believe that the Church of Scotland is declining numerically because it is in a theological and moral decline.”
Mr Robertson made his comments as the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly reports revealed the depth of the problem membership declined by a further 16,000 last year and it has lost 130 parish ministers through either retirement orresignation since 2009.
In tandem with the Church’s membership decline in the last 10 years it has seen a reduction in the number ofcongregations which has fallen over that period from 1,546 to 1,379.
Not one presbytery saw growth last year a picture that ismirrored across Courier Country where every presbytery recorded a fall in congregation numbers.
Speaking for the Church ofScotland the Very Rev David Arnott rejected the “gloomy” picture painted by the Free Church and said it bore little relation to reality.
“The official membership of the Church of Scotland has gently declined by 16,000 in the course of a year,” he said.
“It is a similarpicture in many other mainstream churches. However with approaching 400,000 members the Church of Scotland remains one of Scotland’s largest and most robust organisations.
“Moreover without ever registering as members, thousands of Scots attend church services and are committed participants in church initiatives such as food banks.
“Others participate in the life of the church through online activities such as web streamed services.
“As regards ministers, 20 out of 800 have left because the church is considering allowing congregations the option of selecting a minister who is in a same sexrelationship.”