Comment in today’s Aberdeen Press and Journal newspaper

TIME FOR THE KIRK TO MOVE ON

Gay minister Rennie craves a quieter life

Published: 04/07/2009

Considering what he has been through over the past months, it was something of an understatement when the Rev Scott Rennie said he now wanted to lead a normal life. Whether that will be possible remains to be seen after the strife over his appointment at Queen’s Cross Church, Aberdeen, which was confirmed last night.

As a gay minister, the selection of Mr Rennie was painted as a threat to the very future of the Church of Scotland and convulsed this year’s General Assembly, which finally approved his position despite a severe attack of angst.

Opposition is bound to continue in some quarters, but presbyterianism is built on a principle of everyone’s voice being allowed to be heard. This does not mean one faction being allowed to shout down another. In Mr Rennie’s case, he has been backed by a democratic majority vote at every stage – from the congregation, to the presbytery and to the highest level at the General Assembly. Surely that speaks for itself in terms of the consensus view.

Induction at Queen’s Cross Church

This from today’s Aberdeen Press and journal newspaper:

Gay minister gets rousing reception from new church

CONGREGATION WELCOMES PREACHER AT CENTRE OF HATE CAMPAIGN

BY JOANNA SKAILES

Published: 04/07/2009

A gay minister at the centre of a controversial row which almost split the Church of Scotland was last night inducted into his new role at an Aberdeen church.

Around 300 people attended the Rev Scott Rennie’s induction service at Queen’s Cross Church.

It came after six months of turmoil in which Mr Rennie, the former minister at Brechin Cathedral, became the object of an evangelical hate campaign which swept as far as the United States.

The decision on his appointment went all the way to the General Assembly, where objectors picketed outside, and it caused one of the biggest rifts the Church of Scotland had seen.

But last night he was welcomed by his new congregation. And, outside, there was not a demonstrator to be seen.

The Rev Dr Alan Falconer, moderator of the Aberdeen Presbytery, said the lengthy round of applause which followed Mr Rennie’s official induction was “almost as rousing” as the one recently given to South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu by the General Assembly.

When the congregation was asked to support him, members returned a firm: “We Do”.

Mr Falconer told Mr Rennie he could now focus on matters central to his ministry and “put aside other matters”.

In a statement before the service, Mr Rennie said he was very happy to be at Queen’s Cross Church. The 37-year-old divorced father-of-one said: “I am looking forward to many happy years serving God in this church, the parish and in this part of the city.”

“I look forward to getting on with the task at hand and returning to some kind of normal life.”

His partner of two years, David Smith, sat in the row behind him during last night’s induction service.

Members of the congregation did not wish to comment on his induction but were united in calling it a “happy evening”.

Mr Rennie was elected by 86% of the Queen’s Cross congregation – a decision later endorsed by members of the Aberdeen Presbytery, who voted 60-24 in support of his appointment on January 6.

But 12 objectors chose to appeal the presbytery’s decision because of his homosexuality, and more than 400 ministers and almost 5,000 Church of Scotland members signed an online petition opposing the move.

The General Assembly later voted 326 to 267 to approve his appointment, although about 150 commissioners and delegates abstained from the vote on May 23.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu applauded the Kirk for approving the appointment, when he addressed the assembly. He said upholding Mr Rennie’s move was “merciful”. He found it amazing churches were discussing “who goes to bed with whom” when people were dying of starvation and Aids and were involved in conflicts.

Two days after it approved the appointment, the Church of Scotland imposed a two-year ban on the ordination of openly gay ministers — a decision which did not affect Mr Rennie’s new position.

The General Assembly also gagged all members of Kirk courts, councils and committees from speaking to the media on contentious matters about sexuality. Only influential committees that advise on government policy are exempt from the order.

A special commission is being set up to investigate the induction and ordination of active homosexuals in the ministry.

It will consult presbyteries and kirk sessions on the issue and report back to the General Assembly in 2011.

An evangelical minister, who did not want to be named, previously said that the decision to appoint Mr Rennie was the “lowest point in living memory” for conservative Kirk members, who believe that active homosexuality is contrary to the teachings of the Bible.

The minister said: “People up and down the country feel awful about what has happened.

“If the Free Church of Scotland made agreeable noises I, and many others, would be willing to sit down and listen because of all the hurt people are feeling.”

Aberdeen University theology professor John Swinton has been appointed to the special Kirk commission which will examine the issue of inducting and ordaining homosexuals into the ministry.

Michael Jackson and the end of youthfulness

New York is deeply affected by the death of Michael Jackson.  The television and radio stations are playing his songs continuously.  In Macy’s massive, departmental store yesterday – I believe they are on 11 floors but can’t be sure about that – whilst trying on a pair of shoes that give me a slightly more youthful and fashionable air than I am accustomed to displaying, it was genuinely amazing to watch members of staff dancing and singing in the store as Michael Jackson’s music was played over the store’s piped-music system.  Fellow shoppers were singing along with the songs, out loud, uninhibited and without any embarrassment whatsoever.  I ask myself, could I ever imagine such scenes replicated on the floors and in the departments of John Lewis plc in George Street, Aberdeen?  Not likely, is the very polite answer. No, we Brits, and especially we Scots, are much more retentive about our emotions than our transatlantic cousins here in NY.

Nevertheless, the death of Michael Jackson has affected many people worldwide and it takes an effort of the will to achieve that most deft of balancing acts, of acknowledging on the one hand the tragedy of his untimely death, whilst on the other hand resisting being drawn into the public mood of almost compulsory grief for a man one did not know other than through the media of vinvl and video.  I use the word ‘compulsory’ deliberately.  The effect of Michael Jackson’s death over here is quite similar to the effect felt in the UK when Diana, Princess of Wales died. There is widespread grief all over the world, felt by millions, even though none of us knew him.  

We are in the realm of psychologists and psychiatrists now, of course. Why do we grieve when celebrities die? They are unknown to us, and providentially so, for would we continue to admire them if we were able to know them privately?  

There is the business of the deification of ordinary human beings, I suppose.  We set celebs on platforms and stages and then idolize them.  We offer them the adulation we withhold from God, many of us.  Their death or demise strikes us deeply and we are disappointed in precisely the place where we need to be most satisfied, in the place where God alone deserves to be enthroned, in the heart.

There is also, instinct tells me, something personal, even narcissistic about grieving for celebs.  Their music and artistic contributions have been a large and important part of our own lives.  Someone has recently said that Michael Jackson was the sound track to our lives.  In his case, his wonderful music reminds us of key times and moments in our lives.  We recall singing his songs, listening to his music and watching his videos when we were younger, and we remember how we felt at those moments, vibrant, young, full of promise, alive.  We remember that we were young once and in the halcyon days of our lives.

Michael Jackson’s music has helped us over many years to reconnect with our own youthfulness, and his death in some deep and irreversible way breaks that connection with the golden days of our youth and strength.

We are, in some sense, mourning the passing of our own lives, the passing of our own youth and vitality, and we are finding ourselves staring at the unbearable truth that without Christ and a real, personal faith, ‘all is meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” in the words of Ecclesiastes.  

Artists come and artists go.  Kingdoms rise and fall, and kings themselves wax and wane.  And so it is, too, with the prince of pop. Michael Jackson was a true genius, perhaps the greatest musical entertainer ever, albeit seriously flawed in personal terms.  His passing reminds us that youth has left us and that we will also pass on, but faith in Christ promises the renewal of bodily strength and vibrancy, a resurrection.  For those whose faith is in Christ, there is far more ahead than lies behind.

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.  ”Where, O death, is your victory? (1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 51-55)

Soli Deo Gloria

The Coming Evangelical Collapse

My attention was kindly drawn by Louise Hogg to the July edition of the Free Church Monthly Record, and whilst searching for it online – where it is not yet to be found - I came across an interesting editorial, I think it is, by David Robertson in May’s edition of that magazine.  The first paragraph is below and you can read the rest of it by following the link.  

David offers a lot of food for thought, but I was particularly interested in the final section in which he suggests the idea of a Presbyterian re-alignment in the UK.  Whether this might be a reality or not, or even a responsible course of action, I cannot say.  The consultation process of the Special Commission will need to complete its course before we know for sure how seriously and understandingly the evangelical view will be taken in the Kirk.  At that point, there will be greater clarity about the extent to which our theology and biblical understanding is appreciated and welcomed, or merely tolerated under the broad church banner.  

In any case, read what David has to say, and the final part especially.  It is what many have already begun to consider:

PS If anyone can electronically send me July’s article, I would be grateful.  Louise hasn’t indicated what it is but I am assuming it refers in some way to the issue about which our lips must remain sealed.

THE COMING EVANGELICAL COLLAPSE

In a fascinating article entitled ‘The Coming Evangelical Collapse’, Michael Spencer writes, Jeremiah-like, of the disaster about to come upon the American church.  He argues that in the 21st century, Evangelicals will be living in an increasingly secular and religiously antagonistic society. ‘Millions of Evangelicals will quit.  Thousands of ministries will end.  Christian media will be reduced, if not eliminated.  Many Christian schools will go into rapid decline’ (www.csmonitor.com).  He may or not be correct, but if he is (and his analysis has the ring of truth about it), then we can expect this to have a major impact in Britain as well.  However, we have an advantage.  We don’t need to speculate.  We are there.  We have already collapsed.  And the sooner we wake up to this fact, the better. 

 Read the rest here

Soli De Gloria

The Name of Jesus

At last night’s Presbytery Meeting, the new Moderator, Alan Falconer, began the evening’s proceedings with a message crafted to turn our thoughts towards unity and reconciliation after recent disagreements within the Presbytery.  His emphasis on the Body of Christ was a thoughtful gesture and his intentions good.  The Body of Christ is made up of many parts, and no part can rightly say to another, ‘I don’t need you.’  

I appreciated the sentiment behind his homily.  I really did.  Quite what effect it will have on a Presbytery where feelings now run very deep and where wounds have been inflicted, well, only time will tell.  Barring a miracle, I tend to think that some divisions cannot be healed, so fundamental are the differences.  This grieves me, but it is a reality that we must sometimes face.  In such circumstances, perhaps all that can be done is to agree on the rules for co-existence.  

For my part, I have always been impressed with the unity of the early believers, whom the Acts of the Apostles describe as having possessed  a unity of heart and mind.  A beautiful phrase.  I have always been inclined to understand that to mean a unity founded upon a shared doctrine and a shared belief – the mind bit – as well as a shared passion for Jesus Christ, the heart bit.  These are the two things in every place and time that will unite mature believers, irrespective of outward dissimilarities, or so it should be.

Which is precisely why I can’t understand how it is we so infrequently mention the name of Jesus Christ when we gather in Presbytery or General Assembly.  It has become almost an obsession with me to take notice, at any meeting I attend, of the frequency with which the name of the Lord is mentioned.  I even sit there counting the number of times Jesus’ name is used.  Usually I don’t need two hands.  The fingers on one normally suffice.  

Last night, I am sad to say that the Saviour’s name was barely spoken in the first ninety minutes of our Presbytery Meeting.  A whole hour and a half without very much use at all of the name that is above every other name, at which angels rejoice and demons tremble.  Lots of clapping, much smiling; the efforts of folk were publicly appreciated and applauded, rightly so; much mention of fund-raising and, to be fair, mention of a number of very worthy causes and efforts.  But hardly any use of the name of Jesus.

Now I’m old school about things like this.  I am inclined to judge how important something or someone is by the number of times he, she or it she is spoken about.  In any ninety minute period of conversation, I am pretty sure I will have spoken about my wife and family a good few times.  No one speaking to me for more than a few minutes will go away ignorant of the fact that I am married with offspring.  My family is important to me and so I talk about it, wherever I go.

I ask myself if a visitor would know that our Church, all we do and are, is all about Jesus, having attended one of our meetings?  It’s a challenging thought, isn’t it?  We can apply the test to ourselves.  How often is the Saviour’s name on our lips, never mind our Presbytery or General Assembly?

I hate to be always on the glass-half-empty side of things lately, but why don’t we speak about Jesus more at our meetings?  I have a sorrowful feeling that it is because many of us do not really know him, and have not really experienced the freedom and joy that his friendship brings.  If we did, nothing could prevent us from talking about him. His name would effortlessly be on our lips and to speak about him would be as natural as breathing.

My prayer is:

Holy Spirit, visit our Presbytery and Denomination today.  Bring us face to face with the risen Lord Jesus Christ, and grant us repentance and faith, so that nothing is ever the same again.  O Lord, open thou our lips, and our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.  Amen

Soli Deo Gloria

I am proud of my congregation

I was very moved by the comments and questions from the people of my church, St Columba’s, during the extra-ordinary meeting of our congregation which immediately following the morning service this past Sunday. 

We called the meeting in order to provide an opportunity before the summer holiday for the congregation to ask questions and discuss the recent decisions of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland relating to Aberdeen Presbytery. 

I have to say that I can’t remember when a congregational meeting was so well-attended, and I think that is indicative of the extent to which people have been affected to the core by recent events.  The mood of the meeting was both prayerful and serious.  There was a powerful sense of God’s presence and I was exceptionally proud of the Christian maturity demonstrated so clearly in the penetrating comments and probing questions.  It is clear to me, as the congregation’s pastor, that recent decisions have had a very damaging effect all round.  As one, our meeting was agreed on the one hand about the need to exercise patience whilst the Special Commission does its work, and whilst other groups, such as the Fellowship of Confessing Churches, and perhaps one or two other evangelical groups, meet, pray and strategise.  On the other, the meeting wants the elders and congregation to do all possible, in concert with others, to determine what the will of God is and to follow it, whatever that might mean in practical terms

What really struck me forcibly was the unity in our congregation about these issues, and I give God great thanks for that.  It feels a wonderful thing to me to have the full support of my congregation behind me on an issue of such importance and with such far-reaching consequences.  It gives me a great sense of confidence with which to act as I see fit and speak out as I think best.

I would also have to say that a number of those who attended that meeting spoke for many when they said how disappointed, even disgusted, they felt at the decisions of the Kirk.  One person was representative of at least a number when saying how they had felt that they did not wish to belong to a church that had made such a decision.  What has been noticeable has been the disillusionment felt by Kirk folk born and bred.  Those who know nothing other than the Kirk of their parents and grandparents have been rocked to their foundations, and some have lost respect for the church in which they have spent all of their lives and in which they have come to faith.

Our congregational meeting was unanimous in looking to me as minister, and to the elders of the congregation, for a leadership that is forthright and confident, and which will meet the congregation’s high expectations that all possible courses of action should be taken.  I thank God for a congregation that is committed to the glory of His name and which is deeply sorrowing that the Kirk is straying so far from His way, and I pray that by God’s grace we the elders will not fail them as we speak and act.

Soli Deo Gloria

What, no apology?

I notice that this month’s Life and Work magazine carries no apology for the damaging editorial of last month, which caused such widespread dismay.  Instead, the letters page begins

Further responses to the editorial in the May issue of Life and Work cannot be published following the ruling of the General Assembly in May.

The magazine then continues with the Assembly’s statement regarding the two year moratorium on public discussion of some of the issues debated.  Many in the Kirk felt that a line had been crossed in the writing of that editorial, and it seems astonishing that an apology is not forthcoming, notwithstanding the moratorium.   

This is a mistake on the magazine’s part.  An apology to the significant numbers of Kirk members and magazine readers for the magazine’s intrusion into a case about to come before the General Assembly, in such a partisan and alienating way, is surely called for, and to decline to publish any response to the editorial whatsoever is neither wise nor necessary. 

As it stands, it now appears that the magazine cannot see the need for an apology nor will it publish any responses, which are not likely to be directly related to the issues discussed at the General Assembly and which would, in all probability, be concerned only with the relationship of the magazine with the Kirk.  Does Life and Work really feel its hands are tied?  I can’t think why it should.

But perhaps there will be an apology in two years’ time?

 Soli Deo Gloria

“And here is my final point…”

During our evening service last night, I ran out time and was unable to bring the final point of my sermon to the congregation that had gathered in St Columba’s Church of Scotland, here in Bridge of Don.  As a result, I promised that I would post my final point on this blog, so here it is, and it relates to the issue of knowing when the moment has come, in the purposes of God, to move on and to serve the Gospel elsewhere.

In last night’s sermon I was expounding Acts chapter 14 verses 1-7, where the character and method, as well as the experience, of Paul and Barnabas as faith-sharers are revealed.  Here’s a brief précis. 

Firstly, they were determined, fearless, but also loving faith-sharers.  Secondly, they ‘spoke’ about Christ, and did so effectively, with real and lasting fruit – many believed.  Thirdly, opposition to their faith-sharing was united – recently we have similarly seen the religious (liberal elements of the Kirk) and the irreligious (the media) unite in opposition against Church of Scotland evangelicals.  But the response of Paul and Barnabas was to spend ‘considerable time there’, in spite of the gathering violence and hostility. 

In the challenging times in which we now find ourselves, the lesson we must take from this is to resist the temptation to pack our bags and escape at the first hint of a fight.  Paul and Barnabas stayed in Iconium as long as they possible could, and we must stay where we are as long as we can.

And so here is my final point, and it concerns the response of Paul and Barnabas to the increasingly hostile environment in which they now found themselves. 

Paul and Barnabas did not minister in foolish ignorance of the threat surrounding them.  They were sensible and realistic men.  They knew that a plot was afoot, and they did not fail to read the signs.  When the time came to leave Iconium, they left. 

As Church of Scotland evangelicals, we, too, must read the signs of our denomination carefully and not be naive.  The so-called breadth of the church is not static and fixed.  It is a moving and expanding thing, and it is moving in the direction of throwing off restraint and scriptural discipline.  We must take note of that.  Just as Paul and Barnabas did not remain where they were, no matter what, we must also be sensitive to the mood in the church.  A day may come in the not far distant future when we decide that we can no longer minister effectively and with freedom in this denomination, and that the time to move on to whatever God calls us to next has now arrived. 

This will call for discernment and judgement, not to mention patience, but conflict is time-consuming and energy-draining.  No one can attend to the business of the Kingdom of God and the work of creating healthy, evangelistic congregations whilst a great deal of our time and effort is take up with managing our response to conflict.

There is a wise balance to be found between defending the health of our denomination whilst at the same time leading our congregations in worship and mission.  If the denomination is capable of being corrected, then we must do what we can to correct it.  If it remains insistent on doing precisely what it wants, then the moment must come when we read the signs and go elsewhere, where, like Paul and Barnabas, we will continue to preach the good news to those willing to hear it and live under its authority. 

Soli Deo Gloria

Objects of reproach to our neighbours

The Psalms sung in Gaelic are a beautiful and haunting sound.  I first heard had the privilege of hearing Gaelic Psalms when I preached at Kilmuir and Stenscholl Parish Church many years ago when my friend Alen McCulloch was minister there.  This video brings us the words of Psalm 79, verses 3 & 4.  Many Church of Scotland evangelicals can today identify entirely with these verses, living in a time, as we are, when our evangelical theology and biblical understanding are ridiculed and rejected in the Kirk.  

 

‘They have poured out blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.  We are objects of reproach to our neighbours, of scorn and derision to those around us’ (Psalm 79.3,4)

Soli Deo Gloria

Delirious at the Highland Festival in Inverness

I hadn’t heard about this until reading the Aberdeen Press & Journal this morning.  I know that a number of the younger folk in my church, and some of the older ones too – I’m talking about you, Dave! – will want to pop along.  I have no more details to hand than are contained in the article.  

Soli Deo Gloria

DELIRIOUS IN INVERNESS PERFORMANCE AS PART OF UK FAREWELL TOUR

Leading Christian band set for gig with top evangelist

BY SUSAN WELSH

Published: 12/06/2009

Leading Christian band Delirious, who have supported both Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams, will headline the Highland Festival with Luis Palau next week as part of their history makers’ farewell tour of the UK.

Delirious have had seven top 40 singles and two top 20 albums, and are best known for ground-breaking albums such as Live and In The Can, which was sold in a tin can. The free show will feature many of their greatest hits, as well as tracks from their recently-released live album, My Soul Sings. Other bands appearing at the Highland Festival, which takes place in the Bught Park, Inverness, on June 19 and 20, include, L27, Hillsong London and The Listening.

Organisers say they expect an audience of more than 10,000 to attend, and at the end of each evening, Mr Palau, an international evangelist, will share a positive Christian message.

The festival is supported by more than 100 churches of varying denominations, representing more than half of the places of worship in the Highlands.

Lord James Mackay of Clashfern is chairman of the organising committee.

Kevin Palau, executive vice-president of the Luis Palau Association, said: “We are delighted that Delirious, one of the few British Christian bands which has managed to cross over into the mainstream music scene, has chosen to appear at the festival as part of their farewell tour.

“We are sure that their music, as well as that from L27, Hillsong London and The Listening, will prove exceptionally popular with the young and not-so-young people of Inverness and the surrounding area.

“We are therefore confident that Bught Park will be bulging with music fans in late June.”

The last time Luis Palau and his team visited the UK was 30 years ago, an event said to have been responsible for putting large-scale evangelism back on the British map. Mr Palau has shared the Gospel with more than one billion people through evangelistic events and the media and has spoken in person to audiences of more than 25million people in 72 countries.