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.