Crossroads...? I'm stumped.
[Crossposted from Facebook]
I shouldn't be awake. But I'm stumped.
Right after posting the immediate previous note, I decided to tag my old, good friend Scott Rennie. (See reference to learning to play guitar.) To my surprise and dismay I discovered he was nowhere to be found.
I was wondering why my Facebook friends count had dropped by one! I Googled to see if I could regain contact with this man who'd passively eluded me with only sporadic exception for 20 years. Then I found this blog post from two weeks ago.
Latest crisis in the Church of Scotland (9 January, 2009)
From http://coins-for-change.blogspot.com/2009/01/latest-crisis-in-church-of-scotland.html
The Church of Scotland is facing its biggest crisis for over a hundred years. On 6th January 2009 the Presbytery of Aberdeen voted to sustain the call from Queens Cross Church, Aberdeen, to Rev. Scott Rennie, presently of Brechin Cathedral. Nothing unusual about that, except that Scott has publicly declared himself to be a practising homosexual and that he intends to bring his boyfriend to live with him in the manse. This is the first time that an openly gay minister has been called to a charge.
Normally sustaining a call is an administrative affair. But recognizing the uniqueness of the case, Aberdeen Presbytery decided to debate the issue. Aberdeen was one of the few presbyteries to approve the idea of blessing civil partnerships two years ago. It’s no surprise that Aberdeen voted to sustain Scott’s call.
The evangelicals in Aberdeen argued against sustaining the call on the grounds that this flies in the face of the mind of the whole Church. It’s not going too far to call this a schismatic act. The Church of Scotland has consistently refused to condone the gay life style. We overwhelmingly refused to approve the blessing of civil partnerships. No one should say that the Church is split down the middle. This is an act of defiance. Make no mistake, this issue has the potential to wreck the Church of Scotland.
The evangelicals in Aberdeen have lodged what we call a “dissent and complaint”, in other words, an appeal. That will go to the Principal Clerk’s office in Edinburgh. The Clerk should endorse the appeal as valid. This should have the effect of sisting (putting on ice) the process until the General Assembly meets in May. This is what should happen. The whole Church must be allowed to express its mind on the matter.
Please pray for us as we seek to stand up for Biblical truth and Biblical morality. Pray for wisdom as we deal with the press and the courts of the church. Pray for the Church of Scotland. Is God finished with her?
(This is an article that appeared today in the Aberdeen Press and Journal - so much for even handed reporting!)
Kirk leaders approve Brechin gay minister for Aberdeen post
Critics expected to try to block move within 10 days
By Cameron Brooks
Published: 08/01/2009
CHURCH of Scotland leaders have approved the controversial appointment of a gay minister at an Aberdeen church despite opposition from conservative members who do not approve of his lifestyle, it has emerged.
The city’s presbytery voted 60-24 to instal the Rev Scott Rennie at Queen’s Cross Church. However, sources within the Kirk say it is highly likely that critics will lodge an appeal to block the move within the next 10 days.
The Church of Scotland General Assembly, which is divided over civil partnerships, would then make the final decision in May.
Mr Rennie is currently minister at Brechin Cathedral in Angus, where he has worked since 1999.
Separated from his wife with whom he has a young daughter, he shares the manse with another man.
The Church of Scotland said Mr Rennie was widely recognised as an “enthusiastic and gifted preacher”.
Prof Trevor Salmon, joint session clerk at Queen’s Cross, said: “This appointment was given a resounding endorsement by the Kirk session and congregation.
“We believe Scott Rennie has the qualities to build upon the tradition of excellent ministry that has been a hallmark of Queen’s Cross worship for many years.”
Mr Rennie, who stood in the Angus constituency for the Lib Dems in the 2005 general election, is poised to take over the position vacated by the Rev Bob Brown.
Despite opposition to his appointment, Queen’s Cross Church has a reputation of being liberal-minded.
In 2006, members Monica Stewart and Paula McDonald entered into a civil partnership and Mr Brown was a guest at the “wedding”.
The same year he took a stand against evangelical organisation, Forward Together, which wants ministers and deacons banned from leading ceremonies because it goes against what is said in the Bible.
Mr Brown, brother of former Scotland manager Craig Brown, argued homosexuality was a God-given orientation while the organisation claimed civil partnerships condoned something that God actually condemns.
It is illegal to discriminate against someone due to their sexual orientation. The presbytery, which met in private at Aberdeen’s Holburn West Church on Tuesday, focused on Mr Rennie’s lifestyle as opposed to his orientation.
Mr Rennie was not available for comment.
I'm stumped. I'm remarkably stumped. *My* friend, one who did so much to influence the consistency of my faith, stands poised to singlehandedly bring down the Church of Scotland? Could it be so??!?
I shouldn't be stumped. But I'm stumped. I had no idea whatsoever that he was going through this.
I'll pray for you, my friend. And for your church. And for your family. Families. Whatever.
But I thank God that I don't have to vote on this. My friends know where I firmly stand on the political issues of tolerance and preference, but they also know that my unyielding tenacity with the separation of Church and State means that my political opinions do remarkably little to inform my ecclesiology. The standards of the Church are not required to adhere to the same liberties and protections and civil rights that inform nations. The Church is not within a nation, or even nations, but is outside every nation, and, even, is outside all nations at once, is outside this world, in an entirely different world.
Did I mention that I'm stumped? Friendship and love do much to stretch strong opinions, perhaps even to the point where one or the other has to break. Frankly, I'd tend to sacrifice an opinion to save a friendship. John Knox was once one of my dearest heroes. Scott Rennie is one of my deepest and most longstanding friends.
I'm stumped.
I shouldn't be awake. But I'm stumped.
Right after posting the immediate previous note, I decided to tag my old, good friend Scott Rennie. (See reference to learning to play guitar.) To my surprise and dismay I discovered he was nowhere to be found.
I was wondering why my Facebook friends count had dropped by one! I Googled to see if I could regain contact with this man who'd passively eluded me with only sporadic exception for 20 years. Then I found this blog post from two weeks ago.
Latest crisis in the Church of Scotland (9 January, 2009)
From http://coins-for-change.blogspot.com/2009/01/latest-crisis-in-church-of-scotland.html
The Church of Scotland is facing its biggest crisis for over a hundred years. On 6th January 2009 the Presbytery of Aberdeen voted to sustain the call from Queens Cross Church, Aberdeen, to Rev. Scott Rennie, presently of Brechin Cathedral. Nothing unusual about that, except that Scott has publicly declared himself to be a practising homosexual and that he intends to bring his boyfriend to live with him in the manse. This is the first time that an openly gay minister has been called to a charge.
Normally sustaining a call is an administrative affair. But recognizing the uniqueness of the case, Aberdeen Presbytery decided to debate the issue. Aberdeen was one of the few presbyteries to approve the idea of blessing civil partnerships two years ago. It’s no surprise that Aberdeen voted to sustain Scott’s call.
The evangelicals in Aberdeen argued against sustaining the call on the grounds that this flies in the face of the mind of the whole Church. It’s not going too far to call this a schismatic act. The Church of Scotland has consistently refused to condone the gay life style. We overwhelmingly refused to approve the blessing of civil partnerships. No one should say that the Church is split down the middle. This is an act of defiance. Make no mistake, this issue has the potential to wreck the Church of Scotland.
The evangelicals in Aberdeen have lodged what we call a “dissent and complaint”, in other words, an appeal. That will go to the Principal Clerk’s office in Edinburgh. The Clerk should endorse the appeal as valid. This should have the effect of sisting (putting on ice) the process until the General Assembly meets in May. This is what should happen. The whole Church must be allowed to express its mind on the matter.
Please pray for us as we seek to stand up for Biblical truth and Biblical morality. Pray for wisdom as we deal with the press and the courts of the church. Pray for the Church of Scotland. Is God finished with her?
(This is an article that appeared today in the Aberdeen Press and Journal - so much for even handed reporting!)
Kirk leaders approve Brechin gay minister for Aberdeen post
Critics expected to try to block move within 10 days
By Cameron Brooks
Published: 08/01/2009
CHURCH of Scotland leaders have approved the controversial appointment of a gay minister at an Aberdeen church despite opposition from conservative members who do not approve of his lifestyle, it has emerged.
The city’s presbytery voted 60-24 to instal the Rev Scott Rennie at Queen’s Cross Church. However, sources within the Kirk say it is highly likely that critics will lodge an appeal to block the move within the next 10 days.
The Church of Scotland General Assembly, which is divided over civil partnerships, would then make the final decision in May.
Mr Rennie is currently minister at Brechin Cathedral in Angus, where he has worked since 1999.
Separated from his wife with whom he has a young daughter, he shares the manse with another man.
The Church of Scotland said Mr Rennie was widely recognised as an “enthusiastic and gifted preacher”.
Prof Trevor Salmon, joint session clerk at Queen’s Cross, said: “This appointment was given a resounding endorsement by the Kirk session and congregation.
“We believe Scott Rennie has the qualities to build upon the tradition of excellent ministry that has been a hallmark of Queen’s Cross worship for many years.”
Mr Rennie, who stood in the Angus constituency for the Lib Dems in the 2005 general election, is poised to take over the position vacated by the Rev Bob Brown.
Despite opposition to his appointment, Queen’s Cross Church has a reputation of being liberal-minded.
In 2006, members Monica Stewart and Paula McDonald entered into a civil partnership and Mr Brown was a guest at the “wedding”.
The same year he took a stand against evangelical organisation, Forward Together, which wants ministers and deacons banned from leading ceremonies because it goes against what is said in the Bible.
Mr Brown, brother of former Scotland manager Craig Brown, argued homosexuality was a God-given orientation while the organisation claimed civil partnerships condoned something that God actually condemns.
It is illegal to discriminate against someone due to their sexual orientation. The presbytery, which met in private at Aberdeen’s Holburn West Church on Tuesday, focused on Mr Rennie’s lifestyle as opposed to his orientation.
Mr Rennie was not available for comment.
I'm stumped. I'm remarkably stumped. *My* friend, one who did so much to influence the consistency of my faith, stands poised to singlehandedly bring down the Church of Scotland? Could it be so??!?
I shouldn't be stumped. But I'm stumped. I had no idea whatsoever that he was going through this.
I'll pray for you, my friend. And for your church. And for your family. Families. Whatever.
But I thank God that I don't have to vote on this. My friends know where I firmly stand on the political issues of tolerance and preference, but they also know that my unyielding tenacity with the separation of Church and State means that my political opinions do remarkably little to inform my ecclesiology. The standards of the Church are not required to adhere to the same liberties and protections and civil rights that inform nations. The Church is not within a nation, or even nations, but is outside every nation, and, even, is outside all nations at once, is outside this world, in an entirely different world.
Did I mention that I'm stumped? Friendship and love do much to stretch strong opinions, perhaps even to the point where one or the other has to break. Frankly, I'd tend to sacrifice an opinion to save a friendship. John Knox was once one of my dearest heroes. Scott Rennie is one of my deepest and most longstanding friends.
I'm stumped.