General assembly: two ministers defect to take up posts in Free Church

TWO former Kirk ministers have been admitted to the ministry of the Free Church of Scotland following the fall-out over the issue of gay ordination.

The announcement at the Kirk’s annual General Assembly in Edinburgh yesterday raised the spectre of last year’s debate on gay clergy, which has caused bitter divisions between traditionalist evangelical and liberal wings of the church.

The Assembly had agreed to allow the ordination of openly gay ministers who were inducted before 2009, and to consider allowing further inductions.

The Kirk is awaiting a Special Commission report, due to brought to the Assembly next year, on the implications of allowing openly gay clergy to be ordained.

Meeting at St Columba’s Free Church on Castle Terrace, the Free Church yesterday welcomed Reverend Ivor MacDonald and Reverend Andrew Coghill.

Mr MacDonald was previously minister at Kilmuir and Stenscholl on the Isle of Skye, while Mr Coghill ministered at Lochs Crossbost on the Isle of Lewis.

A statement by the Free Church said that both men left the Church of Scotland following its decision to induct practising homosexual ministers ordained before 2009 – “a move which they and others believe shows that the Church of Scotland has walked away from the Bible”.

During last year’s debate, Mr Coghill had denounced the move as handing the Assembly a “hand grenade” and asking them to pull the pin, and that it would be “ruinous for unity of the church”.

He announced his decision to leave the Kirk shortly after the Assembly.

Following yesterday’s announcement, Mr Coghill said he was very appreciative of the welcome and support he and his family had received within the Free Church and was looking forward now to getting on with the work of the gospel.

Mr MacDonald had urged last year’s Assembly to make a final decision on the issue, as the Kirk had, in his words, discussed it “ad nauseam”.

Speaking yesterday, Mr MacDonald said: “Since leaving the Church of Scotland I have found a very warm welcome in the Free Church and am finding both space and support to carry out evangelical ministry.

“The Free Church today is very different from the stereotype that is so often peddled. It has had its own difficulties but my experience of it is of a Church that is seeking to be faithful and relevant in that order.

“It has had the courage to make some difficult changes, has emerged the stronger for it and is well positioned to be the clear Christian voice that Scotland so badly needs to hear.”

Both men will now be able to apply for any vacant ministries within the Free Kirk, or approached by a congregation to take one. There are currently 15 vacancies within the church.

A Free Church of Scotland spokesman said: “Both of these experienced ministers have shown they are ready and willing to stand up for the truth of the Bible in spite of widespread opposition in an increasingly secular Scotland.

“We are delighted to welcome them to the Free Church of Scotland ministry and firmly believe they will be assets to the cause of Christ over the years to come.”

Wishing both men well, a Church of Scotland spokesman said: “That they have joined the Free Church is not unusual. From time to time ministers move between denominations, and Church of Scotland ministers have moved to the Free Church in the past and vice versa.”