Tory MSP: Ordaining gay minsters to “weaken” Church of Scotland

Alex Johnstone MSP has claimed giving congregations the discretion to appoint gay ministers would “ultimately weaken” the Church of Scotland, reported Press and Journal.

Members of the Church of Scotland and equality campaigners have criticised the MSP, saying that as a politician he must not try and interfere with Church matters and try to influence the vote.

Johnstone, who is a Conservative MSP and an elder at Glenbervie Parish Church in Aberdeenshire, said that ordaining gay ministers went against the “principles on which the Kirk was founded”.

The politician spoke out after figures showed 21 of 46 presbyteries have so far voted in favour of a “mixed economy” policy that would give congregations within the Church of Scotland the freedom to appoint a gay man or woman if they wished.

Only three more presbyteries are needed before it could be referred to the Church’s General Assembly, which would decide whether the policy become Kirk law.

The debate over the issue was triggered by the appointment of openly gay Rev Scott Rennie to Queen’s Cross Church in Aberdeen in 2009.

Johnstone argued the Kirk had been “indecisive” and had to ensure that the mixed economy proposal was consistent with its founding principles: “Churches compromising to keep people happy is diametrically opposed to the principals on which they are founded.

“Ultimately the consequence of compromise in this area will further weaken the institution.”

The Conservative MSP previously voted against and criticised equal marriage legislation in Scotland, lamenting when it was passed: “during my lifetime, I have seen society beginning to fall apart.”

Stuart Ryan, member of the Church Scotland, critcised Mr Johnstone, telling KaleidoScot: “The Church of Scotland doesn’t tell the Conservative Party how to conduct its internal affairs, so it should extend the same courtesy to the Church.

“The Church of Scotland is engaged in a democratic process and it would be wrong for anyone to pre-empt the outcome and it should be free from political interference.

“I have faith that the church will make the right decision towards inclusivity, but comments like this aim to undermine and do not help the process.”

Sheena Milne, a member of the Church Scotland whose son is openly gay told KaleidoScot: “The Church of Scotland is a more modern Church than what Mr Johnstone seems to realise.

“The process the Church is going through is sensitive to diversity, Mr Johnstone would best keep his comments to himself and stop trying to meddle with what are matters of the Church.”

Reacting to Johnstone’s comments, Gary McLelland, Education Policy Officer at Humanist Society Scotland told KaleidoScot: “It’s ridiculous to see an elected Scottish politician interfering in private religious matters.

“Marriage equality is a cause for celebration in Scotland, and if individual congregations in the Church of Scotland wish to recognise it, this should be celebrated! Who is Mr Johnstone to decide that all religious communities in Scotland should adopt his socially conservative approach to marriage?”