Ministry and controversy Scott Rennie

1 ministry , controversy

1.1 queen s cross church
1.2 general assembly 2009
1.3 post-general assembly 2009 present

ministry , controversy
queen s cross church

on 23 november 2008, rennie preached sole nominee queen s cross church, having informed congregation of circumstances. @ conclusion of service, following secret ballot, duly declared minister elect 140 votes 28. subsequently, 246 members of church , 13 other adherents signed call.

the call queen s cross church upheld presbytery of aberdeen on 6 january 2009 60 votes 24. first time congregation , presbytery had voted sustain call of openly gay minister within church of scotland. however, following presbytery s vote allowed rennie proceed queen s cross parish church, group of 12 ministers , elders within presbytery, led ian aitken (new stockethill, new charge development, aberdeen), dissented (objected) , complained commission of general assembly.

on 25 march 2009, following narrow majority of 1, agreed commission case referred general assembly, church of scotland s supreme court, judgement. first time presbytery s decision sustain call of minister had been challenged in church s supreme court since disruption of 1843.

following apology evangelical church of scotland organisation forward on incorrect statement concerning rennie s personal circumstances, conversation between rennie , onekirk convener, peter johnston, published, in rennie spoke challenge of growing in conservative church:

as young man growing in conservative church, felt impossible deal issues around own sexuality. did not feel safe environment, , not 1 in have found support , understanding. so, came believe had ignore , thought right thing @ time: live heterosexual life.

judith pearson , trevor salmon, joint session clerks of queen s cross, wrote herald newspaper in support of rennie, saying:

the congregation conversant relevant facts before voted , signed call scott rennie. our call based upon gifts , our corresponding needs, , upon our real sense person best equipped serve alongside , offer leadership us.

general assembly 2009

the case against rennie titled aitken , others versus presbytery of aberdeen, , heard on saturday 23 may 2009. intended answer following question:

what law of church @ time (6 january 2009) presbytery of aberdeen made decision has been challenged; , presbytery entitled make decision made in light of legal position @ time?

on same evening rennie s case heard, overture (motion) received presbytery of lochcarron-skye which, in light of rennie s call queen s cross, sought prevent in extra-marital sexual relationship working in church:

no court or agency of church may accept training, ordain, admit, re-admit, induct or introduce ministry of church involved in sexual relationship outside of faithful marriage between man , woman.

william j. u. philip, minister of st george s-tron church, glasgow, in concert forward together, founded online petition in order support overture, received 12,555 signatures, including 481 church of scotland ministers , 33 kirk sessions, , express opposition appointment of rennie.

on opening day of church of scotland s general assembly, thursday 21 may, attempt made change order of business hearing locharran-skye overture before rennie case, against legal advice of overture , appeals committee. attempt change order of business interpreted being designed strengthen cause of opposed rennie s appointment. speaking motion, peter parks argued illogical decide specific case without having established principle against case tested. general assembly unconvinced , comfortably defeated parks s motion, having been persuaded unjust hear overture first due danger of anachronism.

on day of rennie s hearing, 23 may, protest against appointment held outside general assembly hall around twenty members of glasgow s zion baptist church. american westboro baptist church announced intention picket meeting of general assembly on 23 may , queen s cross church on 24 may, although did not go ahead. counter-protest held number of groups, including liberal youth scotland, scottish youth wing of liberal democrats, attracted around eighty demonstraters.

on 23 may, general assembly voted 326 267 uphold nomination of rennie. 121 commissioners formally dissented in writing against decision. debate on lochcarron-skye overture postponed until monday 25 may, when decided establish two-year special commission on issue reporting in 2011. moratorium on induction , ordination of openly gay ministers passed until time, , ban on making public statements concerning induction , ordination of gay ministers came effect.

in january 2009, censurable allegation against rennie, lifestyle constituted great public scandal (or fama clamosa in church of scotland law), lodged presbytery of angus (in brechin cathedral resides). committee of 3 formed investigate allegation, suspended due pending aitken , others versus presbytery of aberdeen case. on 25 may, general assembly passed motion moved allan mccafferty, clarified general assembly s rennie inducted charge of queen s cross church, without further hindrance:

for avoidance of doubt affirm provisions of whole motion shall in no way interpreted offering grounds challenging decision of general assembly of 2009 in referred case heard in session v , other related matters of process [emphasis added].

on wednesday 3 june, angus presbytery investigating committee met consider allegation against rennie lifestyle not acceptable minister of gospel. however, charge not upheld , rennie released move aberdeen presbytery, subsequently inducted charge of queen s cross parish church on friday 3 july @ 1900. on sunday 5 july, james simpson, former moderator of general assembly of church of scotland, led worship , preached first sermon way of welcome rennie.

post-general assembly 2009 present

rennie nominated for, , subsequently won, award of hero of year @ fourth annual stonewall awards, took place on thursday 5 november 2009. on 24 march 2010 given ceremonial role of burgess of guild of city of aberdeen.

on thursday 24 february, rennie invited participate in debate @ cambridge union society entitled: house believes path success straight. alongside lieutenant commanders craig jones mbe , mandy mcbain, rennie proposed motion, while lord smith of finsbury, andrew pierce, , femi otitoju narrowly successful in opposing it.

on sunday 31 july 2011, u.s. westboro baptist church announced intention picket queen s cross church, aberdeen on 30 october 2011. member of scottish parliament mark mcdonald lodged motion s4m-00609 ( planned westboro baptist church visit aberdeen ) in scottish parliament in order call on home secretary theresa may confirm continuation of 2009 ban on fred phelps , shirley phelps-roper , extend other members of westboro baptist church:

that parliament notes stated intention of westboro baptist church picket queen s cross church in aberdeen in protest @ presence of reverend scott rennie; further notes westboro baptist church has gained notoriety extreme, homophobic views , pickets of american soldiers funerals; notes head of church, pastor fred phelps, , daughter, shirley phelps-roper, appeared on list of individuals banned entering united kingdom in 2009; considers views espoused pastor phelps , followers have no place in 21st century scotland, , calls on home secretary confirm continuation of ban on entry uk , consider extending cover known members of westboro baptist church.

rennie replied planned visit westboro baptist church emphasising welcoming character of queen s cross church , jesus, whilst highlighting dangers of fundamentalism:

, welcome @ queen s cross church - s way jesus was, , s way are. if don t want join in worship , choose protest, them. mr rennie added: know lot of people concerned visit, quite relaxed it. @ least, reminder of dangers of fundamentalism, , absurdity of can lead you. happen shout lot, whereas others hold hateful views more secretly. continued: christians neither homophobic nor extremist, moderate people seek share love of god in community in live.

fred phelps responded condemning church of scotland, scott rennie, government of united kingdom, , mark mcdonald in youtube broadcast. following restatement of ban on phelps entry united kingdom, aberdeen national front (united kingdom) indicated intention protest against scott rennie , queen s cross church, aberdeen on sunday 30 october.

in rare interview on radio scotland s sunday morning ricky ross , broadcast on 25 september 2011, rennie discussed faith , life. commenting on scottish government s marriage consultation, rennie stated marriage has been evolving institution .

on sunday 2 october 2011, english churchman distributed anti-gay leaflets church attendees prior 10am sunday service , affixed poster church notice board.

on thursday 2 february 2012, scotsman newspaper reported motion had been lodged presbytery of aberdeen louis kinsey of st columba s church, aberdeen, in order seek prevent queen s cross church allowing hindus meet every second sunday afternoon in congregational hall due sacrificial worship offered idols , false deities...[which] contravenes first , second commandments. rennie responded: [the hindus] lovely people. part of our local community , welcome. don’t have problem @ all. there nothing innovative in doing. presbytery of aberdeen met on tuesday 7 february 2012 , heard kinsey s motion in private. motion defeated , presbytery of aberdeen stated: on vote being taken, motion narrowly defeated recognised many speakers that, despite diversity, views sincerely held. matter raised , defeated @ general assembly 2012 ian watson, who, following queen s cross church , scott rennie s hosting of local hindu association, sought general assembly ban worship on christian premises of non-christian faiths. however, watson s position did not find majority support.

on saturday 28 july 2012, scotsman reported comments rennie made in response scottish government s marriage consultation:

“i believe love shared , celebrated in society, between 2 people of same sex, should make no-one afraid , can enrich communities in live. legislation provide both civil , religious marriage wish celebrate , respectful space of objection not. faith groups , churches free come own conclusions in own time.”

on monday 20 may 2013, church of scotland s general assembly voted provide kirk sessions authority select lgb ministers. speaking following day on bbc radio scotland’s morning scotland breakfast programme, rennie welcomed decision:

“there no doubt [the vote] milestone, because @ last recognition of place of gay , lesbian people in ministry, of there number. recognises liberty of conscience on matter, there on many other matters, within broad church national church...there no doubt, important step has been taken yesterday.

the interview revealed aspects of rennie s progressive christian theology, rejected charge general assembly s decision represented move remain aligned societal social mores:

think church has try , figure out faith in context in lives, , our understanding of sexuality, of gender, many other things in life, has changed - , forever changing. wouldn’t want characterise move somehow go along society. think of believe in inclusion, comes point of view believe jesus inclusion; believe god inclusion; , believe in god of love. , that’s fundamental our faith , our understanding.

following vote presbyteries of church of scotland in favour of allowing ordination of ministers in civil partnerships, on thursday 8 january 2015, rennie commented on bbc radio scotland s morning scotland vote was: positive vote kirk , scotland .

on 20 january 2015, rennie gave time reflection members of scottish parliament (msps) @ scottish parliament in edinburgh. discussed robert burns , human nature.

rennie , partner converted civil partnership same-sex marriage in december 2014, shortly after introduction in scotland.

at church of scotland general assembly on saturday 16 may 2015, 6 years after aberdeen (rennie) case heard, church of scotland voted allow congregations choose ministers in civil partnerships. commenting on this, rennie said great outcome open, broad , faithful church of scotland.

in summer 2015, rennie participated in pulpit exchange louise westfall, senior paster of central presbyterian church (denver, colorado). rennie preached four-week series entitled disturbing god .