Clerk of Assembly’s conduct in case of elder has brought the Presbyterian Church into disrepute

FORMER Moderator Rev Dr Ian McNie’s defence of Trevor Gribben, Clerk of Assembly, is misplaced (Write Back, December 5).

Readers who have followed the story of Steven Smyrl’s removal as an elder because of his same-sex marriage will have recognised that his overriding complaint has consistently been about the outrageous conduct of the case.

In his article in this newspaper (Comment, October 28), Mr Smyrl drew parallels between the manner in which the Presbytery Commission conducted its work and the former East German Stasi.

Subsequently, you published a letter by Roy Stanley, Mr Smyrl’s husband (Write Back, December 6), in which he drew attention to the “profound impact the abusive tactics of the commission had on (Steven’s) health and well-being”.

Your newspaper’s letters page has been filled for weeks by people who have been horrified by what has been inflicted upon Mr Smyrl by leading figures attached to Northern Ireland’s largest Protestant denomination, one of whom is a deputy to the Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle.

I note that, in his rush to defend Mr Gribben, Dr McNie failed utterly to distinguish between undertaking a task the right way and doing it the wrong way.

The former would have ensured the Church’s policy was delivered faithfully, but with due courtesy and respect. It would not have left Mr Smyrl feeling demeaned and victimised.

It should have been Mr Gribben’s job to guarantee that this happened. His failure to do so has brought the Church into disrepute.

JAMES HAMILTON By email