Councillor refuses to apologise in bigot row

CARNOUSTIE: Minister accuses him of ‘wildly inaccurate’ talk

A councillor has refused to publicly apologise for comments made against a bigot row minister.

John Toller, minister of Carnoustie Baptist Church, accused Brian Boyd of “stirring up the situation with wildly inaccurate comments” and threatened to report him to a standards watchdog.

However, Mr Boyd hit back and told Mr Toller to “get his facts right”.

Mr Boyd took aim at the Rev Mike Goss in the wake of a petition lodged by Carnoustie High pupils urging Angus Council to dump him from his school chaplaincy role amid allegations of bigotry.

Mr Goss, minister of Barry, which is linked with Carnoustie, is taking legal advice over the petition, which he has described as being based on “a tissue of lies”.

The independent councillor described Mr Goss as “an extreme anti-LGBTQ+ activist” and suggested there was “not a good relationship between Mr Goss and the schools he attends and with other ministers within the town”.

Mr Toller said “this is not a claim that can be fully substantiated, nor is it accurate”. He said he personally enjoyed an excellent relationship with Mr Goss and was not aware of any difficulties between him and the other three active ministers in the town.

He said: “I’m deeply concerned that an elected representative should be speaking with such disregard for accuracy in an issue which clearly raises high emotions.

“Stirring up the situation with wildly inaccurate comments – which risk creating a false impression of a town ranked against one of its ministers, implying that he is an isolated, lone voice – does not seem fitting for a councillor.”

He said if Mr Boyd did not apologise publicly expressing that he was “wrong to implicate other ministers” he would be contacting the Standards Commission Scotland.

Mr Toller said: “I would like to express my ongoing support for the Rev Goss.

“Like him, I take a traditional biblical stance on issues of marriage and sexuality.

“My beliefs do not define me as a hater of anyone who disagrees with me or who, for example, is a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

“In the same way, I do not believe those who disagree with me are necessarily ‘extreme anti-Christian activists’. Such simplistic labelling merely inflames situations.”

However, Mr Boyd said he stood by his comments and would not be apologising.

He said: “I have had private discussions with other ministers and I stand by my comments.

“I have not specifically mentioned Mr Toller in my comments – nor any other minister as I was generalising – and as far as I am aware that does not breach the code of conduct. “Mr Toller should get his facts right. “No wonder there are falling attendances in churches in Carnoustie with attitudes like this.”

“Stirring up the situation with wildly inaccurate comments... does not seem fitting for a councillor. JOHN TOLLER