Gay clergy struggle blamed for crisis in Kirk recruitment

Training chief says things will get worse if squabbles continue

ONE of Scotland’s leading theologians has blamed a drop in evangelical students training for the ministry on the Church of Scotland’s battle over gay clergy.

The Reverend Professor David Fergusson, principal of the New College, Edinburgh University’s divinity school, said the Kirk must stop squabbling over sexuality or risk alienating more young people.

He appealed to the Church at its annual General Assembly on The Mound in Edinburgh as it sought ways to stem the loss of ministers and dire shortage of younger clergy.

He said both evangelical and liberal students were needed for diversity within the Church.

Mr Fergusson said: “They are spread thinly. We need to increase those numbers to a more viable level. We’ve been hearing there are mor e than 200 vacant congregations and we clearly have a shortage of ministers.

“The number of our evangelical students in the last two or three years has declined and I believe it is not unconnected [to the gay issue].

“The current squabble in the Church over sexuality needs to be, if not resolved, at least managed.”

He went on: “Resolving that THE Church of Scotland is to introduce a “capability policy” for ministers and training for elders but it denied the reason is for “weeding out problem cases”.

The move will “ensure the continued professional development” of its ministers. The aim is to ensure it has the one thing is not a magic bullet. We need to be more recruitment-conscious and encourage people from within the congregations who feel they have a vocation.”

The professor addressed the assembly on the issue of gay ordination during the main debate and said yesterday he welcomed right people in the right places delivering the right kind of worship to congregations, the Kirk said.

The convener of the Special Commission on Ministerial Tenure, the Very Rev Bill Hewitt, said: “We are not suggesting ministers are marked on their performance, this is a process of guided reflection.” the change of stance the Kirk has taken, which allows gay ministers but maintains the traditional position as default.

He said he accepted the new plan that allows gay ministers in same-sex relationships.

It is the latest move in a tussle going on in the Church since the appointment of the Reverend

He said it was not for “weeding out problem cases”, but allows people to ask “am I the right person in the right place at the right time?”.

Commissioners at the General Assembly agreed to receive the report and instruct the Commission to bring a final report to the General Assembly next year. Scott Rennie to Aberdeen Queen’s Cross church in 2009. The professor added that the new position is “not going to solve all our problems”.

“There are some people who are currently disaffected who are likely to remain so, but I do hope the proposed direction we have taken gives the view to people in our evangelical congregations the wider denomination is alert to their concerns.”

Mr Fergusson raised a concern over the risk of the Kirk creating an “inquisitorial” system with the prospect of congregations quizzing potential ministers on their sexuality.

During the debate the Reverend David Macolm of Queen’s Park in Glasgow called for a cut in the four-and-a-half-year study time for new minister to ease financial hardship.

Ministries Council convener Neil Dougall said the shortage of younger ministers “creates a huge challenge for the Church”.

and Society Council reports including one on Israel and one on Scottish independence.

Committee. Community Report.