More trouble in the Kirk.

“Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive!”

These words of Sir Walter Scott were oft-quoted in my childhood as a reminder that, when we depart from the truth, we end up in greater trouble than ever. I suppose that the modern equivalent is “When in a hole, stop digging!”

They were also the words that came to mind when I learned, in yesterday’s newspaper reports, that the Church of Scotland – for which I maintain a great love – is getting into further trouble over the issue of admitting practising homosexuals to the ordained ministry of Word and Sacrament. (see my post of Sun. 24th May, 2009).

This time, according to reports (confirmed by a member of the Presbytery) the Presbytery of Hamilton has “… agreed to nominate an openly gay man to begin training as a minister” (The Herald; 08-09-09). It is my understanding that the Presbytery came to this decision after some heated debate, and advice from the (acting) Principal Clerk to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The Herald reports that “…it is understood that a number of them [members of Presbytery] have given notice of their ‘dissent’, which dissociates them from the decision.”

The further report that the position of the Kirk’s Ministries’ Council, that “It is important to emphasise that acceptance into the training process of the Church is never a guarantee of employment.” seems, to me, to be a fudge worthy of the spin of our present UK government!

My own opinion is that, at the General Assembly in May, the Kirk departed from the truth of the written Word of God, and that the crack that appeared then is already beginning to widen. To use another analogy, the hole in the dyke may already be too large for any boy’s finger to keep out the flood!

In May, I recalled the Disruption of 1843. My heart goes out to many personal friends who have increasing cause to agonise over their personal position within a denomination that appears to be moving further away from the Word, and closer to apostasy. My prayers are with them, as they seek personal guidance as to their immediate future.