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The Manse,
Houston.
21st May 2013
Dear Friends,
In centuries past a Church was always accepted as a place of refuge, rest and even sanctuary from
ones enemies. No matter if it be a magnificent Cathedral, a simple Abbey or an ordinary village
church or chapel people knew they would be able to find understanding in such places. Of course in those days and until
relatively recently in the time line of humanity, human sexuality did not come into the equation. It was a ‘taboo’ subject. But
nevertheless in those ancient days ‘All were welcome in that place.’
Yesterday the Church at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland was faced with the agony of a severe division within
the Kirk as it grappled with the subject of same-sex relationships in the Ministry. This delicate and very public debate has been
a controversy within the Kirk for over 30 years. In many ways over the last five years it has cast a gloomy shadow over the
work the church and its members set out to do in every parish throughout Scotland and beyond. Yesterday was decision day.
The General Assembly celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Communion before the deliberations of this debate were to take
place. Our Moderator, the Right Reverend Lorna Hood, reminded the gathering and the church at large that Jesus loves us
intimately, selflessly, sacrificially, unreservedly and unconditionally. God’s love is a love that will not be thwarted… a love
that does not give up hope… a love that by its very nature cannot stop loving. That is why He gave His disciples to hand
down to generation after generation the words... A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you
must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13: 34,35.)
The breadth of Church membership in the Kirk is such that we are a community that can never be totally united because of our
variety of differing opinions but our UNITY comes not from us, but from Jesus Christ for we are a church community defined
by His love for us and our love for one another. By seeking first to love one another as Christ loves us we don’t ignore our
differences but we do commit ourselves to resolving them without destroying each other and the Church Christ died for! Of
course convictions are important and our Church in Scotland has differing convictions. Yet if that was not so the Church would
lack integrity. However we must never let our convictions become blind passion that would lead us into division within the
Kirk.
As a result of the very gracious way the debate was conducted, with great thought, dignity and love, the General Assembly
made a groundbreaking decision to maintain its historic doctrine in relation to human sexuality but, in line with the Kirk’s
historic position of allowing congregations to call their own minister, to permit an individual Kirk Session to call a minister in
a civil partnership if it chooses to do so. We must all realise that there will be people across both sides of the divide who
remain worried, anxious, pained and even hurt. But we must pray for the peace and the unity of our Church of Scotland for in
our church may it be: A place where love can dwell and all can safely live, a place where saint and children tell how hearts learn
to forgive; built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace; here the love of Christ shall end divisions; All
are welcome, ALL are welcome, ALL ARE WELCOME in GOD’S PLACE.
With every blessing, your friend and minister,
Donald
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