Dear all,

See below a letter from a colleague informing us about an unfolding
situation in the Church of Scotland.  Let's give thanks to God for the UCC,
where such things no longer happen, and let's keep Scott Rennie and his
partner in our prayers.

And FYI, this comes from the pastor of Nancy's former church in Boise!

Blessings,

Quinn

Dear Colleagues and Friends in Ministry,

I write today to alert you to an important situation requiring prayerful
support.  The Church of Scotland, a sister denomination to the UCC in the
World Alliance of Reformed Churches, is facing a pivotal moment in her
history.  Earlier this year, Queen's Cross Church in the Aberdeen
Presbytery, voted to call the Rev. Scott Rennie as their minister.  The call
was sustained by the church, and by the Presbytery.  What makes this call
unique is that Scott, as well as being a gifted minister and promising young
preacher, is also gay, in a committed relationship, and was open about this
during the interview process with Queen's Cross Church.  This was
unprecedented in the life of the Church of Scotland, where gay clergy
survive in ministry by not being "out."

Although supported by his church and Presbytery, the reaction of the
conservative element in the Church of Scotland was very powerful - so much
so that this call to ministry has been challenged and will be brought to the
floor of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland later this month,
where this highest court in the church will debate and vote on whether Scott
will be allowed to serve as the Minister of Queens Cross Church.  They also
orchestrated Scott being brought up on disciplinary charges due to his
"lifestyle" - which means being an ordained minister who is gay and living
in a committed relationship. Their tactics have included intimidation and
the publication of lies (which, after the intervention of Scott's attorney,
resulted in a retraction and apology by Forward Together, one of three
conservative groups leading the fight to keep Scott for assuming this call
and continuing as a Church of Scotland minister).  This has been a
horrendous ordeal for Scott and his family.

I've included a link to one of many news stories in the BBC that will allow
you to read of this situation in greater detail.  You can read additional
articles by going to either the BBC or This Is North Scotland websites and
searching under Rev. Scott Rennie.  What these stories do not adequately
tell is the level of persecution Scott has endured throughout this ordeal.
Scott has given only one public interview, and that can be found on
www.onekirk.org <http://www.onekirk.org/>    at the link for the Spring 2009
Journal.  The pressure on Scott and the sheer ugliness of what he is facing
is heartbreaking.  The pain felt by lgbt Christians in the Church of
Scotland is deeply distressing, for they know that it could easily be any of
them going through this.and might be in the future.

I write with three requests:  The first is to ask you to keep Scott and
David, Queens Cross Church, Affirmation Scotland (the progressive and
lgbt-affirming group within the Church of Scotland) and the Church of
Scotland in your prayers as they go through this painful process.  

Secondly, I invite you to send a word of encouragement to Scott and David.
Their contact details are as follows:
The Rev'd Scott Rennie
     email:  minis...@brechincathedral.org
     postal address: Chanonry Wynd, Brechin DD9 6JS Scotland UK

I know that Scott and David hope that the proceedings in May will end with
Scott taking up his post in Aberdeen.  Sadly, that may not happen.

Should Scott lose his call to Queens Cross Church, and should Scott and
David decide that they must leave Scotland,  my third request and hope is
that we can work together to provide sanctuary for Scott and David, and
assist Scott in bringing his ministerial gifts to the UCC. They both believe
that the UCC would be their spiritual home of choice, should they lose their
church home in Scotland, for the UCC upholds the very values for which Scott
now fights.

Our blessings here in the UCC are many indeed.

Please feel free to forward this email to anyone who you feel may wish to
join in solidarity with Scott and David.

With thanks for your prayerful consideration,
Rev Kim Cran
Senior Pastor, First Congregational UCC of Boise
Former minister, Blairdaff and Chapel of Garioch Parish Church, The Church
of Scotland

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/803...
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