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Responding to the General Assembly 2009
Over these past few weeks, the Kirk Session has given
lengthy and prayerful consideration to the ways in which we should
respond at this time to what took place at the recent General Assembly.
The issues raised are of great importance and warrant both the serious
consideration we have given them and the extended explanation of our
response which we’ve set out below.
What has
happened
It’s helpful, perhaps, first of all, to be clear
about what exactly did happen at the General Assembly and to understand
what has generated the strength of feeling and depth of concern and
distress so many now know.
Three very significant changes
took place, each of which gave rise to considerable disquiet and whose
combined effect has occasioned very real anxiety as to where the Church
is going.
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By upholding the decision of
the Presbytery of Aberdeen to sustain the call in question, the General Assembly in effect allowed one
presbytery to create at least something of a precedent in a
contentious matter on which, at best, the mind of the Church was
unclear. Both that ‘precedent’ itself and the fact that this
happened with no discussion of the important biblical principles
involved has raised real concern.
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The Presbytery of Lochcarron
& Skye had brought an ‘Overture’ (or motion) which sought to see the
Assembly address, at the level of principle, standards of
ministerial conduct in sexual matters. Instead of hearing this
Overture at the appointed time, the Assembly agreed to set up a
Special Commission to “examine questions relating to
homosexuality and the ordination and induction of ministers.”
This will report to the General Assembly in 2011, until which time
no further action or statements to the media in regard to the matter
should take place.
The way this debate was handled gave rise to a
widespread loss of trust with reactions ranging from disbelief to anger;
the effect of it all was hugely and wholly damaging. In a ‘broad’
church, that element of trust is absolutely vital.
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On the following day a
prominent minister, about to take up a yet more prominent post
within the Church of Scotland, gave a speech in which he proudly
announced to the Assembly his own pre-marital sexual behaviour. The
line that he pedalled, the manner in which it was said, and the
rapturous round of applause with which it was greeted – each of
these factors filled numbers of those present with utter despair,
distress and shame.
The so-called ‘revisionist’ take on the Scriptures
was finally seen for the thing that it really is: an attempt to create
a church where you’re free to believe what you want and behave as you
like.
The damage that these three
changes have brought about is huge and quite unlike the major
disagreements there may have been in days gone by. A definite line has
been crossed and the landscape is now no longer the same.
What we
have resolved to do
Against that background, the Kirk Session has
therefore decided to take the following steps –
we have joined the fellowship
of confessing churches (see
www.confessingchurch.org.uk)
This is a fellowship of
congregations who wish to affirm the beliefs on which our church has
always been founded. It is not a lobbying group, but involves –
·
affirmation:
a clear and positive re-affirmation of what we believe
·
fellowship:
a conscious and glad acknowledgement that we’re not alone in this
It thus provides a means of ‘distancing’ ourselves in
a positive sort of way from the course that the Church of Scotland has
taken – while remaining within the denomination.
The Scriptures speak of a ‘partnership in the gospel’
(Phil.1.5) and it’s at times like this that it really comes
into its own: we believe that we have to affirm this fellowship in the
gospel and do all that we can prayerfully to build with others from
there.
we encourage individuals to
articulate their concerns in writing
Some, indeed, have already done
just this. The extent and the depth of the grief that is felt by so
many will not otherwise be known. We will provide the necessary
information to enable all who are so minded to express in writing to the
Moderator and (acting) Principal Clerk of the General Assembly the
nature of, the reasons for, and the acuteness of their response to what
has happened.
we will present a paper to
the Special Commission
The Special Commission is tasked
to consult with Presbyteries and Kirk Sessions, and the
contribution of the latter has the potential to be significantly greater
than that of the former. As a leadership team we will play our full
part in that process and present a cogently and clearly argued
submission from this Kirk Session.
we will continue to forward
our financial contributions to the Church of Scotland
We have considered this whole
matter at great length and recognise that to with-hold a part or all of
our contribution to central funds (which is quite a sizeable ‘net’
figure) would not be consistent with our remaining a Church of Scotland
congregation: which we believe is the status we should be retaining at
this time.
We do, however, understand the strength of feeling
that some members may now have about giving to the Church of Scotland
and would encourage any who have such concerns to speak with the
minister or any other member of the leadership
team.
we aim to ensure that the
important issues raised by the Assembly are explored in depth
We recognise that the measure of
concern that has been aroused over these matters has left some perplexed
and confused, and others themselves somewhat troubled. We believe,
therefore, that it will be important to give people opportunities to
explore these issues in an open and thorough manner within the context
of our congregational life.
These are days of great difficulty, and in many ways,
too, great danger. It is a time for us all, therefore, to be much in
prayer, looking to the Lord not only for wisdom and boldness and grace
in the ways we respond to all that is going on, but for his own renewing
and reviving power to be upon and at work within his church.
June 28th 2009
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