Church of Scotland minister warns against inaction on homosexuality

A Church of Scotland minister has spoken out against inaction in the face of an increasingly liberal approach to homosexuality within the Church.

The Rev Ian Watson, who heads the group Forward Together, delivered a sermon at Kirkmuirhill Church in Lanark in which he called on Christians to fight against false teaching on homosexuality within the Church.

In his sermon, which was also posted on his blog, Rev Watson said, “There are very few people who enjoy conflict. The vast majority of decent people will do almost anything to avoid situations of confrontation. So, the soup may be cold, the meat tough and the pudding inedible, but when the waiter asks us if we are enjoying our meal we’ll smile and nod. We don’t want to complain, we don’t want to make a fuss. We’ll even pay for the privilege.

“This is how bullies succeed. They realise that no matter how unhappy we are with their behaviour we’re not going to stand up to them, because the last thing we want is a shouting match.”

Rev Watson was speaking ahead of next week’s crunch meeting of the Church of Scotland General Assembly, which will rule on the appointment of openly gay minister Rev Scott Rennie, who is being supported by the Aberdeen Presbytery.

Almost one third of Church of Scotland ministers have signed a petition calling for a ban on homosexuals being appointed as clergymen. A motion has also been put forward saying that the Church should not “train, ordain, admit, readmit, induct or introduce to any ministry of the church anyone involved in a sexual relationship outside of marriage between a man and woman”.

In his sermon, Rev Watson compared inaction over the issue by traditionalists to the policy of appeasement to the Nazis, a strategy which only emboldened Hitler to make more demands and ultimately led to the Second World War.

Other Church leaders have warned that Rev Rennie’s appointment could lead to a split within the Church. Rev Kenneth MacKenzie, who ministers at Crathie Kirk in Balmoral, attended by the Queen, said, “Life in the Church will never be the same again and my fear is that a sizeable minority of the clergy, and perhaps a majority of its people, may consider leaving the church, causing a rift felt in every parish.”

Rev Watson was “sad to say” church history had many conflicts between those upholding the truth of the Bible and those who did not. He mentioned the Apostle Paul, Athanasius, the Bishop of Alexandria, St Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Knox as examples of people who had to fight for the truth of Christianity.

He ended his sermon by saying, “Let me assure you, neither I nor like-minded ministers enjoy conflict. We long to be getting on with the work of the Gospel in our parishes. It’s a distraction we could do without.

“I can’t help asking myself: if we say nothing, do nothing at this time, what next? What scriptural truth is next for shaving? The uniqueness of Christ as our only Saviour? The nature of God as Holy Trinity?

“What moral standards will we depart from? Can we expected unmarried couples in our manses? A line has to be drawn in the sand, or the whole edifice will come tumbling down.”