Congregations Leaving Church of Scotland Over Ordination of Homosexuals

Two Edinburgh churches are leaving the Church of Scotland just weeks before the General Assembly votes on the ordination of homosexuals.

Reverend Robin Sydserff of St Catherine’s Argyle said he and the elders had come to the decision because of what they regard as the Church of Scotland’s “departure from the authority of the Bible”.

The move, he said, had widespread support from within the congregation.

“Both our internal consultation over the past year and the Presbytery’s formal consultation have indicated that our decision has the backing of the vast majority of the active congregation.”

The congregation, which numbers over 100, is now meeting and worshipping in a mission hall in the Craigentinny area of the city.

Reverend David Court also moved his congregation from New Restalrig, Willowbrae, to the Craigentinny area. It is now operating as Christ Church Edinburgh.

Mr Court said the Church of Scotland’s “drift away from the scriptures and away from orthodox Christianity” had been the “final straw”.

“Ultimately, when you completely abandon the scriptures, if you abandon the framework of Orthodoxy, it leads you into nowhere. Effectively, there is nothing distinctive about the Church, it holds nothing valuable,” he said.

“Once it undercuts the main foundation of its beliefs, then there’s not much there.” UCN