Like the PC Ireland post from earlier today, this is more of a status report and we are awaiting significant decisions to be made.

For more background you can check my first and second posts on the situation as it developed, but in brief Queen’s Cross Church called the Rev. Scott Rennie to be their pastor and the Presbytery of Aberdeen concurred.  The issue is that the Rev. Rennie is, to use the PC(USA) jargon, a “self-acknowledged practicing homosexual” and intends to live in the manse with his partner.  This was controversial and not everyone approved, including 24 of the 84 members of presbytery that voted on the concurrence.

Since my last post the presbytery vote has been appealed by 12 members of presbytery because of Mr. Rennie’s lifestyle and the appeal has been accepted by the Commission of Assembly.  The council will hear the appeal on March 25 and decide what will happen.  My thanks to Louis Kinsey and his explanation of what could happen from there on his blog Coffee with Louis.  Here is an excerpt of what he wrote:

The Commission of Assembly is appointed by the General Assembly each
year and comprises one tenth of the ministers, elders and members of
the diaconate of that General Assembly, plus members ex officiis of
the General Assembly, minus the previous Moderator.  The powers of the
Commission are considerable and its judgements are not subject to
review:

‘provided that any case in which, in the opinion of the
Commission, an important issue of principle is at stake may be referred
by the Commission to the General Assembly.’

It may therefore be the case that the complaint is upheld or denied
there and then, or it may be referred to the General Assembly of the
Church of Scotland in May.  Only the Lord knows.

So, at this point we are waiting for the Council meeting on March 25 to see what will happen next.