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Traditionalists Launch New Fellowship

Thursday December 18 2014

A new "Covenant Fellowship" is today being launched by members of the Church of Scotland opposed to the direction the Church is taking on ministers in same-sex relationships.

The 600-word document has been drawn up by and for traditionalists who wish to remain in the Church while not accepting the ordination of people in civil partnerships. It will be launched this afternoon in Glasgow.

The Rev Professor Andrew McGowan, minister of Inverness East Church, is one of those involved in the Covenant. He said: “The Church of Scotland is facing a severe crisis over the issue of Ministers and Deacons in same-sex relationships and many have decided that the only response to this is to leave the Church.  With this Covenant, we hope to encourage many more to stay and uphold the teaching of Scripture within the National Church.”

Prof McGowan added: “The Covenant Fellowship is not being formed simply to protest on one issue.  We are committed to working for the reformation and renewal of the Church and so we are calling the Church to repent of its current trajectory and to return to its core beliefs and values."

The Church announced on Tuesday that a majority of Presbyteries had approved a measure which, if also passed by next year's General Assembly, will allow churches to induct ministers in a civil partnership.

The Covenant states: "Many people feel that the only way to protest against this unscriptural move is to leave the Church of Scotland. Many ministers, elders, members and adherents have done so already and more will follow. While respecting that position, our hearts’ desire is to remain within the Church, in order to seek its reformation from within, although we recognise that not all will feel able to make such an unqualified commitment.

"It is important that we remain, however, without compromising our integrity. We refuse to be complicit in any act of disobedience to the Lord’s Word taken by the Church and we do not accept the trajectory which the Church has chosen, whatever the General Assembly of 2015 decides in respect of the Overture.

"We believe that, if the Church continues on the present trajectory, it will have departed from its constitutional basis as defined by Scripture, the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Declaratory Articles. We believe that it is our prophetic duty to challenge this, to protest and to call the Church to repentance on this matter."

18 ministers have so far left the Church of Scotland on this issue, in some cases accompanied by large numbers of Elders and members.

The Church's Acting Principal Clerk, the Rev Dr George Whyte, said: “The Church of Scotland welcomes Professor McGowan’s continued commitment to remain a member and a minister but there are in his statement accusations which we believe are not accurate.
 
“The proposed legislation which is the focus of the group’s criticism has been painstakingly considered by the Church across the nation. We know that for many people the discussion has been difficult and it has always been clear that we could never come to a common mind on the matter. This pain and disillusionment has been felt by those, like Professor McGowan, who think the Church is going in the wrong direction and those who desperately want a Church which would go further on their chosen route.

"Yet the issue has to be discussed and we are a Church which recognises 'liberty of opinion'. Our General Assembly has agreed that this proposal – to allow a congregation to call a minister in a civil partnership - falls into that category. It is not, therefore, an attack on the fundamental doctrines of the Christian Faith.

"We share Professor McGowan’s abhorrence of further disruption and we hope and pray that across Scotland Christians will find ways to continue  to work together despite their varied opinions.”


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Presbyteries Set To Pass Gay Ministers Overture

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Comments

David Ross - Sunday, June 7th, 2015

“While I have respect for Dr Andrew McGowan, I don't believe his decision to stay in the Church of Scotland is correct. It is very unlikely that any future GA will overturn the change of direction on same sex relationships. When I left the church along with thirty others after GA 2013, to form a new fellowship, we were told by those we were leaving that we were too hasty and that the church would vote against the proposed changes . I am glad now that we did not heed their advice. We chose to stay true to the clear teaching of scripture on homosexuality and the authority of the Bible. We have been blessed in so many ways because we took that step of faith and God has prospered us. I feel sad that the COS has become a law to itself and forgotten the Rock from which it was cut.”


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