Reforming of Borders [2]
I have been reading, with a mixture of interest and anguish, some of the recent and well-written articles referring, directly or indirectly, to two Church of Scotland congregations – Saint George’s Tron (Glasgow) and Gilcomston South (Aberdeen) who have decided to leave the Kirk over matters of Biblical interpretation and authority.
Like Ian Petrie (7 March 2013) and others, I do not doubt their sincerity. It strikes me, however, that the issues raised will affect more than just the dwindling and ageing membership of the Kirk. Scottish Presbyterianism, with all its many faults and failings, has played a major and mainly positive role in the history of our land. The break-up of the Kirk into many separate factions, draws new boundaries between people but does not extend existing boundaries any wider.
It seems that some of the younger generation of Scottish ministers do not recognise that, for generations the Kirk has been a coalition. In the 18th and 19th centuries the “moderates” and the “evangelicals” jostled for dominance. Yet, they managed to cohabit and, until the Disruption of 1843, could do so reasonably amicably. The 20th century saw the various stands once again coming together.
I was a minister in Aberdeen for more than ten years, including three of these as Presbytery Clerk. I was a “known” evangelical (but not a fundamentalist), operating within the mainstream. I did not feel threatened by colleagues of a different theological persuasion, nor were they threatened by me. We were professional colleagues and offered each other the normal courtesies. Even if we approached some issues differently, we were still on the same side.
Based on the New Testament emphasis on oneness and reconciliation, the outsider might reasonably believe that the Christian church would lead the way on matters of conflict resolution. Alas, no! We seem to be experts at quarrelling among ourselves and this may be part of the “dark side” that Walter Humes referred to (14 February 2013).
The church throughout the world seems to be currently obsessed with the “gay issue” as though this is all that matters. Already the two prominent congregations referred to above have decided to leave the Church of Scotland at immense financial cost to themselves. In taking such a step, they are actually giving those with whom they disagree, enormous power over them.
But the cost goes wider than either of these congregations. It is a further weakening of the established church in our land. To some, this will be a matter of indifference. To others, it will be source of great loss.