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Dear friends,
 Today (Monday 23 May) the report of the Special Commission on Same sex relationships and the ministry was presented and debated in the General Assembly. The decision is "to consider further the lifting of the moratorium on the acceptance for training and ordination of persons in same sex relationships". That is, while it is not at this stage a clear cut "yes" for same sex relationships in the ministry and no new candiates for the ministry in same sex relationships will be accepted at present it is a moving in that direction with a strong possibility that this will be accepted. after 31 May 2013.
The Assembly also agreed to allow ministers and deacons in same sex relationships to be inducted into charges provided they were ordained before May 2009.
I watched the debate on the internet but unfortunately due to a poor connection (perhaps weather related) I was able to watch it only in the morning and a few bits of it in the afternoon. I have been dependent on the news media for the final result and at the time of writing still do not know how strong the votes were.
The report was rightly commended by commissioners on both sides of the debate for its thoroughness.
From the traditionalist perspective the outcome was disappointing although few if any would have taken for granted a wholesale affirmation of the traditionalist position. It could have been worse. An amendment was proposed which in effect sought to label as homophobic anyone who preached and taught that homosexual relationships are sinful. Fortunately this amendment was overwhelmingly deafeated in favour of retaining the clause "We do not include in the concept of homophobia both the bona fide belief that homosexual practice is contrary to God's will and the responsible statement of that belief in preaching or writing". That is an important clause because it affirms that regardless of what may in all probability become the "official" position of the church on same sex relationships in the ministry and therefore of same sex relationships per se that they are not sinful, nevertheless the acceptability of the opposite view is thereby endorsed. In the future however legal difficulties could arise for traditionalists in some situations once the church has moved away from its previously held traditionalist position.
No doubt some will be asking "where do we go from here?". Nearly a fifth of the respondents to the Special Commissions questionaire indicated that they would feel obliged to leave the Church of Scotland if it allowed people in same sex relationships to be ordained as ministers. Over twelve per cent said they would feel obliged to leave even where the General assembly were to decide not to make a clear statement on this issue. It remains to be seen to what extent these expressions of intent are followed through. Without doubt some will leave even perhaps a few congregations. My own position is that while I am not at all happy that the church is moving in this direction at presnt I do not feel that the answer would be to leave the Church of Scotland. These are early days however and I am anxious to speak to colleagues to know what they think and feel about the situation.
It may be appropriate to provide an opportunity for members to discuss this issue in relation to the General assembly's decision. Please let me know your thoughts on this.
Incidentally I have just read a news report on the internet on todays proceedings in the General Assembly which is full of errors - never depend on the press for accurate reporting of church matters they seldom get it right but can seriously damage the public perception of the church..
Yours faithfully,
Cameron McPherson
Quote of the Month**********************
"It is now that the Christian light should be shining in a dark place. The plain fact is that the church has lost the very reason for its existence if it pursues a policy of conformity to the world. The world wants the church to be the church".
Prof William Barclay from
"Ethics in a Permissive Society".
Prayer of the Month**********************
Teach me, Lord, to be content whatever the circumstances.
Phil. 4:11
Why Go To Church?***********************
A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sabbath. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons.. But for the life of me, I can't
remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and thepastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."
This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:
"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this.. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!" When you are DOWN to nothing..... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!
- Submitted by email.
Notice Board***************
COMMUNION - "Do this in remembrance of me" -5 June
Dalserf 11.30
Rorison 15.30
Guild theatre outing -Wednesday 8th June - the bus will leave Dalserf village at 6pm and progress to the usual pick - up points in Ashgill, Netherburn and Larkhall.
Cost £4.50.
Roll Keeper -From the 1st June 2011 Mrs Anne Price will be the roll keeper.
Telephone number 01698 889 666.
Lost & Found -A small ‘diamond’ was found in Hamilton Hall on Sunday 22nd May.
All enquiries to Bruce Archibald.
Weddings************
14 May Liz Sorensen to Michael Philip
21 May Nicole Nisbet to Andrew Fyfe
Flowers*********
5th June Mrs MacPherson - the Manse
12th June Mrs Hoey - Larkhall
19th June Mrs Gallacher - Larkhall
26th June Mrs Gillespie - Ashgill
3rd July Mrs Kennedy - Blackwood
10th July Mrs Fairley - Dalserf
17th July Mrs McHolm - Ashgill
24th July Mrs Brown - Overtown
31st July Mrs Blair - Ashgill
7th Aug Mrs Budgell - Netherburn
Calendar**********
June 2011
3rd Gospel Concert, Rorison 19.30
4th Elders Conference, Hamilton Hall 10.30 to 15.30
5th Communion Dalserf 11.30, Rorison 15.30
27th Local Attestation Area Meeting, Hamilton Hall 19.30
July 20111st Wedding 14:30
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