THE Church of Scotland is facing another blow to its finances after three more evangelical congregations signalled their intention to leave over gay ordination.
About £400,000 in collections would be lost if Stornoway High Church – one of the largest and richest on the Western Isles and which provides more than £150,000 a year – Tarbert on Harris (£70,000) and Kirkmuirhill in Lanark (£150,000) were to quit.
They have met at congregational, kirk session or presbytery level over the divisive issue of gay clergy brought to the fore by the appointment of Rev Scott Rennie in Aberdeen four years ago.
Kirkmuirhill Kirk Session has already opened talks to leave with presbytery leaders.
Rev Andrew Downie, of Benbecula Church, is also understood to be planning to quit but it is not clear if his congregation will follow.
Christopher Martin, elder at Stornoway High, said the 200 people who attended a meeting on Tuesday night all agreed they wished to break away, discontented by the way the Kirk is handling the debate.
He said the process of leaving would begin in the coming months.
A vote was also held in the Church of Scotland in Tarbert, where a majority agreed to look at ways they could leave.
There are already concerns over £1 million in givings that could be lost by the Kirk.
Six congregations are to quit after plans to allow the ordination of gay ministers were agreed at the General Assembly in May. The decision still has to be ratified.
A Church of Scotland spokesman said: "Although we understand only around 10 out of 1400 congregations are considering leaving, we value the fellowship we share with all our members and would be sad if they left.
"We believe any decision to leave would be premature."
The Kirk said it did not expect the moves to have a serious impact on the budget or its overall finances.
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