THE Moderator of the Church of Scotland has urged women who feel they have been discriminated against in the Kirk to come forward.

The Right Reverend Lorna Hood, the third female Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, made the intervention following a major speech when she admitted she had been "taken back and saddened" by sexism in the Church.

She said she had seen first-hand evidence of women being denied key roles because of their sex.

Mrs Hood said she was sure women who believed they were being denied recognition and positions of responsibility because of their gender would in the first instance raise this issue with their local Presbytery.

But she added she would be pleased to hear from women who did not feel their case received a fair hearing.

"I have been taken aback and saddened to discover that in some pockets of Scotland there are women dedicated to the Lord and his Church who have experienced real discrimination," she told 2000 female members of the Church's Guild in Dundee.

"I have spent time with women still denied a place on Kirk sessions and local ruling bodies. There are women elders who, having moved from one area to another, find their ordination is called into question.

"Women have approached me in tears because they are marginalised in our Church and are so warmed by the fact that I am a woman and also Moderator. The women experiencing discrimination are very much the minority in our Church, but I am moved by their pain."

Mrs Hood insisted she had only rarely experienced discrimination personally in the Church and pointed out many of those in the Church's most senior positions were women.

She said she had sometimes even had an advantage as a woman.

"As a student studying for the ministry, no lecturer talked down to me, no male classmate treated me differently.

"In the early 80s, if there were any reservations among ministers, it was about young ministers rather than ministers who were specifically female.

"Being a woman was arguably an advantage in my early years, as nominations from people who were young and female seemed to be particularly welcome.

"I suspect that helped me secure, for example, an invitation to attend the World Alliance of Reformed Churches in Ottawa."

However, she said she had experienced a rare instance of sexism when at the age of 24 while being considered for a ministry. A couple who did not want a female minister dragged one of their elderly parents out of a nursing home to support their case in a vote.

"Most parishioners were dismayed at this behaviour and chose me as their minister," she added.

"I am fortunate to have had the great privilege of serving my community and becoming first a minister then Moderator.

"There is no doubt that discrimination exists in society, but it should not exist in the Church."