In a move that will reopen bitter divisions, the third-largest presbytery in Scotland has agreed to nominate an openly gay man to begin training as a minister. This has led to critics claiming that a two-year moratorium on the appointment of homosexual clergy agreed at this year’s General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has been “well and truly trashed”.
Former lawyer Demetrius Ross is to begin a period of training during which he is expected to undertake a series of placements in a congregation.
The 42-year-old has been in the civil partnership for more than three years and is beginning theology studies at Glasgow University.
If ordained, Mr Ross would be the first gay minister to be admitted into the Kirk since the two-year moratorium was agreed at this year’s General Assembly. This followed deep divisions
over the appointment of gay minister Scott Rennie to a church in Aberdeen.
The move by Hamilton Presbytery comes after legal guidance on allowing gay theology students to begin study -- originally understood to have been included in the moratorium -- was clarified.
The Kirk said it had now established that no student should suffer prejudice by not being allowed to begin study, but there was no guarantee of a job after training.
It confirmed the guidance now being given to theology students but would not comment further, as the Hamilton decision can be appealed within 10 days and is considered “live”.
Some members of Lanarkshire churches were surprised by the move, and it is understood a number have given notice of their “dissent”, which dissociates them from the decision.
They also have the option to register a “dissent and complaint”, which could push the matter to the highest Kirk court, the General Assembly.
That could potentially force open in 2010 the debate that the Kirk halted this year in favour of having a Special Commission examine the issue and report back to delegates at the Assembly in 2011.
Edinburgh minister the Rev David Court, of New Restalrig, said: “It does seem to have broken the spirit of the moratorium. Questions have to be asked whether this decision will prejudice the outcome of the Special Commission.”
The Rev Ian Watson, of Kirkmuirhill, Lanarkshire, wrote in his blog under the heading RIP Presbyterianism: “One must ask the question, what kind of decisions relating to human sexuality are prohibited if nominating [a trainee] is not?”
He also claimed the spirit of the moratorium had been “well and truly trashed”.
One minister who supported Mr Rennie’s appointment, who asked not to be named, said: “We cannot ask people to put their lives on hold for years while we debate an issue that for many is simply a fact of life.”
Mr Ross is a former partner at Hamilton Ross law firm in Airdrie. His civil partnership was registered on December 31, 2005, the first entered in Airdrie registry office and one of the first in Scotland.
The Journal, the member magazine for the Law Society of Scotland, reported in June: “Notice is hereby given that Demetrius Ross (otherwise Dmitri Ross) has resigned as partner of the firm of Hamilton Ross, Airdrie.
“Mr Ross has decided to pursue his interest in the ministry and commences a Bachelor of Divinity (Ministry) at the University of Glasgow.”
The Kirk’s Ministries Council said: “It is important to emphasise that acceptance into the training process of the Church is never a guarantee of employment.”
The council added: “Following the decisions made at this year’s General Assembly, applicants may have concerns about the possible implications for the process of assessment and nomination.
“Our practice is that if any issues of lifestyle are mentioned by an applicant, these are noted by assessors and remain permanently in the notes of the applicant.
“The decisions recently made should ensure that no applicant will be prejudiced, between now and the General Assembly of 2011, in the decision of their Presbytery whether to nominate them.
“No-one can predict at this stage what implications that might have for those who are applicants, candidates, or serving in the ministries of the Church at that point.”
Mr Ross and Presbytery officials declined to comment.
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