MANY like me will profoundly sympathise with the Rev Professor A.

McGowan in his fascinating, provocative essay ("The Kirk has lost its direction," Agenda, The Herald, December 18). However, I counted at least 10 expressions of his which resolve into a single credo: only a literalist, fundamentalist reading of Christian scripture is valid.

What about the principle of evolving theology which has seen controversial subjects such as women's role in the church, the Sabbath, warfare, capital punishment and slavery all rethought in modern times? Other doctrines, too, like eternal, conscious retribution in hell, divorce, and Calvinist predestination appear to be shrinking in appeal to committed Christians in our time. So what makes homosexuality among the clergy especially taboo?

Evolution of ancient doctrine is a phenomenon clearly perceptible in the Bible itself, while inflexible fixation upon historically conditioned revelation is the barbaric scourge of today's world. Jesus exhibited a refined attitude to traditional Law in the Sermon on the Mount. And take Ruth, the girl from a once accursed tribe (the Moabites) who was nevertheless embraced by God's people to become an ancestor of our Lord. Professor McGowan, apparently would have deplored such a departure from the original divine instruction and kept her outside the fold of the "faithful."

Stuart J Mitchell,

29 Windyedge Crescent,

Glasgow.

At this period of goodwill to all men it is sad to note that prejudice and discrimination persists especially in our national church ("Kirk protest group against gay ordination", The Herald, December 18). It appears the newly-formed Covenant Fellowship's avowed intention is to dissuade fellow Church of Scotland members from accepting the ordination of gay clergy.

Commendably the group intends to work within and not brea kaway as several congregations have done in recent years. However, a main plank of their argument is that "the hurch has lost direction and is desperately in need of reformation". Reformation? That is exactly what the General Assembly would be achieving by finally accepting the deliberations of most presbyteries.

Much is made of departing members consequent on the Assembly's final deliberations. Collectively the Church of Scotland hierarchy should ponder on the continuing lack of new young members. Perhaps the answer lies in the obvious self-destruction of the church by not swiftly resolving this long-running issue. Now, that would signal a live reforming church at work.

Allan C Steele,

22 Forres Avenue, Giffnock.

YOUR front-page headline says "Creationism can be taught" (The Herald, December 17). But can those who believe it?

Steven Lawrie,

17 Harling Drive,

Troon.