Lochcarron and Skye Presbytery brought to this year�s General Assembly of the Church of Scotland an overture which called on the Assembly to affirm its historic and biblical standards of morality for ministers, and to seek the endorsement by presbyteries of this position under the Barrier Act.

Lochcarron and Skye Presbytery brought to this year's General Assembly of the Church of Scotland an overture which called on the Assembly to affirm its historic and biblical standards of morality for ministers, and to seek the endorsement by presbyteries of this position under the Barrier Act ("Landmark victory for gay ministers in Kirk or an ecclesiastical fudge?", The Herald, May 25).

The preamble to our overture made clear that a debate leading to a conclusion and clarification was needed before individual cases were considered. I think most reasonable people would agree this was the proper way to proceed. Nevertheless, despite a move to reverse the order, the highly-publicised case of the Rev Scott Rennie was heard before the overture could be presented.

The debate on Saturday night in relation to the Rennie case showed the church in its worst colours. It was argued by Mr Rennie's supporters that, if the General Assembly upheld the induction of a minister in an openly homosexual relationship, it would not create a precedent.

This is, of course, nonsense and simply creates the impression that the church inhabits a parallel universe in which logic does not apply.

There was lack of clarity as to whether the debate was simply about church procedure or about broader principles. There was much talk about how nice a man Mr Rennie was, of left-handedness and being inclusive. The evangelical case was presented with clarity and discipline, but many were not to be persuaded. The Assembly upheld the action of Aberdeen Presbytery in sustaining his call to Queen's Cross.

Meanwhile, our overture was still waiting to be heard. We were astonished to learn that a motion to appoint a special commission to deliberate further was to be taken before the overture. Despite our appeal that this was, in reality, a counter motion and the fact it had been lodged after our overture, it was taken first. The Assembly embraced the opportunity to avoid the debate and agreed to a controversial "gagging order" on the courts of the church from speaking on "contentious matters of human sexuality in respect to ordination and induction to the ministry of the Church of Scotland until May 31, 2001".

When, at last, I was called to present the overture, the Moderator ruled that I could speak but that I could not mention homosexuality. This was the final absurdity, the final manipulation which left us with no alternative but to withdraw our motion.

I was not happy to have been placed in such a position and withdrew with a heavy heart. There is a line beyond which no church may cross, the line that marks Christ's rule over the church through His word. That line was crossed on Saturday night. A commission with its membership selected for "balance", which will consult the wider church, is not going to change things.

Those who suggest such a mechanism simply expect the opposition to homosexual ordination to wane given time and "dialogue". There is much talk of unity and much talk of a broad church. But there is no place for truth.

It is perfectly understandable that many members now feel like leaving the church, and to their credit they are perceiving the issues with realism. There is, however, a better way. The Fellowship of Confessing Churches will enable us to distance ourselves from the position taken up by the Church of Scotland. It will identify our congregations as places where the Bible is believed and proclaimed and where the truth takes precedence over church politics.

Rev Ivor MacDonald
Staffin
Isle of Skye