A CHURCH of Scotland local leadership that plans to quit the Kirk over gay ordination is to create a new "reformed, Presbyterian church" in its district, setting a major precedent.
It is understood a key option for Reverend Andrew Randall and 13 dissenting elders at Larbert Old Church in Falkirk is the setting up of the first International Presbyterian Church (IPC) congregation in Scotland since the May General Assembly move towards further accepting homosexual ministers.
The significance of their declaration is magnified by the fact Mr Randall is the third clergyman in the same family to quit the Kirk in a week over the issue. His father, Rev David Randall Sr of Dundee's Logie and St John's Church, and his brother, Rev David Randall Jr of Loudoun Church in Newmilns in Ayrshire, have said they will leave.
Larbert Old is understood to be one of the first parishes considering the IPC as well as the Free Church of Scotland since May's gathering of Kirk leaders.
The Larbert Old group also expects the majority of the congregation to follow and it said: "It is now our intention to establish a new reformed, Presbyterian church in the Larbert area which will proclaim the good news of Jesus, under the authority of his Word.
"We are confident that the majority of the active congregation of Larbert Old wish to adhere to the historic Christian faith, and will join us in beginning an exciting new work for the good of Larbert and the glory of God."
The IPC is a body of churches that supports traditionalist beliefs and has its UK base in London.
Its wider numbers are unclear but other Scottish evangelical congregations are seeking to align with the movement as an alternative to the Free Church of Scotland.
About 10 congregations are in talks to quit, according to the Kirk, and that alone represents a loss of about £1.5 million a year in givings.
The struggle over gay ordination came to the fore with the appointment of Rev Scott Rennie to an Aberdeen church in 2009, as the first openly gay minister in the Kirk.
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