THE first minister and flock to leave the Church of Scotland since the May General Assembly move towards further accepting homosexual ministers will hold their inaugural service in a school hall on Sunday.
This week the Reverend Andrew Randall and 150 members congregation of Larbert Old Church, Falkirk, will hold their first service under the name of Grace Church Larbert in the rented hall. Mr Randall said the Church of Scotland has "effectively rejected the Bible" by moving to allow gay clergy.
The Kirk said Sunday services at Larbert Old Church will not be interrupted and locum minister Rev John Brown will lead this Sunday's gathering for the 229 who opted to stay.
The move by the Falkirk worshippers to a Stenhousemuir school was completed this week after the breakaway group held its last service as Kirk members in the building on Sunday. Mr Randall said around 150 are expected at the service this Sunday at Carrongrange School.
Mr Randall has been linked to a potential alliance, the International Presbyterian Church, a grouping of churches seen as an alternative to the Free Church of Scotland for traditionalists who want to leave the Kirk.
At least 10 churches have been in talks with the Kirk over quitting because of the gay ordination move, which could lead to more gay ministers taking up posts.
The Church has struggled with the issue of gay ordination since the appointment of the first openly gay minister, Scott Rennie, to an Aberdeen church in 2009. But it insists it is not in crisis, adding more decisions had still to be made over gay ordination.
Mr Randall is the third clergyman in the same family to quit the Kirk 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, Ayrshire, have said they will leave.
Mr Randall said yesterday: "As we have already made clear, it is because the Church of Scotland has effectively rejected the Bible as the authoritative standard of faith that we could not remain within the denomination."
A Church of Scotland spokesman said the Presbytery of Falkirk wrote to every member of the congregation asking them to indicate their intentions. He said: "Out of a roll of 471, 229 have already replied saying that they wish to remain members of the Church of Scotland, 53 have indicated their intention to leave and 189 have not yet replied.
"We are very encouraged that so many members wish to remain with the Church of Scotland and the future looks bright for this lively and bustling parish church.
"We are saddened by the departure of the former minister and 53 members and wish them well in their new independent church."
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