The Church of Scotland faces losing whole congregations if it approves the appointment of gay clergy, an academic said yesterday.

Dr Bill Naphy of Aberdeen University said it would be “a very divisive issue” whatever the assembly decided.

The Church of Scotland’s leaders are to decide on allowing gay ministers at an historic gathering in Edinburgh today.

The issue threatens the greatest split in the Church since the 1843 Disruption when one-third of its members left to form the Free Kirk.

The annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland will examine the accounts of “hidden” gay ministers, elders and worshippers openly for the first time.

Dr Naphy, an expert in both the history of sexuality and Calvinism, said: “I think the Kirk is likely to take a very cautious approach.

“I think if they allow the ordination of gay ministers there will probably be whole congregations that leave.

“I think it’s less likely that whole congregations will leave if it goes the other way. It is more likely that individuals will walk away.

“Either way the vote goes there will be people and congregations likely to leave.

“But the very fact the Kirk has spent two years debating an issue that relates to a handful of verses in the Bible must seem a very peculiar thing for it to spend its time on.”

Dr Naphy added that the Bible was “not very clear at all” on the issue. “It is about how you interpret what are a very limited number of verses. In fact, the Bible doesn’t say a great deal about sexuality at all. There isn’t a great deal of clarity about what they mean or how they should apply”.

A Special Commission on Same Sex Relationships and the Ministry conducted a two-year consultation on allowing gay and lesbian ministers and found gays and lesbians at all levels in the Church who have struggled with having to hide their sexuality.

It found more than one gay minister married into disastrous relationships to “escape from their orientation”.

The Church’s delegates, or commissioners, are only now able to speak publicly on a number of uncomfortable truths revealed in the consultation after a blanket ban on discussing the issue.

It also reveals how other Church members were in stable gay relationships.Patrick Hodge, chairman of the special commission, said: “For some men, their inability to accept their predicament led them to marry women in the hope that they would escape from their orientation.”

The commission members heard testimony from a number of gay people.

Mr Hodge added: “As it is homosexual Christians within the Church who are most directly affected by the issues which we have been considering, we invited those who wished to tell us their personal stories to meet us and speak to us in confidence.

“Historically, it has not been possible for homosexual Christians to articulate their concerns, their fears and their aspirations in the Church.”

The consultation was sparked by the appointment of openly gay minister Scott Rennie in Aberdeen. The Herald revealed details of the report’s content earlier this year, but today is the first time the document can be debated in an open arena.

Retired Caithness minister the Rev Bill Wallace, former board of social responsibility convener and member of the Forward Together evangelical group, said: “It is decision time for the Church.”