A CHURCH leader criticised for his opposition to same-sex marriage has prompted a leading gay website to consider launching a regular faith column after he wrote an article for it.

The Reverend David Robertson, the next Free Church of Scotland Moderator, wrote an 800-word opinion piece for KaleidoScot.com - a recently launched website for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender [LGBT] community.

The Dundee minister, whose church is popularly held to be socially conservative and religiously intolerant, wrote the piece in response the website's coverage earlier this month under the headline: "Anti-gay minister named Free Church Moderator."

It had described him as one of Scotland's most outspoken anti-LGBT rights minister.

It quoted LGBT campaigner Peter Tatchell, who said Mr Robertson's appointment had come at a time when the Church of Scotland was finalising its decision on the ordination of gay ministers.

He added: "It seems like an attempt by the Free Kirk to send a message to Christians in Scotland: if you don't like what is happening in the Church of Scotland, leave and join us. It smacks of a de facto appeal to homophobic churchgoers."

Mr Robertson had asked for a right of reply, because he felt the article had been unfair to him.

He said the idea that him becoming moderator represented a lurch to the right in the Free Church was "rather far-fetched."

"But I thought there is no point in just shouting past each other. It is always better to talk. I think what's important is that here is somebody writing on an LGBT website who is an evangelical Christian."

He said such a dialogue was important and said he was pleased his article had been published in full.

The website's editor-in-chief, Dan Littauer, said that, after internal discussion, it was agreed that Mr Robertson's article should be published uncut, and a dialogue started, not least for any LGBT people who may be in the Free Church, "Even although we do find some of his views annoying or, at times, even repulsive."

He said the article had "caused quite a debate within the LGBT community."

But added it would help if the Free Church also opened its publications to that debate.

"We ourselves are now thinking about having a column about faith and sexuality," said Mr Littauer, who added that some LGBT people had difficulty in reconciling their faith with their sexuality.

He said: "As a result, they see their only choice is to either renounce their faith or repress their sexuality."

Meanwhile Mr Robertson says he hopes that the article will not be his last, and that he would welcome opportunities to write for similar magazines, websites and organisations.

Last year he became the first Scottish church leader to publicly condemn Vladimir Putin's government over its treatment of minority groups in Russia.

In his article in KaleidoScot.com, Mr Robertson wrote: "I have always welcomed homosexual people into my church on the same basis I welcome heterosexual people. I believe that all of us, without exception (including myself) are broken, bruised and sinful people who need the new life and forgiveness offered by Jesus Christ."

He says the Bible teaches that marriage is a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman, for the purpose of mutual companionship, the good of society and the procreation and upbringing of children.

"This is the position that Western Society has held and on which our culture has been based on for almost 2000 years. I object to being called homophobic just because I continue to hold to that view."