Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement


Gay group dubs minister a hero

Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 07 November 2009
By CHARLOTTE THOMSON
A CONTROVERSIAL gay minister who sparked a huge Church of Scotland debate has been honoured as a hero.
The Reverend Scott Rennie was at the centre of a heated debate after members of Aberdeen's Queens Cross Church voted overwhelmingly to appoint him.

Dissenting members referred the matter to the Kirk's headquarters in Edinburgh.

Church of Scotla
nd leaders later approved the decision to install the minister at the West End kirk because he was an "enthusiastic and gifted preacher".

Now Mr Rennie, 37, who lives with his partner, has been was named Hero of the Year by Stonewall, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group.

He said yesterday: " I do not see myself as a hero. I would rather accept this on behalf of all those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community who contribute to the life of churches and faith communities, simply by living out love in their lives, for God, for their neighbour, and who share their gifts with those communities in the hope of making a difference."

The Stonewall Awards were hosted by Gok Wan at London's V&A Museum to celebrate people who have made a positive impact on the lives of gay and lesbian people.

Carl Watt, director of Stonewall Scotland, said: "We're proud to give Scott this award in recognition of the courage, dignity and leadership he has shown over the past year."





Page 1 of 1

 
1

Mercutio,

FALKIRK 07/11/2009 01:40:29
No problems wit Gay Minister, problem with Minister who leaves wife and child. Doesn't say much for his religious convictions.
2

uno.who,

Livingston 07/11/2009 02:47:38
Thought they might have picked a real hero, such as Alan Turing (or is the award not awarded posthumously?), rather than someone who had no real input to the controvery in which he was surrounded. Gordon Brown made a state apology this year for the homophobic way in which this real war hero (Turing) was treated ..........

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-14018.html
3

fife runner,

07/11/2009 07:07:56
it is only because it gives the gay community another chance to rake over old scores again with the Church. Gays like to get right in your face and flaunt it. Ever see a gay pride march woth their ridiculous over the top costumes.
4

Jobless recovery,

07/11/2009 07:59:57
Church of Satan.
5

calum,

07/11/2009 09:00:43
Perhaps the Church of Scotland will follow the example of Lothian and Borders Police and hoist the rainbow flag at their headquarters ....... or just settle for the fact that is is the HQ of the church and not the Stonewall HQ!
6

calum,

07/11/2009 09:08:57
PS - Excellent comment at #2 and the use of the word "hero" is a bit cheap by Stonewall. Rennie may have shown leadership, commitment, been an example to other LGBT people .... but a hero?
7

The Former Mr. Angry,

Perth 07/11/2009 09:23:52
Just wonder if the Pope's about to extend his special offer to adherents of the CofS. "Hero" seems to be something of an exaggeration for inverting the traditional values of the Church. It applies to those serving in Afghanistan who have made sacrifices to keep this man alive.
8

Gadfly,

Here 07/11/2009 09:35:52
Hero? He's a hypocrite. A gay man who wants to be part of an institution that for centuries has preached hatred of gays, and which holds to sacred texts preaching death for gays? That makes about as much sense as a black person wanting to join the Ku Klux Klan. If he was a hero he'd have denounced his church, renounced his faith, and walked away from all that bullsh!t.
9

Douglas,

Bathgate 07/11/2009 10:56:48
Words like hero and celebrity are used as shorthand so an ill educated population raised on tabloid dross can grasp that something of minor importance has happened.
10

danbob,

07/11/2009 11:48:42
8# It does not preach death to gays in the bible at all so get your facts right before spouting your bile. It speaks out against men sleeping with men, just like it speaks out against murder, fornication, theft, lying, and so on. But it also says that all sins are forgivable by God.
Question for you then. What is the difference in bible terms between a practising gay man and a man who sleeps around behind his wifes back. Answer none. So let the hypocrites eat cake.
11

Selgovae,

07/11/2009 12:44:41
#10

Thanks for pointing out that the bible doesn't preach death to gays. It says that they "shall surely be put to death" (Lev 20-13) Use of the passive voice here I think indicates it is not a command but a general expectation. Many people misinterpret this.

I have another problem that you could perhaps help me out with. I heard my brother taking the Lord's name in vain. My problem is that it is difficult to arrange for the whole congregation to come round for the stoning. You know how busy people are. Do you think it will be all right if I just get some of the neighbours round instead.
12

Garry Otton,

Glasgow 07/11/2009 14:11:50
Why does every story involving gays always have to turn into a religionists freak show?
13

Garry Otton,

Glasgow 07/11/2009 14:19:07
Why Stonewall should want to award a religionist as opposed to someone who actually fights their superstitious nonsense is beyond me. About as out of touch as their choice of Jan Moir as Bigot of the Year. Have they read the Scottish Daily Mail? Of course not, by not printing their vile homophobia online it is homophobia by stealth. And if they bothered to look, far, far worse than anything Ms Moir has ever said!
14

Moravian,

07/11/2009 14:32:58
Stonewall should have given the award to the congregation of his Aberdeen church for showing genuine tolerance and compassion.
Instead they have recognised a person who put his own selfish needs before anything. What about the consequences for his children and his ex-wife.(She is more deserving of an award)This guy is a selfish arrogant Me Me Me type.

Christian? My backside

.
15

Garry Otton,

Glasgow 07/11/2009 14:41:19
...And no wonder with frothing religious nut-jobs like you about. No wonder they try and self-cure.
16

Moravian,

07/11/2009 15:21:07
.
"Nut-jobs" more your cup of tea Garry darling methinks
.
17

danbob,

07/11/2009 16:26:14
11# The scripture in Laviticus 20-13 was old covenient to the jews this was replaced by the new covenient of the new testament. That is why it is called christianity. Hence CHRISTianity. If you understood the bible you would understand that. But hey I dont expect you to understand that because you would then be robbed of your hate fuel for your never ending rants.
For those who want to know here is the scripture. Dont dwell on verse 9 like the pedlers of gay hate do. Look at 11 which confirms that all things are forgivable by God.

(Corinthians 5-9) What! Do you not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, 10 nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God’s kingdom. 11 And yet that is what some of you were. But you have been washed clean, but you have been sanctified, but you have been declared righteous in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the spirit of our God
18

Garry Otton,

Glasgow 07/11/2009 16:41:03
Dont 'darling' me, Moron. You can find your own man to play with.
And keep your disgusting superstitions to yourself!
19

Gadfly,

Here 07/11/2009 17:03:09
Danbob 10:
"It does not preach death to gays in the bible at all so get your facts right before spouting your bile. It speaks out against men sleeping with men,..."
You are hair-splitting (and wrong). Romans 1 says that men who burn with lust for other men deserve to die. So just being a bloke who fancies other blokes merits death then. Sounds to me like death for being gay.

"What is the difference in bible terms between a practising gay man and a man who sleeps around behind his wifes back. Answer none."
Biblically you are correct, which goes to show what an immoral book the Bible is if it cannot distinguish between two men in a faithful relationship (or even not in a relationship, and so free to sow their oats) and someone cheating on his wife.
20

Gadfly,

Here 07/11/2009 17:08:01
Danbob 17:
"The scripture in Laviticus 20-13 was old covenient to the jews this was replaced by the new covenient of the new testament."
Replaced??? Jesus said that one should obey every letter of the law and that the law will stand for as long as heaven and earth endure. (Matthew 5:17-20). Far from replacing it he upheld it and you are to obey it. Also, as pointed out above, the New Testament is as homophobic as the Old.
21

danbob,

07/11/2009 17:20:41
19# What on earth are you on about? Your all over the place. Again you are doing what people like you do. Cherrry picking a scripture without understanding the context. It like me saying this.

(I hated all people who drink till dawn and get drunk and fall over. That is what you were like but not anymore)

Then you come along and say "well you said you hate drunks.

Can you not see. You have to understand the WHOLE CONTEXT OF WHAT IS SAID. Sorry but you dont understand the bible so you ill equiped to comment.
22

danbob,

07/11/2009 17:23:44
20# He wasn't talking about that law. PLEASE read it and try to understand it. Look Jesus was talking about a new system that was to come. In the meantime christians were to obay the laws that this system presents. IT MEANS CHRISTIANS TODAY OBAY THE LAW OF THE LAND.
23

Garry Otton,

Glasgow 07/11/2009 17:58:41
He knocked about with men; never married and talked about the one he loved (John) 8 times. Jesus loved sex with men. Simples.
24

common sense voice,

07/11/2009 19:11:12
love this line......... Stonewall, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group...what the f...is that all about

i like gay too... lesbo movies in particular ... bring em on... iffeminate men ... well they can go round gordon broon and mandy's house

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
 

More Scotland

More Scotland >>

More Gay and Lesbian issues

More Gay and Lesbian issues >>

Features

Drink Driving - Don't Risk It Drink Driving - Don't Risk It
Online Supplements
Paperboy Paperboy Customised news


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.