An evangelical group has attacked the appointment of a gay minister.

Members of Aberdeen's Queen's Cross Church voted overwhelmingly to appoint the Rev Scott Rennie, right, who lives with his partner at Brechin Cathedral. Aberdeen Presbytery endorsed the move, but dissenting members referred the matter to the Kirk's headquarters in Edinburgh, asking for it to be referred to the General Assembly.

The Rev Douglas Cranston, of the Forward Together group, which represents about 250 churchgoers, said: “We stand by what the Bible says. We stand by the opinion of the world church. Therefore, by coming out as a practicing homosexual and wanting to remain within the ministry, we are saying that Scott - and Aberdeen Presbytery - is out of step with the rest of the Church and that they should refer the matter to the General Assembly.”

He added: “Although it might sound exaggerated to say this is the biggest crisis facing the Church since the Disruption in 1843, I can't think of another crisis that would split the church. I have ordinary members saying to me that, if the Church of Scotland allows practising homosexual ministers, they'll leave.”

The Kirk said in a statement that there were openly gay ministers within the Church. Mr Rennie was not available for comment.

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