Scott Rennie, the gay minister who is opposed by conservatives in the Church of Scotland, hit back at his critics yesterday, saying that their views had “strengthened my faith” and “heightened my sense of call” to serve the Kirk.

The Rev Rennie's appointment last summer to Queen's Cross Parish Church in Aberdeen led to protest by evangelicals in the Kirk, who say that the move is unacceptable.

Traditionalists' anger grew in the run up to this month's General Assembly, the Kirk's annual gathering. Last week the Presbytery of Lochcarron and Skye lodged an overture (motion) seeking to exclude homosexuals from the Kirk's ministry.

Last night, an organisation called The Fellowship of Confessing Churches announced that it had collected a petition of 5,000 signatures to “defend Christian Orthodoxy”, and called on the Kirk to refuse to “condone homosexual practice in general and among its leaders in particular”.

The Rev Rennie, 37, in an interview with the liberal OneKirk Journal, said that the past few months had been “hugely stressful and distressing” and paid tribute to Ruth, his former wife, and to David, his partner, before rounding on conservatives who use Scripture “to exclude people”.

He said that he was a convert from the evangelical wing of the Kirk who had battled with his conscience before facing up to his sexuality. “I grew up in a conservative evangelical church and initially shared their perspective. I wrestled with that perspective internally, for most of my life. Now I think that it is mistaken, however faithfully held,” the Rev Rennie said.

He spent nine years as minister at Brechin Cathedral, before applying for the post at Queen's Cross. He was elected by 86 per cent of the church's congregation, a vote ratified by the Presbytery of Aberdeen in January, by 60 votes to 24. A minority within the presbytery have appealed against his appointment.

Last week, The Times revealed that Forward Together, an evangelical organisation, had apologised to the Rev Rennie after it claimed that he had left his wife to set up home with his gay partner.

The Rev Rennie said that his marriage break-up came after the death of his mother - “without me ever feeling able to have an honest conversation with her” - which had forced him to face up to his sexuality.

“I realised that I couldn't sweep my sexuality under the carpet any longer. I accepted that my sexuality was an issue I had to face and deal with - for my own health and wellbeing and those who are closest to me,” he said.

In the article, Ruth Rennie declared her support for her former husband. “Since our divorce Scott and I have maintained a strong friendship, with our primary focus being the upbringing of our young daughter,” she said.

“Scott is a dedicated and loving father who is actively involved in our daughter's daily life. Our separation and subsequent divorce was unconnected to Scott's present situation. Scott and David have my full support and that of my family.”

The Rev Rennie said that the process of coming to terms with his sexuality had been painful. “As a young man growing up in a conservative church, it felt impossible to deal with issues around my own sexuality.

“It did not feel like a safe environment, and certainly not one in which I could have found support and understanding. So, I came to believe that I had to ignore it and do what I thought was the right thing at the time - live a heterosexual life.

“At school, I witnessed first-hand homophobic bullying, and the menace that anyone who even seemed gay was subjected to. It was not a pretty sight, and I wasn't brave enough to risk facing the bullies.”

He said the row over his appointment had left him feeling strong, but battered by speculation about his private life. He was also deeply moved by hundreds of messages of support.

“Although the present discussion centres around my own response to God's call, all the correspondence over the last few months has reminded me that there is a large body of people, like me, in a similar situation, in the Kirk,” the Rev Rennie said.

Times Recommends

• How I lost the gift of joy for a while
• Why Ann Widdecombe has got it wrong
• Alas, it’s the end of the road for petrolheads