Almost a third of Church of Scotland ministers have signed a petition attacking the appointment of a gay minister to a church in Aberdeen, organisers claimed yesterday.

The online campaign, led by the Fellowship of Confessing Churches, a new organisation, has attracted almost 6,000 supporters - more than 300 of whom are ministers.

The Rev Ian Watson, who was involved in setting up the body, said that Kirk members were galvanised after Scott Rennie was appointed to Queen's Cross Parish Church and announced his intention to move his boyfriend into the Manse.

The Rev Watson and fellow signatories are calling on the Kirk to refuse to condone homosexual practices in “general and among its leaders in particular”, and to back a motion by the Presbytery of Lochacarron and Skye to exclude homosexuals from the Ministry.

The motion, or overture, is to be heard at the Kirk's General Assembly this month. The Assembly will also vote on whether to approve the Rev Rennie's appointment. The Kirk has never before set out an official position on homosexual clergy.

The Rev Rennie has said that the attacks against him had “strengthened my faith” and “heightened my sense of call to serve the Kirk”.

The 37-year-old, who has the full support of his ex-wife, Ruth, with whom he has a child, was elected by 86 per cent of his church's congregation, a vote ratified by the Presbytery of Aberdeen in January, by 60 votes to 24.

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