Homosexual Minister at St Giles’, Edinburgh
The Church of Scotland minister Scott Rennie, who is an open sodomite, has accepted a call to St Giles, Edinburgh. Famous St Giles’ ministers of the past include John Knox, Robert Bruce and Alexander Henderson. Previously, Scott Rennie was at Brechin Cathedral, which has now closed as a church; and then at Queen’s Cross, Aberdeen, which on his departure was amalgamated with three other Church of Scotland congregations and now holds only a monthly service. He is presently at Crown Court, London, where he has been for less than three years. This latest move tells the moral death-knell for St Giles’ and may prove to be the numerical one as well. St Giles’ has been as “the garden of the Lord” (Gen 13:10) in times past, but it is now become as the “salt sea” (Gen 14:3). The God of heaven is fulfilling His warning to nations such as Scotland – not in an outward way but a spiritual one: “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly” (2 Pet 2:6).
DWBS
Cohabitation
In its 2024 manifesto the UK Labour Party pledged to strengthen the rights and protections offered to those in cohabiting relationships. After increasing pressure to confirm its plans, the Government confirmed in early March that there will be a formal consultation later this year, “to build public consensus on what cohabitation reform should look like”. At the moment, those who cohabit do not have the same rights as those who are married or in civil partnerships, irrespective of how long they have lived together. They may have a right to an interest in a property or a claim under the financial needs of a child, but the consultation would investigate what rights cohabiters should acquire, and what is a fair scenario for couples who have chosen not to marry. The Government has set itself quite a task in trying to work a way through a minefield of legal and socio-political difficulties. Any changes giving cohabiters additional rights and protections will result in a further undermining of the institution of marriage. If a couple are entering into a relationship with a tighter legal framework around it, then why not marriage? Data shows that married parents are more than three times as likely to stay together as unmarried parents. The organisation, Coalition for Marriage, says, “Marriage is the gold standard for commitment and stability, underpinning strong families, happy childhoods and healthy society”. They also ask, “What is the difference between registering a relationship and getting married? The answer is commitment, and it explains why marriage is so much more durable.”
The main reason, of course, why marriage is better than any other relationship arrangement for mankind, is that it is God’s provision for the world, from creation onwards. “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Mk 10:6-9). And Paul concludes his passage on marriage (in Eph 5:33) with, “Nevertheless let everyone of you in particular so love his wife even as himself, and the wife see that she reverence her husband”. This may seem old fashioned to our secular, unbelieving society, but it is the God-given way and alternatives that governments may conjure up will not have His blessing.
FRD