The Church of Scotland is experiencing a
rift for the same reason churches in the U.S. are breaking away from
their denominations.
Members of an old Church of Scotland in
Glasgow celebrated Christmas in new facilities this year after closing
St. George’s Tron over the issue of the ordination of homosexuals.
Before closing its doors, the church’s last service was held December 9.
More than 500 worshippers came to hear Rev. Dr. Willie Philip deliver
the final sermon.
That is a reflection of what is happening
in reform churches worldwide, particularly in the Presbyterian Church
USA, says Carmen Fowler LaBerge of the Presbyterian Lay Committee.
LaBerge says it is not the church that is leaving the denomination; the
denomination is leaving its members behind over theological disputes.
“We have Presbyterians who have been raised
believing that the Bible is the Word of God, Jesus is the only way to
salvation, that we are called to, by the power of the Holy Spirit,
conform to the revealed will of God in the scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments,” LaBerge accounts.
But, she continues, there is also the
emerging liberal group “believing that the Bible is a reference point to
the Word of God, believing that Jesus is one way to salvation,
believing that we are supposed to be adapting what our view of God is to
the world in which we live,” the Committee president notes.
Read More at onenewsnow.com . By Charlie Butts.
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