Dear Sir,
Patrick Smith’s letter, in the September en, about the situation in Scotland, was helpful. There continues to be much pain caused by the relevant decisions of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in and since 2009. Both those who have stayed in the denomination and those who have left must respect one another, remembering that the decision as to whether or not to leave is one that admits of legitimate Christian disagreement.
Under God I owe an inestimable debt to James Philip and Eric Alexander. Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh was my spiritual home while I was a divinity student. I was also privileged to worship at the then St George’s-Tron in Glasgow during vacations.
Further information on the perspective of James Philip on the Church of Scotland during his lifetime and what may have been his perspective today is readily available. Two pages in David J. Randall’s book A Sad Departure (Banner of Truth) are devoted to this. There is a quotation from 1971 referring to the ministry of Samuel: ‘God had finally to bypass the established order to bring about spiritual renewal in the land.’ There is a comment on the General Assembly of that year. ‘We have often thought that it would be wonderful if a clear word from God were to ring out from the General Assembly for our troubled and anxious time. But what if that word is not to be spoken, what if it is no longer capable of being spoken by the established Church? Is it not just possible that God will speak in other ways, and through other channels?’
Then his son William Philip, presently minister of The Tron Church, is quoted as recalling that his father said to him in 2004 that the time would almost certainly come in his [William’s] ministry when true evangelicals would be so at odds with the establishment that they would be pushed out. In relation to the formation of Holyrood Evangelical Church, William writes: ‘I am in no doubt that, were he living, my father would have supported what Holyrood has done.’
Finally, his widow, Mary, is quoted. She speaks about Jim’s loyalty to the denomination and how he spoke of remaining in it unless and until he was ‘put out’, but she adds: ‘I do think, though, that he would have felt that its current departure from the Scriptures, and official support of Kirk Sessions and congregations if they wish to appoint a minister living in an active homosexual relationship, would amount to ‘putting him out’ of the established Church.’
Yours sincerely,
