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Church minister to resign                8/5/14

 

The Church of Scotland faces not having a full time minister in almost half of the Western Isles as its last permanent pastor in its Uist and Harris presbytery has announced his intention to quit after becoming increasing unhappy at the direction the denomination has taken in recent years.

 

Rev Donald Campbell of Lochmaddy in North Uist told his congregation he is demitting his post. He made a brief statement from the pulpit at services on Sunday.

 

Mr Campbell who will also resign as a church member said he plans to leave by the end of next month.

 

The 51-year-old married pastor feels the denomination has departed from the Word of God and is not following Biblical teachings.

 

He is in no doubt that other ministers and church office bearers will also quit in the near future,

His charge covers two churches, Lochmaddy and Berneray in North Uist. He is also responsible for Kilmuir Paible church on the west side of North Uist which does not have a pastor.

 

Vacant pulpits are a feature in other churches in the same presbytery such as nearby Clachan, as well as Scarista in South Harris.

 

In the neighbouring parish of Benbecula, the church relies on temporary locums after Reverend Andrew Downie quit over the Church of Scotland’s decision to permit gay and lesbian preachers.

 

In Tarbert, Harris, where the congregation which has voted to consider a split over the gay ministers controversy, retired clergy or elders are called to preach since the minister retired about three years ago.

 

To the south, the denomination’s churches come under Argyll Presbytery. Barra makes regular appeals for visiting preachers while Daliburgh and Howmore churches on South Uist are served by one pastor.

 

Mr Campbell, who was born in Cumbernauld and raised in Ness, Lewis, said his decision to quit the Church of Scotland both as a preacher and as a church member was due to a culmination of changes within the denomination and presbytery.

 

He said it was not down to one specific event but “has just been one thing after the other.”

The minister said: “Personally, we feel as a family we are at a juncture and we have just got to go our separate way” from the denomination.

 

“We feel this is the time” to leave, he added.

 

He has not yet officially handed in his notice but said the Church of Scotland is “aware a process has started.”

 

Mr Campbell hopes to continue as a minister albeit in another denomination.

 

He and his wife do not want to uproot their young children and they intend to continue to reside here.