THE CHURCH of Scotland has suspended one of its youngest ministers after receiving complaints alleging misconduct.
Thirty-one-year-old Californian Elijah Wade Smith, who was ordained as the Minister of Word and Sacrament at Queen’s Park Govanhill Parish Church in Glasgow in January 2015, has been told to “abstain from the exercise of all the functions of the office” while the claims are investigated.
A special committee of the Presbytery of Glasgow has been appointed to look into the allegations, which, The National understands, come from several women from different parts of Scotland.
The complaint handed into the Kirk included accusations that would, if proved, be considered a breach of church law.
A Church of Scotland spokesman said: “Reverend Elijah Smith has been suspended after complaints were made to the Church. It would be inappropriate to comment further since the presbytery is conducting an investigation and has not yet concluded its enquiries.”
Smith declined to comment.
Churchgoers were only told that their minister had been suspended, and not on what grounds.
Smith, who is also a musician and an artist, has been a popular minister these last two years, and is close to the Kirk’s moderator, the Right Rev Dr Derek Browning.
In February, the Rev Ewan Kelly was sworn in as the associate minister of Queen’s Cross Govanhill. There were prayers for Smith during Kelly’s first Sunday’s service, and during a sermon on Jesus and the wilderness, Kelly made reference to Smith’s absence.
“These are strange times that we inhabit at the moment in Queen’s Park Govanhill,” Kelly said. “In the uncertainty and in the disorientation that we’re experiencing, I’m experiencing, we’re all experiencing without our friend Elijah and our parish minister.
“It’s so hard, and I’m hearing that all the time. Not knowing, not knowing. And I don’t know either. We don’t know.
“We don’t know what’s happening and when or if he will return. Quite literally we are in a time of wilderness. And that is very hard.”
Smith was the Church of Scotland’s second-youngest minister. He moved to Scotland to study at for his PhD St Andrew’s University, before being called to Govanhill.
His family originally came from the south side of Glasgow before moving to Los Angeles. Writing on the church’s website, Smith described the journey that took him to Govanhill: “In the autumn of 2014, I first sensed a calling to the congregation and parish of Queen’s Park Govanhill.
“I was ordained and inducted in early 2015 and haven’t looked back. I am in love with the people in the congregation and parish of QPG and it is a great privilege and honour to serve God through helping to lead our church family in the work of the Kingdom.”
Under the Church’s disciplinary process, a panel will first assess if a complaint if valid or vexatious.
If it is found to be reasonable, an investigation is then carried out, with the allegations and statements from complainers presented to the person accused.
Should they accept the charges, then an accelerated process is followed with a panel of presbytery determining the punishment.
If the accused doesn’t accept the complaint, then a full hearing is convened.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel