Latest news with #Rennie
Daily Record
11 hours ago
- General
- Daily Record
Anger over codes in job ads for gay ministers amid Kinross church members split-vote row
Critic said the use of a red 'D' to distinguish between vacancies for which gay ministers may or may not apply is a "tactic to try and draw as little attention as possible to the issue." A code in job adverts to indicate gay ministers are welcome to apply for vacant posts has been revealed by a Kinross-shire Church of Scotland member. The capital letter D in red is used for vacancies open to candidates in same-sex relationships. It stands for departure from traditional male-female marriage. Last month, the PA reported that a bitter row had broken out within a Kinross church following a knife edge 20-19 Kirk Session vote to bar gay candidates. It followed the uniting of Kinross, Orwell and Fossoway churches as Kinross-shire Parish Church, which was set to advertise a vacancy for a second full-time minister post. A Kinross Kirk insider had pointed out there was a great deal of unrest within the congregation as a result of the narrow vote against gay candidates and members were considering whether they wished to remain in the church. Gay church members were said to be very distressed. Pointing to the code this week, the Kinross-shire Kirk member said: 'The approach appears to be to annotate the vacancy with a 'D' to indicate that the parish in question is departing from the Church of Scotland stance – and to permit applications from ministers in same-sex relationships. 'It is interesting that the majority on the current list are opting to depart, which makes the recent Kinross-shire decision even more out of step. 'The use of the red 'D' to distinguish between vacancies for which gay ministers may or may not apply, strikes me as weak and cowardly and a further tactic to try and draw as little attention as possible to the issue. 'The church, he continued, should state quite clearly in job adverts what it means and not hide behind the initial D. He added: 'If the church is comfortable and confident in its stance, why not have the courage to be honest and transparent by having two separate categories in their vacancy register: one for vacancies where all can apply and a second where applications from gay ministers are excluded? I suspect we know the answer.' In 2013 the Church of Scotland's General Assembly narrowly agreed to allow congregations to vote on admitting gay and lesbian ministers. It followed a four-year controversy after openly gay minister Scott Rennie was voted Minister Elect at Aberdeen's Queen's Cross Church in 2009. This spring Rev Rennie was appointed minister at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. In 2009 Kinross Parish Church minister Alan Reid was among those who signed an online petition opposing Scott Rennie's appointment along with eight other Perth and Kinross ministers. However, opening the inaugural Perthshire Pride in 2019, the then minister of Perth's St Matthew's Church, the Rev Scott Burton, told the LGBTQ event that the Church of Scotland apologised for any 'cruelty and injustice' caused. The General Assembly had endorsed a call the previous year to 'take stock of its history of discrimination at different levels against gay people' and to apologise 'individually and corporately.' Vacant Church of Scotland charges open to candidates in same-sex relationships include churches in Ayrshire, Glasgow, Fife, Stirlingshire, Angus, Aberdeenshire and the West Highlands as well as international Scots Kirks in Paris and Lausanne and Christ Church Bermuda. A Church of Scotland spokesperson said: 'The Church has affirmed its traditional doctrine on marriage, but permits congregations to depart from it as a matter of liberty of opinion. 'The page on the Church of Scotland website where ministers can find the list of vacant charges clearly states: 'If the charge is marked with a *D* this means that the congregation has departed from the Church's traditional position in respect of Ministers in civil partnership and same sex marriages, in so far as it has been mentioned in the Parish Profile.''
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- The Advertiser
Prisoner at large after riding a tractor to freedom
A manhunt is under way after an inmate escaped a prison farm in a tractor. Michael Graeme Rennie, 43, was last seen using the machinery on work duty at Lotus Glen Low Custody Correctional Centre in far north Queensland. Rennie likely left the farm in the red-coloured tractor on Sunday morning, Detective Inspector Jason Chetham said. "I haven't heard that one before," he told reporters on Monday. "There have obviously been prisoners abscond from the corrections centre up there in the past but I don't think anyone's left on a tractor." Police are on the lookout for the heavily tattooed Rennie who is serving more than six years for motor vehicle, weapon, drug and other offences including serious assault, theft and burglary. Police have released a picture of Rennie and the tractor he was using when he escaped the Atherton Tablelands prison farm near Cairns on Sunday. "The Tablelands is an agricultural centre so tractors on the road I don't think are something that would turn a lot of heads, but we're keen to find it anyway," Det Insp Chetham said. Rennie is described as Caucasian and 174cm tall, with blue eyes and fair hair. He has multiple tattoos across his body including a gun on his left shoulder, a demon holding a skull with horns on his left arm, a full sleeve on his right arm. Rennie also has multiple dog bites and scars on his left arm, police said. He was from the state's far north and there had been a "number of sightings" of the tractor, Det Insp Chetham said. "We don't have specific concerns about what he might do in the community ... but we certainly ask people not to approach him and to call us immediately if they have any information," he said. A 28-year-old man serving two years for break-and-enter offences escaped from the prison farm in February 2023, and was arrested three days later. A manhunt is under way after an inmate escaped a prison farm in a tractor. Michael Graeme Rennie, 43, was last seen using the machinery on work duty at Lotus Glen Low Custody Correctional Centre in far north Queensland. Rennie likely left the farm in the red-coloured tractor on Sunday morning, Detective Inspector Jason Chetham said. "I haven't heard that one before," he told reporters on Monday. "There have obviously been prisoners abscond from the corrections centre up there in the past but I don't think anyone's left on a tractor." Police are on the lookout for the heavily tattooed Rennie who is serving more than six years for motor vehicle, weapon, drug and other offences including serious assault, theft and burglary. Police have released a picture of Rennie and the tractor he was using when he escaped the Atherton Tablelands prison farm near Cairns on Sunday. "The Tablelands is an agricultural centre so tractors on the road I don't think are something that would turn a lot of heads, but we're keen to find it anyway," Det Insp Chetham said. Rennie is described as Caucasian and 174cm tall, with blue eyes and fair hair. He has multiple tattoos across his body including a gun on his left shoulder, a demon holding a skull with horns on his left arm, a full sleeve on his right arm. Rennie also has multiple dog bites and scars on his left arm, police said. He was from the state's far north and there had been a "number of sightings" of the tractor, Det Insp Chetham said. "We don't have specific concerns about what he might do in the community ... but we certainly ask people not to approach him and to call us immediately if they have any information," he said. A 28-year-old man serving two years for break-and-enter offences escaped from the prison farm in February 2023, and was arrested three days later. A manhunt is under way after an inmate escaped a prison farm in a tractor. Michael Graeme Rennie, 43, was last seen using the machinery on work duty at Lotus Glen Low Custody Correctional Centre in far north Queensland. Rennie likely left the farm in the red-coloured tractor on Sunday morning, Detective Inspector Jason Chetham said. "I haven't heard that one before," he told reporters on Monday. "There have obviously been prisoners abscond from the corrections centre up there in the past but I don't think anyone's left on a tractor." Police are on the lookout for the heavily tattooed Rennie who is serving more than six years for motor vehicle, weapon, drug and other offences including serious assault, theft and burglary. Police have released a picture of Rennie and the tractor he was using when he escaped the Atherton Tablelands prison farm near Cairns on Sunday. "The Tablelands is an agricultural centre so tractors on the road I don't think are something that would turn a lot of heads, but we're keen to find it anyway," Det Insp Chetham said. Rennie is described as Caucasian and 174cm tall, with blue eyes and fair hair. He has multiple tattoos across his body including a gun on his left shoulder, a demon holding a skull with horns on his left arm, a full sleeve on his right arm. Rennie also has multiple dog bites and scars on his left arm, police said. He was from the state's far north and there had been a "number of sightings" of the tractor, Det Insp Chetham said. "We don't have specific concerns about what he might do in the community ... but we certainly ask people not to approach him and to call us immediately if they have any information," he said. A 28-year-old man serving two years for break-and-enter offences escaped from the prison farm in February 2023, and was arrested three days later. A manhunt is under way after an inmate escaped a prison farm in a tractor. Michael Graeme Rennie, 43, was last seen using the machinery on work duty at Lotus Glen Low Custody Correctional Centre in far north Queensland. Rennie likely left the farm in the red-coloured tractor on Sunday morning, Detective Inspector Jason Chetham said. "I haven't heard that one before," he told reporters on Monday. "There have obviously been prisoners abscond from the corrections centre up there in the past but I don't think anyone's left on a tractor." Police are on the lookout for the heavily tattooed Rennie who is serving more than six years for motor vehicle, weapon, drug and other offences including serious assault, theft and burglary. Police have released a picture of Rennie and the tractor he was using when he escaped the Atherton Tablelands prison farm near Cairns on Sunday. "The Tablelands is an agricultural centre so tractors on the road I don't think are something that would turn a lot of heads, but we're keen to find it anyway," Det Insp Chetham said. Rennie is described as Caucasian and 174cm tall, with blue eyes and fair hair. He has multiple tattoos across his body including a gun on his left shoulder, a demon holding a skull with horns on his left arm, a full sleeve on his right arm. Rennie also has multiple dog bites and scars on his left arm, police said. He was from the state's far north and there had been a "number of sightings" of the tractor, Det Insp Chetham said. "We don't have specific concerns about what he might do in the community ... but we certainly ask people not to approach him and to call us immediately if they have any information," he said. A 28-year-old man serving two years for break-and-enter offences escaped from the prison farm in February 2023, and was arrested three days later.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
Prisoner at large after riding a tractor to freedom
A manhunt is under way after an inmate escaped a prison farm in a tractor. Michael Graeme Rennie, 43, was last seen using the machinery on work duty at Lotus Glen Low Custody Correctional Centre in far north Queensland. Rennie likely left the farm in the red-coloured tractor on Sunday morning, Detective Inspector Jason Chetham said. "I haven't heard that one before," he told reporters on Monday. "There have obviously been prisoners abscond from the corrections centre up there in the past but I don't think anyone's left on a tractor." Police are on the lookout for the heavily tattooed Rennie who is serving more than six years for motor vehicle, weapon, drug and other offences including serious assault, theft and burglary. Police have released a picture of Rennie and the tractor he was using when he escaped the Atherton Tablelands prison farm near Cairns on Sunday. "The Tablelands is an agricultural centre so tractors on the road I don't think are something that would turn a lot of heads, but we're keen to find it anyway," Det Insp Chetham said. Rennie is described as Caucasian and 174cm tall, with blue eyes and fair hair. He has multiple tattoos across his body including a gun on his left shoulder, a demon holding a skull with horns on his left arm, a full sleeve on his right arm. Rennie also has multiple dog bites and scars on his left arm, police said. He was from the state's far north and there had been a "number of sightings" of the tractor, Det Insp Chetham said. "We don't have specific concerns about what he might do in the community ... but we certainly ask people not to approach him and to call us immediately if they have any information," he said. A 28-year-old man serving two years for break-and-enter offences escaped from the prison farm in February 2023, and was arrested three days later.
7NEWS
3 days ago
- 7NEWS
Prisoner escapes on big red tractor from Far North Queensland correctional farm
A convicted offender has sparked a major police search after escaping from a low-security prison farm on a big red tractor. Police say Michael Graeme Rennie, 43, was last seen around 10:20am on Sunday morning driving a Red Massey Tractor with a front bucket, while carrying out duties at Lotus Glen Low Custody Correctional Centre in Far North Queensland. His disappearance was discovered during a midday headcount. Detective Inspector Jason Chetham confirmed the prisoner — and the tractor— remain unaccounted for. 'We are seeking information in relation to the believed absconsion of Michael Graeme Rennie from the Green Correctional Centre yesterday,' Chetham said. 'He was conducting duties at the facility using a Red Massey Tractor, which is also currently unaccounted for. 'So we believe he may well have left the facility with the tractor.' The escape did not appear to involve ramming through any barriers. 'No, I don't believe so,' Chetham said. 'The Tablelands Criminal Investigation Branch are leading the investigation, so hopefully we'll have some more clarity later this afternoon about the exact manner in which he left the facility.' While prisoner escapes are rare, the method has taken even seasoned officers by surprise. 'Yes, I haven't heard that one before — I don't think anyone's left in a tractor before,' Chetham added. The Tablelands region, known for agriculture, is not unfamiliar with tractors on public roads. 'The Tablelands is an agricultural sector, so tractors on the road are not something that would turn a lot of heads,' Chetham explained. Authorities believe Rennie, who is originally from Far North Queensland, may attempt to reach family in the area. 'He doesn't have far to go to get to family, so that is obviously an angle we're ruling out at the moment,' Chetham said. Rennie is described as 174cm tall with a light build, fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He has numerous distinctive tattoos, including a gun on his left shoulder, a clown with a gun on his ribs, and full Celtic sleeves on both arms and one leg. Police are urging the public to avoid approaching him. 'Contact police immediately and convey the information. We'll act on it ASAP,' Chetham said. 'We don't have specific concerns about what he might do in the community or that he is targeting anyone, but we certainly ask people not to approach him.' Rennie is currently serving six years, three months and 23 days for a string of serious offences, including assault, burglary, vehicle theft, and drug and weapons charges. Stream free on
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Perth Now
Prisoner on the run after shock escape
A prisoner is on the run after a shock escape by tractor from a correctional facility in Far North Queensland. Michael Graeme Rennie, 43, is serving a six year, three month sentence for various offences including serious assault, motor vehicle offences, theft and burglary offences and drugs and weapons offences, at Low Custody Correctional Centre. He was conducting his work duties on a correctional farm on Sunday when he escaped. Michael Graeme Rennie has absconded from Lotus Glen Low Custody Correctional Centre on Monday, allegedly when conducting his work duties. Queensland Police Credit: NewsWire Rennie was last seen driving a Red Massey Tractor with an attached bucket. The correctional facility offers programs in the fields of both farming and industry, to equip inmates with skills in preparation for their release. The Queensland Police have warned the public to not approach him if seen and to immediately contact authorities. Rennie was last seen driving a Red Massey Tractor at Low Custody Farm, before his escape. Queensland Police Credit: NewsWire Rennie is described having fair hair and complexion with blue eyes, with a light build standing at 174cm and weighing 56kg. He also has a number of body markings, with the upper half as follows: a gun tattoo on his left shoulder, a dragon and skull on his right shoulder, with a screamer on his top shoulder blade, a clown with a gun on his left ribs, the letters 'SMP', a gargoyle, a demon holding a skull with horn and 3 names on his left arm, multiple dog bites and scars on his left arm, and on his right arm, a Celtic design, skull clown, full sleeve on forearm and knuckle dusters. The lower half of his body includes a knee to ankle brick wall, panther, anarchy sign, skull, 4 headstones, clown face and 8 ball on his left leg, a Celtic sleeve on his outside right calf, a star on his right foot, and a joker with crown on the side of his right knee. Anyone with information is urged to contact Policelink through the online suspicious activity form which operates 24 hours per day or call 131 444. Anonymous reporting of any information can also be done at Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000.
