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Love rat referee keeps job as minister

Cheating ref Mike McCurry will remain as a minister despite his affair with a Sunday school teacher, church members have ruled.

At a private meeting attended by McCurry and his wife Linda, the congregation at Mosspark Baptist Church in Glasgow voted overwhelmingly to let him stay.

But one insider last night claimed leaders forced members into a show of hands - and many were too embarrassed to go against the man who has preached to them for the past three years.

And the head of the Baptist Union in Scotland said McCurry's affair with Victoria Mathers, who is half his age, should disqualify him from preaching.

The Record revealed [see story from May 22] McCurry, 43, cheated on his wife with Victoria, who was 21 at the time. He promised to leave his wife and the church for his young mistress, only to turn on her when he was offered the chance to stay in the ministry.

McCurry was ordained by the local church without the usual training needed for a minister, due to his popularity as a lay preacher.

In the Baptist tradition, individual churches can choose to call members to the ministry without the full qualifications required in other churches.

Last night, Baptist Union Scotland general director Bill Slack said because McCurry had been appointed in that way, his fate was up to the local church.

But he added: "If these allegations are true, this really is not conduct compatible with Christian ministry or Christian faith.

"Christian faith puts a high store by fidelity in marriage and does not in any way condone this kind of behaviour.

"It is difficult to see how he can continue in ministry at this stage if these allegations are proved true.

"There would have to be some period of repentance before he could move forward to consider being involved in any kind of public ministry again."

He added: "We have no say in that issue. If he was an accredited minister, that would be a different matter.

"We want to try to help the church in whatever way we can. It's just a very sad, tragic story."

Full story at the Daily Record.