Rev Scott Rennie was installed at Queen’s Cross Church in Aberdeen after the city’s presbytery voted 60-24 in his favour.

After 10 years of service, Rev Rennie will be leaving his current role as minister at Brechin Cathedral in Angus.

He separated from his wife and then moved another man into the manse, where they both currently reside.

Sources within the kirk (or ‘church’) have told Scottish newspaper The Press and Journal:

“It is highly likely that critics will lodge an appeal to block the move within the next 10 days.”

Despite this opposition, Queen’s Cross Church is renowned for its liberal-minded attitude, and its current Reverend has been involved in a number of LGBT issues over the years.

The former minister, Rev Bob Brown, was a guest at the 2006 civil partnership of Monica Stewart and Paula McDonald, and in the same year he opposed Forward Together, an evangelical organisation that wants to ban gay ministers and deacons from leading ceremonies.

The joint session clerk at Queen’s Cross, Professor Trevor Salmon commented on Rev Rennie’s ‘excellent qualities’ and said:

“This appointment was given a resounding endorsement by the kirk session and congregation.”

The Church of Scotland General Assembly is currently divided over civil partnerships and will make its final decision in May.

He will lead prayers at the Lincoln Memorial in the presence of the President-elect and Vice President-elect.

Bishop Robinson will deliver the invocation at a concert held on Sunday, January 18th, the first inaugural event the President-elect will attend.

The announcement follows outrage from Robinson and the LGBT community over the news that Rev Rick Warren, who has likened committed gay relationships to incest and polygamy, had been chosen to pray on inauguration day.

Speaking last month, Robinson, who is openly gay, said that the choice of Warren had left him feeling as if he’d been “slapped in the face.”

The president of the Human Rights Campaign, Joe Solomnese, also expressed his disappointment, commenting it was a “genuine” blow to LGBT Americans.

Robinson gained international recognition after New Hampshire Episcopalians made him their bishop and, as a result, the worldwide church’s first openly gay bishop. His subsequent appointment has caused a worldwide schism in the church.

In an interview with The Concord Monitor, Robinson said that while he doesn’t believe he was chosen in response to the criticism surrounding Warren, his inclusion will be noticed and appreciated by the LGBT community.

“It’s important for any minority to see themselves represented in some way,” he said.

“[As a] sexual minority, just seeing someone like you up front matters.”

Warren, the high-profile, outspoken pastor of a Californian ‘mega-church’, will lead prayers at the inauguration ceremony.

Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States on January 20th, when he takes the oath of  office.

The News of the World has released a video that shows Harry questioning whether a fellow officer is feeling “gay” or “a bit queer on the side” following an exhausting task.

He is also heard calling a fellow officer from the Pakistani army “our little Paki friend.”

Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall, has expressed upset at Prince Harry’s comments and drawn attention to the damaging effect that these derogatory comments can have in the long-run.

“It’s conspicuous that Prince Harry has expressed regret for his racist remarks, but not yet for his homophobic ones,” he said.

“Working as Stonewall now does with staff of all three armed services, we know that this sort of low-level insult does have an impact on operational effectiveness.

“We trust that the Prince will act very swiftly to offer an appropriate apology, in particular to those lesbian and gay personnel currently on active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

The Prince, who is third in line to the throne, made the comments in a video originally filmed in 2006 whilst training as an officer at the Sandhurst military academy.

In the film, he is heard asking a member of the squad to run through an exercise they had just completed together.

“[I want to hear] your ups and downs in the exercise. Highs and lows … Good points, bad points. How do you feel? Gay? Queer on the side?”

Harry has since issued a full apology for his “non-malicious” remarks, and in light of his public statement,

The Army has said that no formal disciplinary action will be taken.

When questioned about Harry’s ‘gay’ remarks, the Ministry of Defence refused to comment, but reiterated their original statement:

“Neither the Army nor the Armed Forces tolerates inappropriate behaviour in any shape or form. This specific case will be dealt with in line with normal Army procedures.”

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has announced that it is demanding a formal inquiry into Harry’s behaviour.