Book review: The Minister and the Murderer, by Stuart Kelly
In 1984, James Nelson, who had served nine years of a life sentence for murder, applied for ordination as a minister in the Church of Scotland. There was widespread media coverage, and deeply divided opinion both within the Church and outside it. After an “emotionally charged” three-hour debate at that year’s General Assembly, the Kirk voted 622 to 425 in Nelson’s favour.