Ex-SNP candidate & Church of Scotland minister kicked out of Kirk over sexual misconduct claims
KIRK bosses have booted out a trainee minister and ex-SNP candidate accused of “inappropriate sexual conduct”.
Former Nats hopeful John Haston, 34, had faced a raft of allegations, including having two kids out of wedlock, causing fear and anxiety and becoming “overly involved” in parishioners’ lives.
The activist - who has cozied up to new First Minister John Swinney - was suspended by Kirk bosses from his ‘candidature for ministry’ in April 2022 but continued to pick up £1,500 a month in wages during the probe.
And we told how a month after being sidelined, the rookie Rev stood for the Nats in elections for Falkirk Council.
But his ministry journey has finally been halted after the Church of Scotland terminated his training pathway.
We revealed in May last year they received claims he “engaged in sexual conduct inappropriate for a minister or candidate which has resulted in conceiving a child out of marriage for a second time”.
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It was alleged he had not “regularised his living situation with his girlfriend”.
It was also claimed he bullied and caused anxiety in people when challenged.
Haston has uploaded pics to Facebook of him with First Minister John Swinney and getting a hug from Nicola Sturgeon.
On February 15, he shared a picture on Facebook of him getting a hug from Ms Sturgeon on the day of her resignation, writing “Absolutely gutted”.
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And on May 2, he put a picture up of himself with Swinney, saying, ‘For me he is the one who will bring unity for the party and for our country and will lead us in our objectives for Government.’
A Church of Scotland spokesperson said: “The disciplinary process has concluded without censure but the candidature has since been terminated.”
Haston said: “The Kirk told me at my annual appraisal that I was ‘unable to articulate my call to ministry’.
“I think they wanted an excuse to end my training because I wasn’t married when my children were born.
“That disappoints me greatly, because if the Kirk can’t adapt to modern lifestyles, they risk becoming irrelevant.”