SNP leadership contender Kate Forbes does not believe women should be church ministers, according to a letter she wrote in 2014.
The letter stated: "It is a great injustice when we ignore God’s plan for women... His plan clearly states that, specifically within the Church, 'I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man.'"
She also hit out at "feminist-power arguments" and added that "my femininity is not a cultural, social or religious construct. It is a God-given mandate."
Forbes' campaign to succeed Nicola Sturgeon has been dogged by controversy over her opposition to same sex marriage and having children outside of wedlock.
Now a fresh row has broken out over a letter her campaign team confirmed she wrote, adding that she still held the same views.
Women have been able to become ministers in the Church of Scotland since 1968. The Kirk passed legislation banning any discrimination on grounds of gender or sexuality in 2007.
The Free Church of Scotland, of which Forbes is a member, has no female elders or ministers.
The letter was published anonymously on May 23, 2014 on a blog called The Wee Flea, which is written by former Free Church of Scotland minister David Robertson.
The Finance Secretary was responding to calls from former moderators of the Church of Scotland Lorna Hood and David Lacy for sexists to leave the Kirk.
Forbes wrote: "It is a great injustice when we ignore God’s plan for women, as Mrs Hood suggests we do in the Church. His plan clearly states that, specifically within the Church, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man.” (1 Tim 2 v 12).
"Now, I admit that often I don’t understand the ‘whys’ of God’s plans. Maybe it’s because I don’t know myself as well as he does. He knows the exact number of hairs on my head. I don’t. Or, maybe it’s because I’m not God and never will be, and so I don’t quite grasp his reasoning.
"Maybe it’s because I am ambitious, young and female. I have a degree from Cambridge University, worked in politics and I’m now employed on one of the best fast-track schemes in the business world. Education, hard work, and stewarding our talents within the parameters of Scripture are commended in God’s Word."
Hood had said that she was not permitted to preach in certain churches because of her sex, despite her senior role as moderator of the general assembly.
But Forbes said that she did not believe women should be.
Forbes wrote: "You can give me your culturally sensitive, historically contextualised and feminist-power arguments. But you’ll forgive me, I hope, if I choose to believe the One who loves me with an everlasting love, who made me and who died for me before I believe you."
She added: "My femininity is not a cultural, social or religious construct. It is a God-given mandate. Psychologists, doctors and even politicians are under no illusions of the differences between the sexes. Difference is to be embraced and enjoyed. Yet, too often women are under phenomenal pressure to become men."
The Church of Scotland declined to comment on the letter, but a spokesperson for the church gave a wider statement on Forbes' candidacy.
It said: “The prospect of Kate Forbes taking on the role of First Minister has engendered much debate about her beliefs as a member of the Free Church of Scotland and the impact of those beliefs on any political decisions she may take.
“As fellow Christians, we support Ms Forbes’ right to hold her beliefs, as we would for anyone else.
“We deplore comments which suggest that holding views because of religion, faith or belief would impair her suitability as a candidate for First Minister.
“Freedom of religion and belief is a human right and a protected characteristic under the Equality Act.
“Scotland is a diverse, pluralistic society that includes people of many faiths and beliefs and it is right that we seek to treat one another with fairness and respect, especially when we hold a different opinion.
“In a democratic society, it is important for our political leaders to uphold the decisions of the Scottish Parliament, even when they do not personally agree with them."
Hood declined to comment.
Forbes was approached for comment.
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