Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland |
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Incumbent
Iain Greenshields since 23 May 2022 |
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| Style | The Right Reverend |
| Residence | 2 Rothesay Terrace |
| Term length | 1 year |
| Formation | 1562 |
| First holder | John Knox |
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is a special leader chosen each year to guide the main meeting of the Church of Scotland. This meeting is called the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and it happens for one week in Edinburgh. After leading the meeting, the Moderator spends the next year traveling around Scotland and other countries. They represent the Church of Scotland at different events and visit churches and projects.
The Church of Scotland is the national church of Scotland. It is a Presbyterian church, which means it does not have bishops like some other churches. Because of this, the Moderator is one of the most important people in the Church of Scotland.
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The Moderator's Role
The person chosen to be the Moderator is usually a minister or elder who has a lot of experience and is highly respected in the Church of Scotland.
How a Moderator is Chosen
A special group called the "Committee to Nominate the Moderator" suggests who should be the next Moderator. This committee has fifteen people who are chosen every year by the General Assembly. Even though the committee suggests a name, the Moderator must also be formally elected by all the representatives (called commissioners) at the start of the General Assembly. This election is usually just a formality.
Serving for One Year
The Moderator only holds this important job for one year. After leading the General Assembly meeting, the Moderator becomes like an ambassador for the Church of Scotland. They are often asked to represent the Church at official events or special church services.
Important Firsts
In 2004, Alison Elliot made history by becoming the first woman to be elected Moderator. She was also the first elder (not a minister) to hold the role in about 400 years! Three years later, in 2007, Sheilagh M. Kesting became the first woman minister to be chosen for this position.
Special Titles
If the Moderator is a minister, they are called the Right Reverend during their year in office. After their term ends, they are then called the Very Reverend. These titles are special ways to show respect, but they do not give the person any extra power beyond being a teaching elder.
The Moderator's Home
The Moderator has an official home at Number 2 Rothesay Terrace. This house is located in the West End area of Edinburgh.
Role in Royal Events
The Moderator first took part in a British Coronation in 1953. During the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the Moderator at that time, James Pitt-Watson, gave a Bible to the Queen. He said these words: "Here is wisdom; This is the royal law; These are the lively Oracles of God."
The Moderator's Coat of Arms
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has an official coat of arms. This special design is given by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, who is in charge of coats of arms in Scotland.
The coat of arms includes a shield with a picture of a burning bush. Behind the shield, there is a special staff called the Quigrich, which is the crozier of St Fillan. You can see its curved top above the shield. On top of the shield is a black Geneva bonnet, which is a type of hat often linked to John Knox, an important figure in the Church of Scotland. The design also has twenty blue tassels, ten on each side, similar to the coat of arms of an archbishop.
List of Moderators (Since 2010)
You can find a full list of Moderators at List of Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Here are the people who have been elected to the position of Moderator since 2010:
- 2010: John Christie
- 2011: A. David K. Arnott
- 2012: Albert Bogle
- 2013: E. Lorna Hood
- 2014: John Chalmers (He took over after Angus Morrison withdrew for health reasons.)
- 2015: Angus Morrison
- 2016: Russell Barr
- 2017: Dr Derek Browning
- 2018: Susan M. Brown
- 2019: Colin Sinclair
- 2020: Martin Fair
- 2021: The Lord Wallace of Tankerness
- 2022: Iain Greenshields
