Former deputy FM takes top church role
A former Deputy First Minister of Scotland has been chosen to be the next Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
The Rt Hon Lord Wallace of Tankerness QC (Jim Wallace) will become the Kirk’s ambassador at home and abroad next May.
The 66-year-old life peer from Orkney is the second elder in modern times to take up the 12-month role which will see him speaking out on issues important to the Church and its mission to follow and proclaim the example of Jesus Christ.
The Moderator Designate, a member of St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, said: “I am delighted to have been asked to take up the role and feel humbled and honoured that people have put their trust in me.
“I am both excited and daunted about the challenge of the task that lies ahead and to be honest I have had to pinch myself that this is actually happening.”
Lord Wallace grew up in a Christian family - a so-called “cradle Presbyterian” - and his late father John was an elder at Annan Old Parish Church in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway for 64 years.
In his youth, the Moderator Designate was a member of the Boys Brigade, involved with Scripture Union and was confirmed in the faith while a law student at Cambridge University in 1973.
Ordained as an elder in what was St Bernard's Church in
Stockbridge, Edinburgh in 1981, he has been a member of the Session of St Magnus Cathedral since 1990.
Lord Wallace, a former leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said he hoped to use the position of Moderator to inspire and encourage people.
Married to Rosie with whom he has two grown-up daughters, Helen and Clare, the trained Advocate and past deputy leader of the House of Lords said his faith is one of the things that “drove” him into politics.
“I went into politics to make a positive difference to society and my motivation is grounded in my Christian faith,” he added.
“It is a core belief that if people are to live life in all its fullness as promised by Jesus, this has implications for the kind of society we want to have.
“People have to have good health, a sound education, rewarding employment and a healthy environment.
“I hope that my years of experience in public life as an MP for Orkney and Shetland, then as MSP for Orkney, will stand me in good stead as I carry out the duties of the Moderator of the General Assembly.”
At present a working peer,
Lord Wallace will move to the non-affiliated benches in the House of Lords during his time as Moderator.
This means he will not belong to any parliamentary group and will cease to take the Liberal Democrat whip.
Lord Wallace will not be taking part in the Scottish Parliament election campaign next year.