High church: Jim Wallace chosen for top job at Church of Scotland
Former Deputy First Minister Lord Wallace will be the next Moderator of the Church of Scotland and feels ‘humbled and honoured’
A former Deputy First Minister of Scotland has been chosen to be the next Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
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 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 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 Mode rator 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 Stock bridge, Edinburgh in 1981, he has been a member of the Session of St Ma gnus 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.
“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 goo d 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.”
Lord Wallace was the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 1992-2005 and served as Deputy First Minister in the Scottish Executive from 1999-2005.
He was acting First Minister following the death of Donald Dewar in 2000 and resignation of Henry Mcleish in 2001.
Earlier this month, the General Assembly approved a range of measures to ensure that the Church operates more effectively and efficiently.
Lord Wallace said he is hopeful that the Church will continue to reform and grow. He continued :“The C OVID -19 pandemic has led to real challenges for the Church and I would like to try and help ensure that we harness all that has been positive out of the experience.”