Finlay Macdonald (minister)
Finlay A. J. Macdonald | |
---|---|
Born | 1945 Minister |
Spouse | Elma |
Finlay A. J. Macdonald is a retired minister of the Church of Scotland. He was Principal Clerk to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from 1996 until 2010. In addition to his rapid rise up the ranks of the Church of Scotland, Macdonald is known for fostering co-operation between the various boards and committees which administer the Church and for steering the Church smoothly through its annual business meetings.
Biography
Early life
Born in 1945 in Watford, England, his family returned to Scotland in 1949, settling in Dundee.[1] His father, John - from the Hebrides - was also a Church of Scotland minister and his grandfather, also John, was a missionary.[2] Finlay Macdonald attended the High School of Dundee, one of Scotland's leading independent schools (and the only such school in Dundee).[3] At age 16, Macdonald began his lifelong career in the ministry when he joined Camperdown Parish Church as an organist.[4] At age 18, Macdonald left the High School of Dundee with the intention of becoming a lawyer.[5]
Education
In 1963, Macdonald matriculated at the
He graduated with a
Career
After finishing his studies, Macdonald became assistant minister at
In 1977, Macdonald moved to
During this same period of time (1988 to 1992), Macdonald was
In 1983 he completed his
From 1993 until 1996, Macdonald was a lay member of Strathclyde University Court, chairing the education faculty advisory committee.[1][6] During this same period (1993 to 1996), Macdonald combined his ministry at Jordanhill with the role of Depute Clerk to the General Assembly.[1]
In 1996, Macdonald succeeded the Very Rev Dr James Weatherhead as the Principal Clerk to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. As Principal Clerk, Macdonald helped bring about the culture of change which produced the Church Without Walls report.[7][8]
Moderator of the General Assembly
In September 2001, four ministers were shortlisted as moderator: Macdonald, Peter Neilson of St Cuthbert's Church in Edinburgh, Sheila Blount of Falkirk, and Margaret Forrester of St Michael's Church in Edinburgh. The Glasgow was well represented by this nomination as Macdonald, Neilson and Blount all had ties to Glasgow. Moreover, the outgoing moderator John Miller was from Glasgow.[9]
Macdonald had an advantage over the other three candidates. In general, most holders of the office of Principal Clerk have become Moderator. Macdonald had become well-known and widely respected in the Church of Scotland. Noted commentator Stewart Lamont wrote about Macdonald's nomination:
It was inevitable the widely-respected Finlay Macdonald would be proposed at some time. As secretary to each Moderator, he knows the job as well as any, and since
fundamentalist views on women elders be required to pledge he would not veto women if he was inducted to another Glasgow parish.[10]
There was a 75% chance that the 2002 Moderator would have a Glasgow connection.[11] Macdonald was announced the Moderator Designate on 20 October 2001, ending speculation that The Kirk was ready to appoint its first female moderator.[12] Although some were disappointed that a woman was not chosen,[3][6] most believe that the proper choice had been made.[12] Macdonald himself was gracious and understanding of the importance of gender and the Moderator position saying, "Clearly I don't know what considerations swayed the nomination committee today. I am just very honoured. I would be delighted to see a woman as moderator and hope that will happen."[3]
In December 2001, Macdonald was appointed a
Moderator: 25 May 2002 – 24 May 2003
In May 2002, Macdonald's nomination for the one-year post went before the General Assembly and, as expected, Macdonald succeeded John Miller as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on Saturday, 25 May 2002. The Queen did not install Macdonald as the Moderator, but only observed the ceremony.[1]
At the time Macdonald took up the office of Moderator, the total population of the Church had fallen steadily from 5.21 million in 1971 to 5.11 million in 2002.[5] As the new Moderator, Macdonald saw the primary task for the Church of Scotland as becoming more appealing to a younger audience to turn this tide of more than 30 years of falling congregations.[5]
In June 2002, Macdonald received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the University of St Andrews.[4] During his speech, Macdonald rejected the idea of creating more faith, church and culture-based schools in favor of existing schools educating pupils within a moral and spiritual framework.[14]
Post Moderator
The moderatorship is for one year only; Macdonald was succeeded by Professor
His formal title (following the end of his Moderatorial year) is the
He retired in 2010 and was succeeded as Principal Clerk by the Rev John Chalmers. [15]
Footnotes and references
(Note: Most references archived at Church of Scotland Extranet search.[permanent dead link]) Obtained 3 November 2006.
- ^ Press and Journal (Scotland). Moderator Designate expresses aim to show Church still relevant. Pg. 7
- ^ "John Macdonald". Hebridean Connections. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.
- ^ a b c d Robertson, Lynne. (31 October 2006). The Herald (Glasgow). Kirk sticks to years of tradition with male moderator.
- ^ a b c Media, Beattie. (June 2002). University of St Andrews. Honorary Degrees 11 Jun 2002. Archived 21 May 2003 at the Wayback Machine Obtained 3 November 2006.
- ^ a b c d e f Denholm, Andrew. (21 May 2002). The Scotsman. Kirk has to turn tide of history. Pg. 4.
- ^ a b c d Chamberlain, Gethin. (31 October 2001). The Scotsman. Women snubbed as male gets top Kirk job.
- ^ Evening Times. (21 May 2002). Challenge for new leader.
- ^ Macdonald, Finlay A. J. (May 2001). Deliverances of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland: Special Commission Anent Review and Reform in the Church. A Church Without Walls. Archived 12 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- Evening Times. (27 September 2001). City set for top Kirk post.
- ^ Lamont, Stewart. (2 October 2001) The Scotsman. From a fascinating quartet of names, my tip as next Moderator.
- Evening Times. (30 October 2001). Kirk to name new leader.
- ^ Evening Times. (31 October 2006). Former city minister to be moderator.
- Evening Times. (21 May 2002). Challenge for new leader.
- ^ Edinburgh Evening News. (27 June 2002). Moderator rejects calls for Kirk-run primaries. Pg. 22.
- ^ "Capital minister ready to take step up - The Scotsman". scotsman.com. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016.
Publications
- Macdonald, Finlay A. J. (May 2001). Deliverances of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland: Special Commission Anent Review and Reform in the Church. A Church Without Walls. Archived 12 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- Children at the Table. (1982) David G. Hamilton (Editor); Finlay J. Macdonald (Editor). Publisher: Church of Scotland Date Published: ISBN 0-86153-048-9
- Luke Paul. (2012); Finlay J. Macdonald. Publisher: Shoving Leopard Productions Date Published: ISBN 9781905565214