Who is the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Iain Greenshields?
IAIN Greenshields visited the late Queen Elizabeth the weekend before she died as part of his duties of being the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
But who is he and what was his role?
Who is the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Iain Greenshields?
Iain Greenshields is a Church of Scotland minister, who served as Moderator of the General Assembly from May 2022 to May 2023.
He grew up in Glasgow and studied theology at the University of Glasgow.
His first parish ordination was in Cranhill in 1984.
In 1993, he moved on to Larkhall, Lanarkshire and became involved with ministry to offenders, as chaplain of Shotts prison and the Longriggend Young Offenders Institute.
He moved to Kensaleyre in 2002 and remained there until 2007.
Since 2007 he serves as minister of St Margaret’s Community Church in Dunfermline, Fife.
In October 2021, it was announced that he would become part of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for a year.
About his new role he said on the Church of Scotland website: “I am honoured and humbled to have been chosen as Moderator Designate and I aim to represent the Church and God in a way that is positive, instructive and hopeful.
“There are a great many challenges facing our society today including climate change, poverty, mental health, social isolation, addiction and the Church is active in supporting those in genuine need.
“Ultimately the greatest need in our society is the spiritual vacuum that exists in the lives of so many.”
He undertook key roles as moderator for the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II and the Coronation of King Charles III, presenting a bible to the king.
His wife Linda is a teacher of religious, moral and philosophical studies at Levenmouth Academy, Buckhaven.
The couple has six children together, three of whom have been adopted from China.
What is the role of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland?
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland chairs meeting of the General Assembly.
He or she leads daily worship, keeps order, rules on points of order, and signs documents on behalf of the Assembly.
Next to leading meetings, the moderator is travelling as a Church representative in Scotland, the UK, Ireland and overseas in an ambassadorial capacity and visits the armed forces and the Scottish Parliament.
The role is honorary and lasts for 12 months.
The title is Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland or Moderator of the General Assembly.
However the Moderator is not the head of the church, leader or spokesperson.
The Moderator also has two chaplains, who assist him or her in preparing for meetings and provide support throughout Assembly week.
Furthermore he or she is expected to express the views of the General Assembly or the relevant Church forum or committee, when being asked about an opinion.