Scottish Catholic Observer

Following the announcement of the new Moderator of the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly, the President of the Bishop’s Conference of Scotland, Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow, has extended his welcome to the newly appointed Moderator, Dr Derek Browning.

“The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland welcomes the news of the nomination of Dr Derek Browning as Moderator- Designate of the Church of Scotland and offers him our prayerful good wishes for his term of office,” said Archbishop Tartaglia.

Dr Derek Browning will begin the year-long post in May of next year, succeeding the Right Revered Dr Russell Barr.

The 54 year-old minister, who has served at Morningside Parish Church, Edinburgh since 2001, said that ‘being nominated as Moderator is the greatest honour the Church of Scotland can bestow.’

Currently acting as the convener of the General Assembly’s Business Committee, he is a former pupil of North Berwick High School and graduated as Doctor of Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1997.

H echoes to train for the ministry instead of other career options as a graduate, and once graduated from St Mary’s College, St Andrews, he was ordained at Cupar Old Parish Church, Fife in 1987.

He has voiced his views that the Church has to respond to society’s changing needs, and that the Church has play its part in bringing individuals, communities and nations closer together.