David Arnott (Moderator)
Encyclopedia
Andrew David Keltie Arnott – the Reverend David Arnott MA
BD
– is a retired minister of the Church of Scotland
. In October 2010 he was nominated to be the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
for 2011-2012 and was duly elected.
, Fife
. He went to George Watson's College
in Edinburgh
. He is a graduate of the University of St Andrews
and the University of Edinburgh
.
, Midlothian
. He soon oversaw the union of all three congregations in the town into a single Gorebridge Parish Church.
He was minister at Hope Park Church, St Andrews
from 1996 until his retirement in 2010. Since 2005 Hope Park Church has also been linked with nearby Strathkinness
Parish Church. Before moving to St Andrews
, he was minister at Netherlee Parish Church in the Presbytery of Glasgow, where he also served as part-time chaplain to Barlinnie Prison.
As well as three consecutive parish appointments, he has held several high profile national positions with the Church of Scotland. He was formerly Convener of the Assembly Arrangements Committee and was the Business Convener of the Assembly. He was formerly a Senior Director of Assessment Conferences for those applying to become ministers of the Church of Scotland. He was a former Convener of the Committee on Education for Ministry and he also served the Board of Ministry as joint convener for one year.
He is a regular presenter on BBC Radio Scotland
's Thought for the Day.
.
Upon election as Moderator, his formal title became the Right Reverend David Arnott MA BD. After his Moderatorial term ends in 2012, he will become the "Very Reverend".
Master of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
BD
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
– is a retired minister of the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
. In October 2010 he was nominated to be the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland is a Minister, Elder or Deacon of the Church of Scotland chosen to "moderate" the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every May....
for 2011-2012 and was duly elected.
Background
David Arnott was born in DunfermlineDunfermline
Dunfermline is a town and former Royal Burgh in Fife, Scotland, on high ground from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. According to a 2008 estimate, Dunfermline has a population of 46,430, making it the second-biggest settlement in Fife. Part of the town's name comes from the Gaelic word...
, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
. He went to George Watson's College
George Watson's College
George Watson's College, known informally as Watson's, is a co-educational independent day school in Scotland, situated on Colinton Road, in the Merchiston area of Edinburgh. It was first established as a hospital school in 1741, became a day school in 1871 and was merged with its sister school...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. He is a graduate of the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
and the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
.
Career
David Arnott was ordained in 1971. His first charge was Stobhill Parish Church in GorebridgeGorebridge
Gorebridge is a former mining village in Midlothian, Scotland. The village gets its name from the bridge across the River Gore, a tributary of the South Esk. It was once the home of Scotland's first gunpowder mill, at the Gore Water, commencing operation in 1794.Gorebridge has an annual gala day....
, Midlothian
Midlothian
Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas....
. He soon oversaw the union of all three congregations in the town into a single Gorebridge Parish Church.
He was minister at Hope Park Church, St Andrews
Hope Park Church, St Andrews
Hope Park Church in St Andrews, Fife is a congregation of the Church of Scotland.-Building:The current building, by Peddie & Kinnear, was completed in 1865...
from 1996 until his retirement in 2010. Since 2005 Hope Park Church has also been linked with nearby Strathkinness
Strathkinness
Strathkinness is a small village located 3 miles to the west of the tourist town St Andrews in North East Fife.A key characteristic of the village is the open agricultural field in the centre, however, from 2008 the field is being replaced by houses, although none were built as of January...
Parish Church. Before moving to St Andrews
St Andrews
St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
, he was minister at Netherlee Parish Church in the Presbytery of Glasgow, where he also served as part-time chaplain to Barlinnie Prison.
As well as three consecutive parish appointments, he has held several high profile national positions with the Church of Scotland. He was formerly Convener of the Assembly Arrangements Committee and was the Business Convener of the Assembly. He was formerly a Senior Director of Assessment Conferences for those applying to become ministers of the Church of Scotland. He was a former Convener of the Committee on Education for Ministry and he also served the Board of Ministry as joint convener for one year.
He is a regular presenter on BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
's Thought for the Day.
Family
He is married to Rosemary, they have three children and six grandchildren. After retiring from his charge in 2010, he and his wife now live in PeeblesPeebles
Peebles is a burgh in the committee area of Tweeddale, in the Scottish Borders, lying on the River Tweed. According to the 2001 Census, the population was 8,159.-History:...
.
Nomination as Moderator
In October 2010, David Arnott was shortlisted, along with the Rev Albert O. Bogle BD MTh (Bo'ness: St Andrew's) and the Rev C. Peter White BVMS BD MRCVS (Glasgow: Sandyford Henderson Memorial). On 27 October 2010, David Arnott was formally nominated by the Committee to Nominate the Moderator. As Moderator-designate, he still needed to be formally elected at the opening of the General Assembly in May 2011. Technically, it would have been possible for the General Assembly to decline to elect the Moderator-designate; in practice the Moderator-designate is invariably elected by acclaim.Upon election as Moderator, his formal title became the Right Reverend David Arnott MA BD. After his Moderatorial term ends in 2012, he will become the "Very Reverend".
See also
- General Assembly of the Church of ScotlandGeneral Assembly of the Church of ScotlandThe General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body[1] An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland, A Gordon McGillivray, 2nd Edition .-Church courts:As a Presbyterian church,...
- List of Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland