John Christie (minister)

John Cairns Christie (born 9 July 1947) is a minister of the Church of Scotland. He was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for 2010-2011.

The Right Reverend John Christie
Moderator of the General Assembly
Church	Church of Scotland
In office	2010 to 2011
Predecessor	William Hewitt
Successor	David Arnott
Orders
Ordination	1990
Personal details
Birth name	John Cairns Christie
Born	9 July 1947
Nationality	Scottish
Denomination	Presbyterianism
Occupation	Church minister

Early life and education

Christie was born in Glasgow on 9 July 1947 and lived in Helensburgh as a child. He was educated at Hermitage Academy, Helensburgh (1959-1966), the University of Strathclyde, Paisley College and the University of Glasgow.[1]

His early career was as a scientific assistant at Royal Ordnance Factory Bishopton in the late 1960s,[2] then as a school teacher at Albert Secondary School, Springburn, Glasgow (in Biology and Chemistry) in the mid-1970s, eventually becoming principal teacher of science at Tiree High School in 1978 before moving to Inverness in 1984. Whilst on the island of Tiree Mr Christie was ordained an elder of the Church of Scotland.[3]

Ordained ministry

In 1989 he graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Divinity (BD) degree from the University of Glasgow and was licensed as a Probationer for the Ministry. He served as a Probationer at Mosspark Parish Church, Glasgow. In 1990, Mr Christie was ordained and inducted as minister at Hyndland Parish Church in the Presbytery of Glasgow where he served for 14 years.[4]

Christie was called to Interim Ministry in 2004 — a specialist ministry helping congregations that have faced difficulties. As of 2009 he is serving at St Andrew's Parish Church, West Kilbride and also visits the Scots Kirk, Lausanne in the Church of Scotland's Presbytery of Europe.[3]

Christie has also served as Convener of four Church of Scotland General Assembly Boards and Committees (the Safeguarding Committee, the Board of Parish Education, the Joint Boards Committee on the Safety & Protection of Children and the Forgiveness & Proportionality Working Group). Mr Christie also served as Vice Convener of the Kirk's Board of World Mission's Middle East and North Africa Committee.[3]

Moderator

The shortlist of nominees for the role of Moderator were made public in early October 2009. Alongside Christie, William D. Brown, of Murrayfield, John L. McPake from Mossneuk in East Kilbride, and C. Peter White, of Sandyford, Glasgow were nominated.[5] Christie's selection as the final nominee was announced on 27 October 2009.[2] Christie formally took up his appointment on 20 May 2010.[6] Upon becoming Moderator his full title became the Right Reverend John Cairns Christie BSc BD.

Personal life

In 1972 Christie married Elizabeth and they had a daughter, Margaret. Elizabeth died in 1993. In 1995 Mr Christie married Annette, a Scottish Indoor Bowling Internationalist.[3]

See also

• List of Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

References

1. Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ—the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation (volume 11), page 147, published for the Church of Scotland by T & T Clark Ltd, Edinburgh, 2000, ISBN 0 567 08750 6
2. The Rev "John Cairns Christie nominated as Moderator of the Kirk", The Times, 28 October 2009. Retrieved on 4 November 2009.
3. Press release from the Church of Scotland
4. Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ (volume 11), page 147, ISBN 0 567 08750 6
5. "Four vie for church post", Teletext. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
6. "The General Assembly 2010—Real time tracker postings archive: Session I Thursday 20 May", Record of first day of 2010 General Assembly.

External links

• "Former science teacher is next Moderator", The Scotsman, 28 October 2009.
• "Top role for Rev", Evening Times, 28 October 2009.
• "The Kirk Needs a Captain—A year is not long enough for a Church of Scotland moderator to make a mark", 28 October 2009.
• "Kirk announces its new moderator", BBC Scotland, 27 October 2009.
• "Moderator's ring of office is stolen", BBC Scotland, 24 December 2010.