Church of Scotland: General Assembly 2010

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RIGHT REVEREND JOHN CHRISTIE,

MODERATOR OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

The Reverend John Cairns Christie, (62), was born in Glasgow and educated at Hermitage Academy, Helensburgh, University of Strathclyde, Paisley College and University of Glasgow and in his early years he attended Saint Columba Church, Helensburgh.

From 1966 to 1968, Mr Christie was employed as a scientific assistant in the Royal Ordnance Factory, Bishopton.

He then studied at the University of Strathclyde, graduating Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1971 and, for a year, was Assistant Warden at Compass Christian Centre, Glenshee Lodge. There followed a year's study at Jordanhill College, Glasgow from where Mr Christie graduated with a Post Graduate Certificate in Secondary Education.              

From 1973 until 1976, Mr Christie taught Biology and Chemistry at Albert Secondary School, Springburn, Glasgow while also undertaking part time study at Paisley College of technology to become a member of the Institute of Biology (now the Society of Biology). Mr Christie is a Chartered Biologist.In 1976, still at Albert Secondary School, Mr Christie became assistant principal guidance teacher and remained in that post until 1978 when he was appointed principal teacher of science at Tiree High School. During this time, Mr Christie was ordained to the eldership in Tiree Parish Church.

1984 saw Mr Christie move to Inverness Royal Academy where the responsibility element associated with the teaching post that he held was Warden of Dalneigh Hall of Residence for highlands and islands students attending the then Inverness Technical College.

After answering a call from God to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament, Mr Christie studied at Glasgow University, graduating Bachelor of Divinity with Upper Second Class Honours in New Testament and Systematic Theology in 1989. He served for one year as Probationer Assistant in Mosspark Parish Church, Glasgow.

In 1990, Mr Christie was ordained and inducted into Hyndland Parish Church, Glasgow where he served for 14 years. His ministry included school chaplaincies in Hyndland Secondary School, Broomlea School, which caters for children with profound learning difficulties, and Middlefield School for children with communication difficulties. Mr Christie developed community links and worked to meet the needs of the local community, providing pastoral care for all who sought it. He actively encouraged ecumenical awareness and interfaith dialogue and was active in Christian Aid.

Mr Christie undertook a variety of roles within Glasgow Presbytery including Convenor of the Education Committee, Vice-Convenor of the Superintendence Committee, Vice Convener of the Lodging House Mission Committee and supervision of probationers and students for both full time and auxiliary ministry.

Mr Christie was called to Interim Ministry in 2004. Interim Ministers are deployed for up to two years to congregations that need some help. Mr Christie describes his role as an interim minister as 'helping congregations over hurdles'. He considers himself as fortunate in having undertaken interim ministries with a variety of congregations. Before becoming Moderator, he was in St Andrew's Parish Church, West Kilbride and also spent some time in the Scots Kirk, Lausanne.

Wider Church work for Mr Christie has included Convenership of four General Assembly Boards/Committees (Safeguarding Committee; Board of Parish Education; Joint Boards Committee on the Safety and Protection of Children; Forgiveness and Proportionality Working Group). Mr Christie also served as Vice Convener of the board of World Mission's Middle East and North Africa Committee.

In 1972 Mr Christie married Elizabeth and they had a daughter, Margaret. Elizabeth died in 1993. Mr Christie has been married to Annette, who is a Scottish Indoor Bowling Internationalist, since 1995.

Mr Christie lists his leisure interests as watching Annette play bowls; playing 5-a-side football, which he claims to do badly; hill-walking; reading; radio and TV; occasional golf;sailing;DIY and gardening.

Note to News Desks:
The role of Moderator of the General Assembly is an honorary one, held for 12 months. Meetings of the General Assembly are chaired by the Moderator, who leads worship, rules on points of order and signs documents on behalf of the Assembly. After the Assembly, the Moderator generally travels as a Church representative in Scotland, other parts of the UK and overseas in an ambassadorial capacity.
Every Moderator carries out a series of visits to several Church of Scotland presbyteries as well as undertaking a number of international tours.