Lord Wallace will be the second elder in modern times to serve in the role.
By Helen Silvis
The Rt Hon Lord Wallace of Tankerness QC (Jim Wallace) is Moderator Designate of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for 2021-22.
Ordained an elder in Stockbridge: St Bernard’s, Edinburgh in 1981, and inducted to the eldership of Kirkwall St. Magnus Cathedral, Orkney in 1990, Lord Wallace will be the second elder in modern times to serve in the role.
A trained Advocate and Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Moderator Designate was leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 1992-2005 and Deputy First Minister in the Scottish Executive from 1999-2005 (serving as Acting First Minister in 2000 and 2001).
Having taken up his seat in the House of Lords in 2007, Lord Wallace served as the Advocate General for Scotland in the coalition UK Government from 2010-2015.
Currently a working peer, with many years’ experience in public life as an MP for Orkney and Shetland then as MSP for Orkney, he will move to the non-affiliated benches in the House of Lords during his time as Moderator.
Lord Wallace plans to use the role to promote the theme of justice – social, economic and climate – and hopes that his year in office will be a source of encouragement to other elders and members of congregations who already play a very full part in the life of their church and communities. Married to Rosie, the couple have two grown up daughters.