THE Church of Scotland is calling on members of the public to nominate people for the role of the Moderator of the General Assembly for the first time in its history.
The committee elected to recommend next year's Moderator has called on the entire Church to suggest candidates - who must be a minister, elder or deacon - using a prepared form.
A Church of Scotland spokesman said the move was made because the Kirk "just wanted to be open and public about it".
The Moderator - who chairs the annual General Assembly - is nominated by a committee which consists of one representative from each of the Kirk's 46 presbyteries. The successful candidate must also be formally elected by commissioners at the start of the Assembly, although this is a formality.
The Right Rev Angus Morrison, the current Moderator, stepped into the role last month after initially withdrawing as Moderator-Designate after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The church has previously relied on the nominations committee to make the recommendations.
It is generally expected that those making the recommendations will have an affiliation to a particular Church of Scotland congregation.
Following the week of the General Assembly, the Moderator acts as an ambassador for the Church of Scotland, frequently being invited to represent the Church at official events at home and abroad.
A Church of Scotland spokesman added: "Because the Kirk is Scotland's national church, and as a presbyterian church has no bishops, the Moderator is a prominent figure in the public life of the nation."
Forms are available on the Church of Scotland website and should be sent to ljamieson@churchofscotland.org.uk by July 31. The committee expects to meet short-listed candidates in September.
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