Gordon Kennedy (minister)

The Right Reverend

Gordon Kennedy
Moderator of the General Assembly
ChurchChurch of Scotland
In officeMay 2026 – May 2027
PredecessorRosemary Frew
Orders
Ordination16 June 1993
Personal details
Born (1963-09-15) 15 September 1963
England
DenominationPresbyterianism
ResidenceEdinburgh
SpouseFiona Kennedy (nee. Marshalsay)
Children2 Sons

Gordon Kennedy (b. 15 September 1963) is a minister of the Church of Scotland, who became Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from 15 May 2026.

Early life and education

Kennedy was born in England on 15 September 1963 to David and Grace Kennedy (nee. Jewell).[1] He was raised in Glasgow, where he attended Crookston Castle Secondary School from 1975-80.[1] He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Strathclyde (1980-85). He studied at the University of Glasgow for a civil engineering degree, and then again for his BD.[1]

His home church was Partick South Church of Scotland, where his sister remains an elder.[2]

Ordained ministry

He was licensed by the Presbytery of Glasgow on 26 June 1992, and was an assistance at Bearsden North from 1992-93.[1] He was ordained and inducted to New Cumnock Church on 16 June 1993[1], where he served until 2000.[3] This was followed by twelve years serving at Portpatrick Parish Church linked with St Ninian's Parish Church in Stranraer, Wigtownshire (from 2000 to 2012). His current ministry is at Craiglockhart Church in Edinburgh.[2]

Throughout his 32 years of ministry, he has served in various capacities of leadership roles in three presbyteries, as well as within the wider denomination. He has served on the former Council of Assembly, the Theological Commission and the Church Without Walls Special Commission.[2]

He serves an honorary chaplain at Napier University.[4] He has been the chair of the Evangelical Alliance Scotland board.[5] He has also served as the chairperson of Forward Together, an evangelical network within the Church of Scotland.[6]

In October 2025 he was nominated to succeed Right Rev Rosemary Frew as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in May 2026.[2]

Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

On 15 May 2026, at the beginning of the 2026 General Assembly, Gordon was elected as Moderator of the General Assembly. Rev Ian Cathcart and Rev Ramsay Shields were appointed as his chaplains for the year.

Personal life

Since 14 March 1987, Kennedy has been married to Rev Fiona Kennedy, an OLM (Ordained Local Minister) who works with various churches in Edinburgh.[7] Together, the couple have two adult sons, John and Andrew - the latter is married to Bonnie.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 MacDonald, Finlay Angus John, ed. (2000), Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae. 11: Ministers of the church from 1. January 1976 to 30 September 1999 / ed. by Finlay Angus John MacDonald (PDF) (1. publ ed.), Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, ISBN 978-0-567-08750-8, retrieved 5 June 2026
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Scotland, The Church of (16 October 2025). "Rev Gordon Kennedy is Moderator Designate for 2026-2027". The Church of Scotland. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "New Cumnock Parish Church". NEW CUMNOCK HISTORY. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "Student Portal Napier University". my.napier.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 14 February 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  5. ↑ Kennedy, Gordon (2018). Broken Relationships (PDF). Bible Society.
  6. ↑ "Row over same sex marriage rages on". www.thetimes.com. 28 May 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  7. ↑ Scotland, The Church of (7 September 2022). "New minister called to serve Edinburgh churches". The Church of Scotland. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
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