New Principal Clerk to the General Assembly takes oath of office

A minister has formally been appointed the new Principal Clerk to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Rev Dr Alistair May took an oath of office in front of commissioners this afternoon, becoming only the 41st person to be called to the role since 1572.

Thanking the General Assembly for placing its trust in him, he described his appointment as "humbling and daunting" at the same time.

The role of the Principal Clerk includes advising the Assembly and the Moderator on church law, practice and procedure.

They also support the Moderator throughout the year, serving as the Kirk's ambassador at home and abroad, and provide training courses and advice on church law and procedures to kirk sessions, presbyteries, ministers, and other church bodies.

Ministry of support

Rt Rev Gordon Kennedy, Moderator of the General Assembly, said: "To be the Principal Clerk is to exercise a ministry of support, representation and leadership within and beyond the life of the Kirk.

"It is a vocation where faith and theology, practice and procedure are held together in service of the Church of Scotland."

The Moderator congratulated Dr May on behalf of the Assembly and offered prayers for him and his ministry.

Dr May said: "I want to thank the Assembly for putting its trust in me in calling me to be its Principal Clerk.

"It is humbling, and at the same time daunting; however, I am reassured by three things.

"First, the expressions of support and promises of prayer, which I have received from across our broad church.

"I hope my email box is never as full in post as it was when the announcement went out (in February 2026).

"I also hope that these greetings might come with subsequent gifts of patience and forgiveness.

"Second, I have the reassurance that I will be working with a first-rate team in the Department of the General Assembly.

"Third, as you have reminded us, we serve a King who is strong and victorious where we are weak and failing."

Honour

A parish minister for 24 years, his last role was serving the congregation of Motherwell: Kirk at the Cross and before that was the minister at Stonelaw Church in Rutherglen, both in Lanarkshire.

Dr May has held offices in different parts of the Church, including as vice-convener of the Legal Questions Committee, a member of the Presbytery Partnership Support Programme Group, and as convener of the Presbytery Planning Group in Forth Valley and Clydesdale.

Having originally earned a Law degree, he pursued further studies in theology, followed by a PhD in the New Testament, and he has a particular interest in ecumenical and doctrinal issues.

Dr May said: "The honour that the Church does me in calling me to serve King Jesus in the role is surpassed only by the honour it has already done me by allowing me to serve as a parish minister, first in Rutherglen and then in Motherwell.

"It is from that experience that I will approach this new opportunity."

The General Assembly 2026 was clerked by Rev Dr John McPake, Acting Principal Clerk.