Alan McDonald (minister)

Alan Douglas McDonald is a parish minister who was the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, from the Assembly of May 2006 until May 2007.

McDonald was born in Glasgow and had trained initially as a lawyer (gaining an LLB from the University of Strathclyde). He studied for the ministry at New College, Edinburgh (BD, MTh). He served as an assistant minister in Greenside Parish Church, Edinburgh, and was subsequently a community minister in West Pilton, Edinburgh. He served for 15 years in Holburn Central Church, Aberdeen, before being called, in 1998, to the Fife parishes of Cameron and St Leonards (St Andrews).

He was the convener of the General Assembly's Church and Nation committee for four years until May 2004. He is married and has two children. His formal title (following the end of his Moderatorial year) is the Very Reverend Dr Alan McDonald.