Moderators
The moderator presides over the meeting of the court, much as aModerator of the Kirk Session
The Kirk Session is the governing court of a parish. The moderator is usually the parish minister. During a vacancy the presbytery appoints an interim moderator, usually the minister of a neighbouring parish or a retired minister although suitably trained elders may also moderate Kirk Sessions. The moderator is answerable to the presbytery, not to the kirk session, for his or her conduct in the court.Moderator of the Presbytery
The Presbytery is the governing court of the local area. The moderator is usually the minister of a parish within the Presbytery's bounds, or a retired minister, though an elder may also be appointed. The Moderator is appointed by the Presbytery itself and usually serves for one year. Typically the moderator conducts worship at ordinations and other ordinances seen as acts of the presbytery. If the moderator is not a minister, then a minister (usually a former Moderator) will lead a service of ordination or the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.Moderator of the General Assembly
{{see also, List of Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland The moderator of theClerks
The word ''clerk'' is derived from ''cleric'', but in secular use it has come to mean little more than "secretary" or "accountant", and civil and criminal courts have a clerk who records proceedings. In the courts of the church, clerks are responsible for minute-keeping, correspondence and other documentation, but as the courts are heavily dependent on them, they often carry some considerable influence beyond their strict remit.Session clerk
The session clerk is clerk to the Kirk Session. Usually the clerk is an elder, but occasionally a retired minister is appointed. The moderator acts as clerk when no other appointment can be made, but "this practice should last no longer than is absolutely unavoidable".An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland, A Gordon McGillivray, 2nd Edition (2006 updated text) Although it is permissible for a person from outside the Kirk Session to be co-opted to this position, it is very unusual for the session clerk not to be a full member of the session. The clerk is elected by the Session, usually for an indefinite period, though some sessions appoint a Clerk for a fixed term, perhaps five years. The statutory duties of the clerk are limited to correspondence and paperwork, but in most sessions the clerk also takes responsibility for organising elders' duties and controlling the logistics at communion services, as a result of which the clerk is often seen as something of a manager of the session.Presbytery clerk
The Presbytery clerk is usually a parish minister, but might also be an elder, appointed by the Presbytery for an indefinite period. Because of the experience accumulated by Presbytery clerks over the years, they are often seen as local experts on church law, to whose judgements both the Presbytery and Kirk Sessions are often content to defer. In the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) the Presbytery or stated clerk, is the ecclesiastical administrator of the presbytery.Clerks to the Assembly
The principal clerk to the General Assembly holds a full-time position. Until 2010 the position of deputy clerk was also a full-time post but it has now reverted to being a part-time appointment. The clerks work together with the Procurator and the Solicitor of the Church to ensure the legal correctness of the actions of the Assembly.References