Moderator grilled by Children’s Assembly

"Shape" teams of the 2012 Children’s Assembly interviewed the Revd Dr Michael Jagessar, moderator of General Assembly yesterday (Sunday 8 July).

Emily, from the square team, asked Dr Jagessar “If you could be an animal, what type of animal would you be?” He said: “An iguana, because it changes colours.” The square team also asked him whether he was good or naughty at school, to which he replied “sometimes good and [sometimes] bad” before telling the story of the naughtiest thing he did whilst at primary school – using an elastic band to hit one of his friends – for which he felt very sorry afterwards. The squares also discovered Dr Jagessar’s favourite sport, which is cricket, but he also loves volleyball.

Beth, aged 13, from the circle team, tried to catch Dr Jagessar out by asking him a question in Spanish! But being the multilingual man he is, Dr Jagessar quickly realised that they were asking him which Bible character he would like to be. His response was Abraham.

As well as Dr Jagessar, the Children’s Assembly shape teams also interviewed Melanie Smith, chaplain to the moderator; Gary and Jane Leighton, co moderators of FURY; and the Revd Jason McCullagh, minister of St Andrew’s United Reformed Church. Mr McCullagh was totally baffled by Beth’s question in Spanish!

The diamond team asked Miss Smith to explain what the Trinity means; her first answer was simply, “God”. When Gary and Jane Leighton were asked what animals they would like to be, Jane said “a rabbit, because they mow my lawns for me” whereas Gary would become a wolf: “I like to have a group of people to talk to” he explained.