Former FCoS leader dismissed

The Free Church of Scotland has dismissed former Moderator Bob Akroyd from ministry and suspended him indefinitely following an investigation which revealed he had engaged in “inappropriate communication”.

Akroyd, a well-known figure in the Scottish evangelical church who served in the denomination’s highest public role as Moderator of the General Assembly for 2023/24, has also been removed from his duties as a part-time lecturer and training director for the Free Church and Edinburgh Theological Seminary (ETS).

The investigation was undertaken by the Church’s Conduct and Complaints Committee after a complaint was brought to its attention, with a charge subsequently being brought before the Presbytery of Edinburgh and Perth. Akroyd admitted the charge and “expressed sorrow”, the Free Church said in a statement.

Following a request to the denomination for more information on the charge, en was told that no illegal behaviour has taken place and that this is an “internal matter for the church following one complaint”.

Akroyd, 59, moved to Scotland in the 1990s from the USA and became a Christian in 1993 while he was a student.

He graduated from the Free Church College (now Edinburgh Theological Seminary) in 1999 and became the assistant minister at Buccleuch Free Church. In 2012, he was appointed to oversee Systematic Theology and Practical Theology at the then Free Church College. He also served as an honorary chaplain at the University of Edinburgh and became a prison chaplain at HMP Edinburgh in 2001 and has been awarded for his work there.

A Free Church spokesman said: “We would firstly express our sorrow to the complainant. We understand the significance and seriousness of any matter that results in the dismissal of a minister, and the impact this decision will have on those directly affected.

“The Free Church of Scotland holds its ministers to the highest standards of conduct, care and responsibility and unfortunately, in this case, the standards expected were not met.”

“The Church has followed its established procedures carefully throughout, and we remain committed to ensuring that any complaints raised are handled with compassion, fairness and seriousness.”