Donald Macleod

Donald Macleod (24 November 1940 – 21 May 2023) was a Scottish theologian.

Early life Macleod was born on 24 November 1940 at 3 Habost, Ness. He grew up at Laxdale in Stornoway. His primary schooling was spent at Laxdale Primary School, and later attended secondary at the Nicolson Institute. Those people who believed that Macleod should be put on trial by the General Assembly then formed the Free Church Defence Association and ultimately a new denomination, the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing). However, Johnston McKay later noted that although on the surface the split was about Macleod, in his view it was about theology, since Macleod belonged to the more "modernising" wing of the Free Church.

Personal life In January 1965, he married Mary Maclean of New Shawbost. Together they had three sons, John, Murdo and Angus. His son, John, is a Scottish journalist and writer.

In 2008, he was honoured as a Doctor of Divinity by the Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, USA. Macleod was only the third Free Church of Scotland minister to win that accolade since the Second World War.

After retirement After retirement, Macleod continued to write books and lecture. He also preached communion and other services.

Death Macleod died at his home in Edinburgh on 21 May 2023, at the age of 82. His funeral was held at Stornoway Free Church on Tuesday 30 May, conducted by Rev. James Maciver. He was buried in Habost Cemetery, Ness - the township of his birth. There was also a service of prayer and praise at St Columba's Free Church in Edinburgh on Friday 26 May.

Works The Spirit of Promise (Christian Focus, 1986) Rome and Canterbury: A View from Geneva (Christian Focus, 1989) Shared Life (Christian Focus, 1994) Behold Your God (Christian Focus, 1995) A Faith to Live By (Christian Focus, 1998) The Person of Christ (IVP, 1998) Jesus is Lord: Christology Yesterday and Today (Christian Focus, 2000) From Glory to Golgotha (Christian Focus, 2002) Priorities for the Church (Christian Focus, 2003) The Living Past (Acair, 2006) Christ Crucified: Understanding the Atonement (IVP, 2014) Compel Them to Come in (Christian Focus, 2020) Therefore the Truth I Speak: Scottish Theology 1500-1700 (Christian Focus, 2020) Faith Undaunted (Christian Focus, 2022) From the Marrow Men to the Moderates: Scottish Theology 1700–1800 (Christian Focus, 2023)