Donald Smith (almost universally known as Donnie) hails originally from Glasgow, being brought up in Drumchapel, and has lectured in SEL since 1987, becoming Rector in 2003. SEL is an interdenominational college for training pastors and was founded in 1933, with the Free Church of Scotland playing a major role in its establishment.

Mr Smith was educated at Yoker Primary School and at Hillhead High School before proceeding to Edinburgh University in 1968 where he gained a BSc Honours degree in Natural Philosophy. From 1972–75 he studied at the Free Church of Scotland College, Edinburgh, being licensed by Glasgow Presbytery in 1975. Thereafter he lectured in Church History at the Bible Training Institute (now known as the International Christian College), Glasgow, before being ordained in 1976 to work in the Free Church Mission in Peru.

He quickly adjusted to life in Peru, soon speaking Spanish like a native Peruvian, and in 1979 married Julia Cotos Durán, a kindergarten teacher. He also has dual nationality.

From 1978–1986, he was minister of Cajamarca Evangelical Presbyterian Church, a congregation of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Peru (IEPP), a daughter church of the Free Church of Scotland. During this time he was twice Moderator of the IEPP, and initiated and supervised the highly acclaimed PROESA community development project in villages with Presbyterian churches in the Cajamarca Presbytery. PROESA was supported and promoted by the evangelical aid agency Tearfund using the headline “A Town called Jesus” (the name of one of the villages concerned).

In addition to his Seminary work, he is involved in the work of the Association for Evangelical Theological Education in Latin America and is presently engaged in doctoral studies (PhD in Theological Education) in the Central American Theological Seminary, Guatemala. He is also a member of the Latin American advisory group of the Overseas Council International.

Both Mr Smith’s parents came originally from Lewis: Donald Smith (94), a lorry driver, from Achmore, and Mary Kennedy, a nurse. He is the eldest of four brothers and sisters: Sandy, Catriona and Mairi. He and Julia have two children, Alex (25) and Catriona (24).

In his early days in Glasgow he was active in the Boys’ Brigade, school rugby and cricket (and he still plays football enthusiastically with the seminary students). In the Free Church he was a precentor and Sunday School teacher in Drumchapel Free Church, and was heavily involved in Youth Camps, Youth Conferences, and various other youth and outreach activities.

Mr Smith will bring a unique and distinct range of gifts and experience to the role of Moderator, with a particular missionary and developing world emphasis.