James Gordon is part-time minister of Montrose Baptist Church in Angus, Scotland, and the former principal of the Scottish Baptist College.
James’ articles that have appeared on EthicsDaily.com are available here.
1. Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire in southwest Scotland.
2. What is your favorite Bible verse, book or story? Why?
Genesis 18:1-5.
Andrei Rublev’s icon as image of the Trinity has hung in my study for 25 years, so as well as the place of this story in the unfolding drama of redemption, the icon reminds me of the triune God of love inviting creation to the banquet at the Eucharistic table.
3. What is one of your favorite movies? Why?
“The Mission.”
The soundtrack is superb, and the central issues of power, mission, church and redemption are explored and opened up in ways that highlight the conflicted ambiguities of the church when it aligns its mission with political ambition and its own self interests.
4. Who are three of the people you admire?
Desmond Tutu, Malala Yousafzai (the 14-year-old girl seriously wounded by the Taliban for daring to insist on attending school) and Jürgen Moltmann.
5. What is one little known fact about yourself?
When I attended evening classes to study English literature, as a 16-year-old recently kicked out of school, I shared the class with five nuns who were the epitome of kindness, encouragement and courtesy to this young upstart, and who, therefore, unwittingly sowed the seeds of my own life commitment to ecumenical dialogue, understanding and respectful listening.