Lesley Orr
Influential historian, writer and activist
Feminist, activist, academic, author, Iona Community member, Lesley Orr is a well rounded compassionate and dedicated person who has a passion for gender equality and justice in the world. That includes the history of the women’s movement and how inequality affects both boys and girls.
She was born into the family of the Rev. Jack Orr and Janet Johnson Orr in Edinburgh. Her father was a member of the Iona Community and minister of St. John’s Oxgangs Church. This was the context for values of making Christianity relevant in modern urban Scotland with those affected by poverty and violence and challenging injustice. This taught her always to be along side of people, breaking down barriers and gave her a drive for social justice and responsibility.
Her work over 35 years, has been concerned with challenging domestic abuse and all forms of gender based violence and injustice, which included the study of Politics and Philosophy, working with the British Youth Council (Scotland), gaining a BD with honours from New College, and a PhD on the changing relationship between women and Presbyterianism in 19th and 20th century, Scotland.
She also worked at the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. In 2013 Lesley was appointed as the Fellowship of Reconciliation Scotland Development Worker. Fellowship of Reconciliation was founded in 1914 by Christian conscientious objectors, their objective is to find non-violent ways to resolve conflict and promote social justice.
In the early 1990s, Lesley was involved in a local Women’s Aid group, which offered refuge and advocacy for women experiencing domestic abuse. From 1995-1997, she was based at the Centre of Theology and Public Issues at New College, coordinating an action research project about violence against women in Christian context, which included awareness raising and training, From 2005-2009, she worked on the Scottish Government’s National Strategy to address Violence Against Women, networking with Councils, organisations and agencies to develop professional training and education.
Lesley is on the boards of Zero Tolerance and the progressive think tank, Common Weal and is an Associate Director of Edinburgh University Centre for Theology and Public Issues. She has written extensively, including, A Unique and Glorious Mission—Women and Presbyterianism in Scotland, c.1830 -1930. She is married to the Rev. Peter Macdonald and they have two grown up sons.
Rona Harding
Source:
Orr, Lesley. Interview 2014
