McDonald was born in Glasgow and had trained initially as a lawyer (gaining an LLB from the University of Strathclyde).
He studied for the ministry at New College, Edinburgh (BD, MTh).
He served for 15 years in Holburn Central Church, Aberdeen, before being called, in 1998, to the Fife parishes of Cameron and St Leonards (St Andrews).
[1] He was the convener of the General Assembly's Church and Nation committee for four years until May 2004.
His formal title (following the end of his Moderatorial year) is the Very Reverend Dr Alan McDonald.