Presbyterians Vote For Next Moderator

Next Tuesday 7 February, Presbyterians around Ireland will meet to elect a Moderator Designate to succeed the present Moderator Dr Ivan Patterson at the Presbyterian General Assembly in May.

The voting will take place in the nineteen Presbyteries that independently meet around Ireland in locations as diverse as Dublin and Londonderry, Carrickfergus and Omagh.

Each Presbytery, which has a membership composed of all the ministers and a representative elder from every congregation in its area, can nominate just one name and these are communicated to Assembly Buildings in Belfast where the result is declared out of a total of 19 votes, one from each Presbytery.

Presbyteries will decide who they will nominate from a list, circulated to all Presbyteries by the Deputy Clerk of Assembly, Rev Trevor Gribben, comprising of names submitted by each Presbytery in the autumn.

This year's list has five names including Rev Joseph Andrews (Ballee, Ballymena), Rev Rob Craig (Kilfennan, Londonderry) and Rev Roy Patton (Ballygilbert) who received nominations in last year's election. New names are Rev John Dickinson, minister of Carnmoney and Rev Donald Watts, Clerk of the General Assembly. Brief biographies follow below.

The identity of the next Moderator is expected to be announced by 9.30pm next Tuesday evening, 7 February.

In previous years a tied vote resulted in a supplementary election in March but this year, should such a situation arise, Presbyteries will be informed by phone and the second vote involving just the tied names will take place the same night.

The General Assembly will be held a week earlier than usual this year moving from the first week in June to the last week in May due to celebrations to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

2011 VOTE

Rev Ivan Patterson (Newcastle) 12 Votes: Armagh, North Belfast, East Belfast, South Belfast, Carrickfergus, Coleraine/Limavady, Dromore, Dublin/Munster, Iveagh, Omagh, Route, Templepatrick.

Rev Roy Patton (Ballygilbert) 3 Votes: Ards, Monaghan, Newry.

Rev Joseph Andrews (Ballee, Ballymena) 2 Votes: Ballymena, Tyrone.

Rev Roy Mackay (Second Comber) 1 Vote: Down.

Rev Rob Craig (Kilfennan, Londonderry) 1 Vote: Derry/Donegal.

Biographical Details

	Rev Joseph Andrews Minister of Ballee, Ballymena, Joseph was born in 1957 and ordained as Assistant in Wellington Street, Ballymena in 1981. In 1984 he was installed as Assistant Minister in Loughgall and Tartaraghan before accepting a call to Ballee in 1987. He served as Clerk of the Synod of Ballymena and Coleraine between 2003 and 2007 and is currently Clerk of the Ballymena Presbytery, a post he has held since 1997.
	Rev Rob Craig Minister of Kilfennan, Londonderry, Rob was born in 1954 and ordained as Assistant in Glengormley in 1983. In 1985 he was installed as minister of Clough and Seaforde and was called to Kilfennan in 1994. He was convener of the Home Mission Committee between 1998 and 2004.
	Rev John Dickinson Minister of Carnmoney, John was born in 1954 and in 1980 was ordained as Assistant in Bloomfield. In 1982 he was installed as minister of First Killyleagh and five years later in 1987 was called to the Seaview congregation in Belfast. In 2002 he became minister of Carnmoney. Clerk of the North Belfast Presbytery between 1991 and 2001, he was co-convener of the Hymnal Supplement Committee from 1991 until 1995 and also co-convened the Mission Assembly (1997) Committee between 1994 and 1998.
	Rev Roy Patton Minister of Ballygilbert, Roy was born in 1953 and in 1981 was ordained as Assistant in St. Enoch's, Belfast. In 1983 he was installed as minister of Downshire Road, Newry before accepting a call to Ballygilbert in 1994. He convened the Youth Centres Committee between 1988 and 1995, the Irish Mission/Home and Irish Mission Committee from 2002 to 2006 and has been convener of the Board of Mission in Ireland since 2006.
	Rev Dr Donald Watts Currently Clerk of the General Assembly Donald was born in 1948 and was ordained as Assistant in Malone in 1977. In1980 he was installed as minister of Ballyholme before being appointed Clerk-Designate of the General Assembly in 2001 becoming Clerk in 2003. Clerk of the Ards Presbytery between 1990 and 2001 he served as convener of the University Education Committee from 1982 to 1989, the Presbyterian Residential Trust between 1985 and 1989 and the Peace and Peacemaking Committee from 1996 until 1999. As Clerk he currently convenes a range of Committees and Boards.

Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org

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