Lockington Is Nominated As Moderator Designate

The next Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church will be Rev Dr John Lockington (54) who is at present minister of the Gardenmore congregation in Larne. He was nominated by 10 out of the 21 Presbyteries who met today throughout Ireland to vote for a new Moderator. Dr Lockington will take up office on the 7th June in succession to Dr John Dixon who continues as Moderator until that time.

Born and brought up in Belfast, the son of a shipyard worker, Dr Lockington is the third minister to be nominated as Moderator from the Carrickfergus presbytery in recent years following Dr Victor Lynas, also minister of Gardenmore in 1972 and Dr Ronnie Craig of 1st Carrickfergus in 1980

An important aspect of Dr Lockington's ministry has been evangelism, 'trying to minister to people to bring them into a right relationship with Jesus Christ and those who are Christians to help them mature and grow to be effective in living for Him.'

As Moderator he would want to encourage 'Christian people to live effectively for Christ.' 'I would like to see Christians having an impact in such a way that others would feel drawn to the Saviour. In the whole realm of society at every level I would encourage Christian people to bring Christian principles to bear in every situation where they are.'

Voting for each candidate was as follows:

DR JOHN LOCKINGTON (Gardenmore, Larne) 10 Votes
Armagh, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Derry/Strabane, Foyle, Iveagh, Newry, Templepatrick, Tyrone

DR TREVOR MORROW (Lucan) 6 VOTES
South Belfast, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Monaghan, Omagh

REV JIM CAMPBELL (Cooke Centenary, Belfast) 2 Votes
East Belfast, Dromore

REV TERRY MCMULLAN (Overseas Secretary) 2 Votes
Ards, North Belfast

REV DEREK POOTS (Deputy Clerk of Assembly) 1 Vote
Route

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Biographical Details for Rev John Lockington BA BD MTh PhD

John Lockington was brought up in the Bethany congregation (Agnes Street, Belfast) now Immanuel, and was educated at St Mary's Primary on the Crumlin Road, Edenderry Secondary and Belfast High School before going to Queen's.

His ministry began as assistant in the Ballysillan congregation in Belfast before he was called to the Co Down congregations of Ballyroney and Drumlee. Then in 1981 he moved to Armagh as minister of the Mall congregation and eight years later to Gardenmore Presbyterian Church, Larne.

He list as his interests philately - he is a member of the North of Ireland Philatelic Society - and watching football, usually at Windsor Park watching Linfield.

Dr Lockington is married to Norma with three adult children, Stephen , Cathryn and Susan. Stephen is assistant minister in Ebrington, Londonderry while the two girls are training as teachers in Scotland.

Born:

28 April, 1944 Belfast. Age 54

Education:

St Mary's Primary School - Crumlin Road

Edenderry Secondary

Belfast High School

Degrees:

Queen's University Belfast - BA (Politics, History, Anthropology); BD; PhD (in Church Law)

American Bible College - MTh (correspondence course)

Assembly's College - Ministerial Training

Career:

1969 - Ordained as Assistant Minister, Ballysillan Pres Church,Belfast

1971 - Minister of Ballyroney and Drumlee, Co Down

1981 - Minister of the Mall Congregation, Armagh

1989 - Present Minister of Gardenmore Pres Church, Larne

Family:

Married to Norma with three adult children, Stephen , Cathryn and Susan. Stephen is assistant minister in Ebrington, Londonderry while the two girls are training as teachers in Scotland.

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

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