Rev Dr Trevor Morrow

Morrow Is Nominated As Moderator Designate

The Presbyterian Church has elected its youngest Moderator ever, Dr Trevor Morrow, minister of Lucan Presbyterian Church outside Dublin. He is also the first minister from the Republic to be elected as Moderator since 1964.

Born in Lisburn in 1948 Dr Morrow is 51 and 4 months, 5 months younger that the previous youngest moderator, Dr Godfrey Brown who held office in 1988.

And Dr Morrow is also the first minister from Lucan to become moderator and the first Southern based moderator since Rev James Park of the old Kingstown congregation 36 years ago.

Dr Morrow describes himself as 'reformed and orthodox but living in the 21st century' and looks forward to his year of office. 'This is a great honour not only for myself but for the Presbyterian Community in the Republic who are so honoured at this time.'

Committed to reconciliation and evangelism especially among young people Dr Morrow was one of the instigators of the Nexus Ireland project, established in 1987, which is an evangelical reconciliation initiative of the Presbyterian Youth Board It challenges the traditional tribal loyalties of young Irish people, attempts to change age-old fears and misconceptions and provides a forum for the churched and unchurched to communicate freely and to learn the principles of lasting peace.

He also sees the need for a 'movement for change' within the Church if it is to maintain an effective witness and ministry into the 21st century. In that respect Dr Morrow was a co-convener of 2020 Vision, the special Assembly organised by the Presbyterian Church in 1998 to consider how the Church needed to change the way it operated to give people the spiritual support they are wanting and looking for today.

Voting for each candidate was as follows:

Dr Trevor Morrow (Lucan) 10 Votes

Ards, North Belfast, South Belfast, Carrickfergus, Donegal, Down, Dromore, Dublin, Monaghan, Omagh

Rev Alastair Dunlop (Knock) 8 Votes

Armagh, Ballymena, Coleraine, Derry/Strabane, Iveagh, Newry, Route, Tyrone

Rev Terry McMullan (Overseas Secretary) 2 Votes

Foyle, Templepatrick

Rev Jim Campbell (Cooke Centenary, Belfast) 1 Vote

East Belfast

Press Conference
The Moderator-Designate will hold a Press Conference tomorrow, Wednesday 02-02-2000, at 10.30am in the Board Room in Church House, entrance by Wellington Street.