Rev Alastair Dunlop

Dunlop Is Nominated As Moderator Designate

The next Moderator of the Presbyterian Church will be Rev Alastair Dunlop (55), minister of Knock Presbyterian Church in Belfast. As Moderator Mr Dunlop is following in the footsteps of his father, Rev James Dunlop, who held office in 1964.

Mr Dunlop was nominated by 19 out of the 21 Presbyteries who met today throughout Ireland to vote for a new Moderator and will take up office on the 4th June in succession to Dr Trevor Morrow who continues as Moderator until that time. The last time a Moderator received 19 votes was in 1980 when Dr RG Craig of Carrickfergus was nominated Moderator. Dr Russell Birney, Minister of High Kirk in Ballymena received the two remaining nominations.

Born and brought up in North Belfast Mr Dunlop is the first minister of Knock to be elected as moderator though a retired missionary, Rev William Beatty, who was a member of the congregation, was moderator in 1898.

'Churches need to be welcoming and inclusive' thinks Mr Dunlop who is looking forward to his year of office.'

'You can't do effective work without the right resources in terms of facilities and people and churches need to invest in both to create the best possible circumstances to present our Christian witness effectively. At Knock we're trying new things here alongside our more traditional approach and it seems to be working in terms of us providing a church which gives the spiritual support that people are wanting and looking for at the start of the 21st century.'

Voting for each candidate was as follows:

Rev Alastair Dunlop (Knock) 19 Votes

Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, North Belfast, East Belfast, Coleraine, Derry/Strabane, Donegal, Down, Dromore, Foyle, Iveagh, Monaghan, Newry, Omagh, Route, Templepatrick, Tyrone.

Rev Russell Birney (High Kirk, Ballymena) 2 Votes

South Belfast, Dublin

Press Conference

The Moderator -Designate will hold a Press Conference tomorrow, Wednesday 07-02-2001, at 10.30am in the Board Room, Church House, Belfast, entrance by Wellington Street off Fisherwick Place opposite Jury's Hotel.

Biographical Details for Rev Alastair Dunlop BA BD

North Belfast man Rev Alastair Dunlop (55), was born on 8 December 1945. He was brought up in the Oldpark area of Belfast where his father, Dr James Dunlop, was minister of Oldpark Presbyterian and indeed Moderator of the General Assembly in 1964.

Mr Dunlop was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Queen's University graduating in 1967 with a BA degree. Having decided to follow his father into the Presbyterian ministry he continued his studies at the Presbyterian College in Belfast adding a BD degree to his qualifications.

His ministry began with periods of assistantship in two Belfast congregations, Malone and Fitzroy, before he received a call to become minister of First Portglenone in 1973 where he stayed for ten years.

In 1983 he returned to the city of his birth as minister of Knock Presbyterian Church where he ministers today.

A former convener of the Presbyterian Church's Inter Church Relations Board Mr Dunlop has travelled widely in his role as Chairman of Interserve Ireland, an inter-denominational body that supports Christian missionaries in many countries.

Describing himself as an avid rugby supporter of both Ulster and Ireland and a keen skier Mr Dunlop is married to Anne with a family of four, Dorothy, David, Heather and Alastair.

Born:

08 December 1945, Belfast -- Age: 55

Education:

1956 - 1964 -- Royal Belfast Academical Institution 1964 - 1967 -- Queen's University, Belfast -- BA, BD 1967 - 1970 -- Presbyterian College, Belfast -- Ministerial Training

Career:

1968 - 1970 -- Malone Presbyterian Church -- Student Assistant

1970 - 1973 -- Fitzroy Presbyterian church -- Assistant

(Ordained - 06-01-71)

1973 - 1983 -- 1st Portglenone Presbyterian Church -- Minister

1983 - present -- Knock Presbyterian Church, Belfast -- Minister

Other:

Convener of the Presbyterian Church's Inter-Church Relations Board 1992-95

Chairman - Interserve Ireland Council

Interests:

Avid Ulster and Ireland Rugby supporter

Skiing

Family:

Married to Anne with four adult children, Dorothy, David, Heather and Alastair.