 |
| |
The Presbytery of Ballymena made up of representatives of Presbyterian congregations in the greater Ballymena area has described plans to hold the Ballymena Agricultural Show on a Sunday as 'gravely offensive' and 'against the teaching of the Bible.'
In a statement issued today, Thursday 07 March, the Presbytery also said that it 'fails to understand why the extension has to involve a Sunday, especially as it appears that no other Agricultural Show in Northern Ireland stages events on a Sunday.'
The full text of the statement reads:
'The Presbytery of Ballymena is shocked to learn of the request to extend the period of Ballymena Show to include a Sunday.
'Presbytery has no objection to the organisers desire to extend the Show by one day, but fails to understand why the extension has to involve a Sunday, especially as it appears that no other Agricultural Show in Northern Ireland stages events on a Sunday.
'Such a move is against the teaching of the Bible and is gravely offensive to many Presbyterians in the Ballymena area.
'Recognising that many Presbyterians within and without the farming community have faithfully supported Ballymena Show in the past, Presbytery calls on the show organisers to withdraw their request to stage part of the Show on a Sunday.'
Commenting on the statement, the Clerk of the Ballymena Presbytery and minister of Ballee Presbyterian Church said that representatives from Presbytery planned to meet the Show committee as soon as possible to discuss the matter.
'I was impressed by the strength of opposition to the staging of part of Ballymena Show on a Sunday, which was expressed at our Presbytery meeting on Tuesday,' said Mr Andrews. 'In particular I noticed that strongest concern was being expressed by elders from congregations in country areas who are involved in farming and agriculture and who have been supporters of Ballymena Show in the past.
'It was clear that all present regarded the proposal to hold part of the Show on a Sunday as a very serious matter, and were mystified as to why the Show organisers should have taken such a deliberate stand against the clear teaching of Scripture. We are also concerned to know why a move has been made to hold Ballymena Show on a Sunday particularly when, as far as we can ascertain, no other agricultural show anywhere in Northern includes a Sunday,' added Mr Andrews.
'Presbytery warmly welcomed the decision of Ballymena Borough Council to defer their decision on the application for the use of the Showgrounds on Sunday 26th May, and while, fully understanding that current legislation may force a number of Councillors to act against their consciences or risk breaking the law, would assure them of our prayerful support as they seek to grapple with this most unnecessary and unhelpful situation.
'Presbytery has appointed an Ad Hoc Committee to meet with the show organisers so that we can find out exactly why they have taken such a move and also put our case directly to them. We also hope to contact other Churches and interested parties, and from what we know so far some have already expressed concern.
'At present I would call on all our people to make this a matter of urgent and fervent prayer, that the organisers of the Show may come to realise that their present plans are grossly offensive to many Christians in the area and an open defiance of the authority of the Sovereign God, and that they may yet decide to modify their plans to exclude Sunday from their programme. Should they decide to do so they would know the warm appreciation of Ballymena Presbytery, and I am sure, of many other Christian people in the Ballymena area,' concluded Mr Andrews.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
PCI Home . . . Press Office . . . News Archive