This week one of the best known Presbyterian ministers in Ireland, Dr John Dunlop retires from the congregational ministry. Yesterday, 26,September, was his last Sunday as minister of Rosemary Presbyterian Church in North Belfast and he officially retires this Thursday, 30 September.
Recognised for his work of recent years to foster a better understanding between Protestant and Roman Catholic communities, particularly in North Belfast, his vocation has taken him to many places around the world and involved him in many aspects of public life.
After his ordination in 1966 and the completion of his training as assistant minister in the Fitzroy congregation in Belfast, Dr Dunlop's ministry was centered first in Jamaica for ten years from 1968 and then on his return to Belfast in 1978 in the Rosemary congregation on Belfast's North Circular Road.
Born in Newry in 1939, he served with the Presbyterian Overseas Board as a minister with the United Church of Jamaica and Cayman Islands. His first congregation was at Mount Hermon in the west of Jamaica and then in 1971 he succeeded Rev David Lapsley as minister of Webster Memorial United Church in Kingston. He returned three years ago to take part in celebrations marking 60 years work and witness of the congregation.
Since 1978 Dr Dunlop has been the minister of Rosemary Presbyterian Church but with the support and encouragement of the Kirk Session he has exercised a wider ministry in efforts to further better relations between Protestant and Roman Catholics encouraging each community to better understand the other's culture and history.
Dr Dunlop has travelled extensively in Europe and the USA talking about the Northern Ireland situation, particularly exploring the issues surrounding the churches' identification with particular communities and their responsibilities to be agents and facilitators of reconciliation. His 1995 book, 'A Precarious Belonging, Presbyterians and the Conflict in Ireland' was a description of Presbyterians in Ireland and how their values and attitudes have underpinned political life in Northern Ireland since its beginning.
Dr Dunlop served the Presbyterian Church as its Moderator in 1992 and for seven years from 1996 until 2003 was co-convener of its Church and Government Committee representing the opinions of the Church in matters between the Church and Government authorities and in other matters of public interest.
His abilities have also been recognized outside the church with the award of an Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship to the USA, the Cultural Traditions Award for 'contribution to the debate on cultural diversity within Northern Ireland', a CBE for services to the community and recent honorary doctorates from the University of Ulster and Queen's University, Belfast.
Dr Dunlop was a member of various public bodies including the North Commission which reported to the government about ways in which the parades issues could be handled and he chaired another Commission looking into community development in North Belfast.
In retiring John Dunlop leaves the day to day running of Rosemary Presbyterian Church. However he remains a minister of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and will no doubt find another aspect of ministry to devote his considerable talents to without the daily responsibility of congregational life.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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