Tomorrow, Tuesday 5 February, Presbyterians around Ireland will have their own 'super Tuesday' when they meet to elect a Moderator Designate to succeed the present Moderator Dr John Finlay at the Presbyterian General Assembly in June.
The voting will take place in the 21 presbyteries that independently meet around Ireland in locations as diverse as Dublin and Londonderry, Carrickfergus and Omagh.
Each Presbytery, which has a membership composed of all the ministers and a representative elder from every congregation in its area, can just nominate one name and these are communicated to Church House in Belfast where the result is declared out of a total of 21 votes, one from each presbytery.
Presbyteries will decide who they will nominate by a voting process but for the first time the only names that can be voted on come from a list, circulated to all Presbyteries by the Clerk of Assembly, Rev Dr Donald Watts, comprising of names submitted to him by each Presbytery in the autumn.
This year's list has seven names, six men and one woman, all of whom with the exception of Rev Norman Hamilton have received nominations before. They are Rev Willis Cordner (First Bangor), Rev Norman Hamilton (Ballysillan), Rev Joseph Fell (Ebrington), Rev Derek McKelvey (Fisherwick), Rev Wilfred Orr (St John's Newtownbreda), Rev Dr Ruth Patterson (Restoration Ministries) and Rev Dr Donald Patton (OC Randalstown). (Brief biographies are at the end and pics are available on request.)
"Over the years the Assembly has made various changes to the process used to elect its Moderator," explaines Dr Watts.
"When names were simply proposed 'on the night' many of the members of presbytery, particularly the elders, did not know much about the people involved. Publishing the list in advance together with brief biographies is an attempt to give some appropriate information to help them decide who to vote for.
"The hope is that this new system will allow people to know something about who they are voting for including the part they have played in church life and the qualities they bring to the demanding role of Moderator," added Dr Watts.
The identity of the next Moderator is expected to be announced by 9.30pm next Tuesday evening, 5 February.
The newly elected Moderator will hold a press conference at 10.30am, Wednesday 6 February in the Presbyterian Church Headquarters at Church House, Fisherwick Place, Belfast opposite Jury's Hotel.
Rev. Willis Cordner
Minister of First Bangor, Willis was born in born in 1948. He was ordained in 1972 as minister of Ballygomartin Baptist before being installed in 1978 as Assistant in Abbot's Cross and in 1980 to Waterside, Londonderry. In 1984 he became Chaplain to the University of Ulster before moving to First Bangor in 1990. From 1984 until 1991 he was Convener of the T.V. and Broadcasting Committee.
Rev. Joseph Fell
Minister of Ebrington. Born in 1944, Joseph was ordained as Assistant in Strand in 1969 before being installed, first as Assistant in 1971, and then in 1972 as Minister of First & Second Ray with Trenta. In 1973 he accepted a call to Ballyloughan, Ballymena, before becoming minister of Ebrington, Londonderry in 1988. He has served as Clerk of Derry and Strabane Presbytery since 1997 and in 2002 was Moderator of the Synod of Derry and Omagh.
Rev. Norman Hamilton, O.B.E.
Minister of Ballysillan, Norman was born in 1946. He was ordained in 1983 as Assistant in Finaghy and installed to Ballysillan in 1988.
Rev. Derek McKelvey
Minister of Fisherwick, Derek was born in 1945 and in 1971 was ordained as Assistant in First Bangor. In 1973 he was installed in Ballygilbert and became minister of Fisherwick in 1994. He was Convener of the Students' Bursary Fund between 1980 and 1987 and co-convened the Strategy for Mission Committee from 1994 to 1998.
Rev. Wilfred Orr
Minister of St. John's Newtownbreda. Born in 1947 Wilfred was ordained in 1974 as Assistant in First Bangor and in 1976 served as Assistant to the Acting Clerk of Assembly. In 1977 he was installed in Hydepark and Lylehill before becoming minister of Newtownbreda in 1982. Convener of the Union Commission from 1997 until 2002 he also convened the Tyrone Memorial Committee between 1997 and 1998.
Rev. Dr. Ruth Patterson, O.B.E.
Director of Restoration Ministries, Ruth was born in 1944 and ordained as Assistant in Gardenmore, Larne in 1976. In 1977 she was called to Kilmakee and in 1991 became the Director of Restoration Ministries. Convener of the Kinghan Mission Committee from 1983 to 1990 she was Moderator of the Synod of Belfast in 2003.
Rev. Dr. Donald Patton
Minister of O.C. Randalstown. Born in 1950 Donald was ordained as Assistant in Trinity Bangor in 1975. In 1977 he was installed in First Dromore and became minister of Greystone Road, Antrim in 1983. He accepted a call to Lowe Memorial, Finaghy in 1988 and was installed as minister of O.C. Randalstown in 2002. He convened the Historical Society Committee between 1990 and 1997.
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In the election last year the voting was as follows:
Rev John Finlay (Harryville, Ballymena) 9 Votes: Armagh, Ballymena, Coleraine, Down, Dromore, Newry, Omagh, Route, Tyrone.
Dr Joe Fell (Ebrington, Londonderry) 5 Votes: Derry/Strabane, Donegal, Dublin/Munster, Iveagh, Monaghan.
Rev Wilfred Orr (Newtownbreda) 3 Votes: East Belfast, Carrickfergus, Foyle.
Dr Donald Patton (Old Church, Randalstown) 2 Votes: North Belfast, Templepatrick.
Rev Derek McKelvey (Fisherwick) 1 Vote: South Belfast.
Rev Willis Cordner (1st Bangor) 1 Vote: Ards.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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