Each year the Moderator makes a week-long tour of three of the Church’s 19 Presbyteries. Accompanied by his wife Anne, Dr. McNie will also preach at a Gospel Rally in Connor Presbyterian Church this week, take a United Service for congregations in Ballymena town at West Church Presbyterian and preach in Clough Presbyterian Church. The tour will conclude in Third Portglenone Presbyterian Church next Sunday where he will lead evening worship.
During the week he and Anne will attend coffee mornings at Second Broughshane and First Ahoghill Presbyterian churches. He will also host two breakfasts – one for ministers in the Presbytery and the other for Ballymena town centre traders.
In addition to a busy speaking schedule he will visit Dunclug Primary School and Dunclug College, Ballymena Livestock Market and pay a courtesy call on the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.
Speaking at the start of his tour, Dr. McNie said, “While Presbytery tours are always busy occasions for Moderators and our wives, we really are looking forward to joining with friends in Ballymena and the surrounding area and hope that through our visit to congregations and the Presbytery itself, we can encourage and be encouraged ourselves.
“While I will be meeting many people from different congregations and speaking in a number of churches, we are also looking forward to hosting a meeting of Ballymena town traders, visiting the Farmers Mart and two local schools. Anne will also be talking about our recent trip to Malawi as well.”
Ballymena Presbytery – one of the Church’s 19 presbyteries across Ireland – consists of 31 congregations. Rev. Joseph Andrews, Clerk of Ballymena Presbytery and Minister of Ballee Presbyterian Church said, “The last time our Presbytery welcomed a Moderator on a Presbytery tour was in 2009, so we are looking forward to Dr. McNie’s visit.
“The Moderator’s visit always encourages us at a local level and reminds us that we are part of a larger church family and bigger Presbyterian community. His visit will be a very practical way of demonstrating that. It is also a good opportunity for Moderator’s to see what local Churches are doing in the community and for the local community to meet the Moderator.”