The ministers - who have agreed to have their names go forward to become the denomination’s next principal public representative - are Rev. Brian Boyd of Kells and Eskylane, Rev. William Henry of Maze Presbyterian Church and Rev. Charles McMullen of Bangor West.
Explaining the process, Rev. Trevor Gribben, Clerk of the General Assembly and General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland said that the Church’s 19 presbyteries will meet at different locations around Ireland on Tuesday, 6th February to prayerfully consider the three ministers on the short list and select the next Moderator.
“There is a wonderful rhythm to the life of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the first Tuesday in February is the first key event of the year for us, as ministers and elders from our 535 congregations across Ireland meet in their respective Presbyteries to nominate our next Moderator.
“The vote in each presbytery is by simple majority. This means that whoever receives the most votes within a particular presbytery receives the single vote of that presbytery. The minister who receives the majority of these votes from the 19 presbyteries, becomes our Moderator-Designate until their formal nomination and election as Moderator by the General Assembly in June,” Mr Gribben said.
Should there be a tie in the number of presbytery votes received on the first count, which happened in 2014, presbyteries will continue to meet that night until one minister is clearly ahead.
This year's nominees
Rev. Brian Boyd B.Sc., B.D.
Brian Boyd has been minister of Kells and Eskylane since 1992. Born in 1959, he was ordained as assistant in High Kirk Presbyterian, Ballymena in 1986 and installed two years later a minister of Culnady and Swatragh. Brian convened the Alcohol and Drug Education Committee from 1997 to 2000.
Rev. William John Henry B.Sc., B.D.
William Henry was ordained as assistant in Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church in 1994 and installed as the minister of Maze Presbyterian in 1997 and with Ballinderry (Stated Supply) in 2001. Born in 1968 William was convener of the Home and Irish Mission/Strategy for the Mission Committee 2006-2012 and Union Commission 2012˗2015 convening its successor body, the Linkage Commission, from 2015 to the present.
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Rev. Charles McMullen, M.A., M. Litt., B.D.
Charles McMullen was ordained as assistant minister in Harmony Hill, Lisburn, in 1988 and was installed as minister of Legacurry Presbyterian Church in 1991. Born in 1960, he has been minister of West Church, Bangor since 1999. Charles convened the Magee Fund Scheme Committee from 1993 to 2000, National and International Problems Committee from 1993 to 1997 and Global Concerns Committee from 2005 to 2010.
Starting in June, having chaired or ‘moderated’ the General Assembly, the Moderator will have a busy year preaching most Sundays in congregations across Ireland, encouraging them in their work and witness during three week-long presbytery tours, while undertaking an overseas tour. The Moderator will also chair a number of the Church’s councils and represent the denomination at various public and State events.
But as Rev. Trevor Gribben explained, the Moderator will not be the head of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, “Our constitution clearly states that ‘The Lord Jesus Christ is the sole King and Head of the Church…’ so the Moderator, whoever they are, is not the ‘head of the church’, but our most senior office bearer and principal public representative.
“As such they play an important role in the life and ministry of the Church across Ireland and further afield and I look forward to working with our new Moderator in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ,” Mr Gribben said.
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