In a sign of the gradual return to the familiar routine of previous years, Dr Kirkpatrick joined family and friends of those who had studied at Union Theological College in Belfast for the annual graduation ceremony, where they received their degrees from the PTFI, together with certificates of competency for ministry.
The PTFI awards degrees by the authority of its Royal Charter, which was granted by Queen Victoria in 1881 and renewed by the Queen in 2021. This year’s citation was delivered by Dr Desi Alexander, Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies at UTC, who spoke of how his and Dr Kirkpatrick’s paths first crossed when the future Moderator was on a placement at Greenmount Agricultural College studying farm management. “I recall you riding a motor bike and wondering how you managed to wear a helmet because in those days you had considerably more hair than you have today,” Dr Alexander said.
He spoke of Dr Kirkpatrick’s life growing up, how he had encountered God aged nine and how his time at Greenmount, when aged 19, his life “was turned around as you discovered afresh God’s love and grace in a most personal way.”
They met at Greenmount Agricultural College were where the future Moderator was on a placement studying farm management. “I recall you riding a motor bike and wondering how you managed to wear a helmet because in those days you had considerably more hair than you have today,” Dr Alexander said.
He spoke of Dr Kirkpatrick’s life growing up, how he had encountered God aged nine and how his time at Greenmount, when aged 19, his life “was turned around as you discovered afresh God’s love and grace in a most personal way.”
Having left the agri college in 1979 and completed a degree in Social Science and Environmental studies, Dr Alexander described how the Moderator-Designate felt God’s call on his life to full-time ministry which led him, aged 25, to Union Theological College in 1981 and his ordination as Assistant Minister Megain Memorial and Mersey Street Presbyterian Churches in east Belfast four years later. He also spoke of his first call as a minister to Garryduff Presbyterian Church outside Ballymoney in 1987 and his move to Portrush Presbyterian six years later where he has served for nearly 30 year.
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“As someone who has marinated himself in Scripture, you have a burning passion that others should be steeped in the life-transforming Word of God. Your ministry has been marked by biblical teaching that seeks through the Holy Spirit to be life changing,” Dr Alexander said.
“All who listen to you quickly sense that you have a passion for biblical preaching that addresses the needs of contemporary people. Pastoring in Portrush is but one part of your ministry. Your vision for the kingdom has extended far beyond the strands that stretch out to the east and west of Portrush.”
Dr Alexander spoke of Dr Kirkpatrick’s role in developing links between PCI and reformed churches in central and eastern Europe after the Iron Curtain fell. His chairing of the European area for the World Alliance of Reformed Churches from 1995 to 2002 and his leadership of the New Horizon Christian festival for seven years, encouraging Christians to grow in their faith.
There was also Dr Kirkpatrick’s well-known interest in motorbikes. “Most young men grow out of this, but you have remained young at heart. However…it is not the machines that primarily interest you, but the people,” Dr Alexander said.
“Since 1994, you have been Race Chaplain to the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland. Motor biking and Christianity don’t always go together in the minds of most people. Yet you have sought to build a bridge to many who might not see themselves as regular church members.”
He also spoke of the incoming Moderator’s passion to equip others to share their faith in relevant ways and his links with the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics where he was part of a team that developed a programme of teaching called ‘Reality 316’. Referring to the Apostle John’s gospel, and one of the best known verses in the Bible, Dr Alexander said, “John 3:16 is very important to you [and] I suspect that Portrush manse is the only residence in Ireland to be named ‘3:16 House’.”
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In conclusion Dr Alexander spoke of the new Moderator’s love for his children and grandchildren – and his wife Joan, “In giving thanks to God for the opportunities that have come your way, John, I know that you would want to highlight the vital role that Joan has played in shaping and sustaining your ministry...This honour tonight is one that you will share with Joan, your whole family and many others. All of us tonight are thankful that from an early age, John, your life was and continues to be transformed by the unmerited, dynamic grace of God.”
Dr Kirkpatrick was one of a number of recipients of various awards at the graduation ceremony, which included 12 ministry students at UTC who received a Certificate of Completion of academic requirements for ministerial training. With a further ministerial placement still required before they can be licensed as probationary PCI ministers, one student received a Certificate of Completion of all requirements for ministerial training. Six of the twelve students also graduated with an award from the Presbyterian Theological Faculty, Ireland, five with a Master of Divinity and one with a Master of Theology.
In his address as college principal, Reverend Professor Gordon Campbell acknowledged how the public health emergency had been the backdrop for much of graduating students’ experience of College life. Speaking after the ceremony, Professor Campbell said, “We are all grateful that graduation could once more take place face to face, and for being able to confer Dr Kirkpatrick’s award in person rather than via Zoom, as happened for his predecessor Dr Bruce in 2020.
“At this year’s graduation, it was important for me to pay tribute to all of the graduating ministerial students for successfully overcoming the challenges to their education, completing their training courses and achieving their academic awards, and I would like to wish them well as they enter full-time ministry,” he said.
Professor Campbell also highlighted two significant developments relating to the on-going pursuit of the College’s mission: a new undergraduate Bachelor of Arts in Theology degree that will begin at the Botanic Avenue campus this September. He also looked forward to the expansion of the College’s postgraduate provision, notably its PhD programme, under the Royal Charter of the Presbyterian Theological Faculty, Ireland.
Photos: (1) Incoming Presbyterian Moderator, Rev Dr John Kirkpatrick receives his honorary doctorate of divinity from Rev Professor Gordon Campbell, Principal of Union Theological College (2) the College on Botanic Avenue (3) Dr John Kirkpatrick (centre) is pictured UTC's Gamble Library with Professor Gordon Campbell (left) and Dr Desi Alexander, Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies, who delivered the citation.
Dr Kirkpatrick’s election and installation as Moderator will take place at the Opening Night of the General Assembly, which will take place on Wednesday, 22 June. It will be livestreamed on here on this website. All public sessions will be livestreamed until the Assembly’s close on Saturday, 25 June. You will find the business before the Assembly here and the Reports that will be discussed here. You can follow proceedings live via Twitter @pciassembly using the hashtag #PCIGA22.