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Presbyterians to elect new leader Presbyterians elect new moderator
(about 17 hours later)
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland is set to elect its next moderator to lead the church for 12 months. The next moderator of the Presbyterian Church will be Rev John Finlay, the minister of Harryville Presbyterian Church in Ballymena.
Presbyterians around Ireland will meet to elect a moderator designate to succeed Dr David Clarke at the church's General Assembly in June. It is the first time that a minister from Harryville has been elected to the office.
Voting will take place in the 21 presbyteries that meet independently across the island. Mr Finlay, 61, was nominated by nine out of the 21 Presbyteries which met on Tuesday.
Each presbytery - a governing body representing about 25 congregations - nominates one person. He will take up office on 4 June at the Church's General Assembly and will lead the Church for the next 12 months.
The names are communicated to Church House in Belfast where the result will be declared on Tuesday night. He takes over from Dr David Clarke.
The 21 presbyteries met independently across the island of Ireland on Tuesday to vote.
Each presbytery - a governing body representing about 25 congregations - nominated one person.
The names were then communicated to Church House in Belfast where the result was declared on Tuesday night.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has about 300,000 members in over 560 congregations and is the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland.The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has about 300,000 members in over 560 congregations and is the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland.
The previous year's election often provides a guide to the identity of the next moderator with one of the runners-up often being nominated to the chair.
However, one of last year's nominees - Reverend Jimmy Johnstone - has asked not to be considered.
It means Reverend Wilfred Orr, minister of Newtownbreda, is the only nominee from last year.
It is expected that other names will be proposed in presbyteries.