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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Presbyterians elect new moderator | Presbyterians elect new moderator |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The next moderator of the Presbyterian Church will be Reverend John Finlay, the minister of Harryville Presbyterian Church in Ballymena. | |
| It is the first time that a minister from Harryville has been elected to the office. | It is the first time that a minister from Harryville has been elected to the office. |
| Mr Finlay, 61, was nominated by nine out of the 21 Presbyteries which met on Tuesday. | Mr Finlay, 61, was nominated by nine out of the 21 Presbyteries which met on Tuesday. |
| He will take up office on 4 June at the Church's General Assembly and will lead the Church for the next 12 months. | He will take up office on 4 June at the Church's General Assembly and will lead the Church for the next 12 months. |
| He takes over from Dr David Clarke. | He takes over from Dr David Clarke. |
| The Catholic Church in Harryville has been a target for loyalist protests in recent years, but Mr Finlay said the area had been unfairly portrayed. | |
| "We very wholeheartedly identified with our Catholic neighbours and regretted what was happening to them," he said. | |
| "We certainly wanted to support them at that time - which we did - we are delighted that the situation has totally transformed. | |
| "I am also confident and very hopeful that Harryville can yet be an example of tolerance and mutual understanding to the rest of the province." | |
| The 21 presbyteries met independently across the island of Ireland on Tuesday to vote. | 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. | 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 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. |