Presbyterian Herald September 2023

Hope is an unstoppable force.

Hope unites us. Hope fuels action. Hope makes change possible. Turn your lifetime of hope into the change you want to see in the world with a gift in your Will.

6DW.

T: +44 (0)28 9032 2284

E: herald@presbyterianireland.org

W: www.presbyterianireland.org

CONTRIBUTORS

David Smyth is head of Northern Ireland at the Evangelical Alliance. He is husband to Judith, a dad of three and an elder at Legacurry Presbyterian.

Rev Helen Freeburn is Inter-Cultural Relations Agent, Global Development committee and minister of Galway Presbyterian

Editor: Sarah Harding

Subscriptions and Advertising:

Edward Connolly; Hazel Gilliland

Design and Layout:

Edward Connolly

Printing: W & G Baird Ltd

Gill Lyth is Care for the Family’s Scotland representative and lives in Dunfermline with her husband and two children.

Rev Uel Marrs is PCI’s Secretary of the Council for Global Mission and a member of Knock Presbyterian Church, Belfast.

The views expressed in the features, news reports, letters and book reviews of this magazine are not necessarily those of the editor. Editorial comment and signed articles do not necessarily contain the official views of the Church, which can only be laid down only by the General Assembly. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply endorsement of the goods or services. Advertising will not be included if the product or service is deemed to be in conflict with the Church’s official views, or if it is inappropriate for a church magazine. It is not Herald policy to include any editorial content along with adverts. The editor reserves the right to decline any advertisement or letter without assigning any reason. Letters may be edited for publication. No correspondence can be entered into regarding nonpublication of advertisements or letters.

Mums’ night out p52

Flourishing together p46

An oasis in the desert p42

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland is a registered charity in Northern Ireland (NIC104483); registered charity in Republic of Ireland (20015695).

Cover photo: Jamie Trimble

EDITORIAL

Loving your neighbour

In Harper Lee’s famous novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch says to his daughter: “If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

This novel reflected the racial tension that existed in the American South in the 1930s, highlighting the evil that can breed from racism and the devastating consequences that ensue. It is sad that nearly 100 years later racism still remains a significant issue in our society.

This month, Rev Helen Freeburn writes an overview of a report by PCI into the issue of race in our churches. While many participants (black and minority ethnic members) reported positive experiences within the denomination, others highlighted areas of concern, where continued reflection is needed. Helen says, “we are challenged in our sin and our need of repentance”.

It is very easy to become so consumed with our own problems and challenges that we do not consider the difficulties that others are facing. One such example is highlighted by Rev Uel Marrs in his article on Syria and Lebanon, following a visit earlier this year. While the cost-of-living crisis is genuinely causing hardship to many people here, the consequences there seem unimaginable. Uel reports that the economic collapse is so dire that “what would have bought a house a few years ago will now buy only a pair of shoes!” This is on top of other huge pressures, such as migration – 1.2 million Syrian refugees are now living in Lebanon, which is the equivalent of the population of Mexico moving into the USA.

Despite the enormous challenges, it is extremely humbling to hear the response of our partner Church there. Its members continue to faithfully witness to the gospel, staying true to its motto: ‘Faithful to the call, compassion to all.’

Closer to home, we hear about the difficulties faced by refugees in Belfast and the work of the International Meeting Point (IMP). In Mission Connect, deaconess Sharon Heron tells a heart-warming story about the day the IMP took refugees who have been housed in hotels on a day trip to Carnfunnock Park. “When the bus came down towards the sea,” she says, “a little Ethiopian boy … said to his friend, ‘Look, it’s the ocean!’ His … friend asked, ‘Who made that?’ The boy said, ‘God made the ocean’.”

Maybe Atticus Finch’s thought-provoking words could also be summed up in the words of Jesus, who told us very clearly and simply: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”

LETTERS

Assembly Memorial on women in PCI

Dear Editor One would have expected that a memorial wholly in line with PCI’s Code asking General Council to consider how to encourage women in eldership and ministry would have been passed by acclamation.

Inexplicably it was not, and not even voted on.

For around a hundred years, PCI women have taught God’s word faithfully and I question why our learned brothers and sisters in Christ at Assembly 2023 felt they could not to encourage them in this calling.

We know from historical evidence that women were extremely active in the first centuries of the church. Evidence points to women holding church offices in the first several centuries of the church. We can say conclusively that women were ordained as deacons. Women were referred to as elders. It was a time of religious, cultural and political change.

1 Corinthians 14 and Colossians 3 attest that everyone in the church is encouraged to teach and instruct one another. All believers are priests and that as priests, they are to serve God – no matter what legitimate vocation they pursue. Christ is Lord over all areas of life, and because his Word applies to all areas of

life, nowhere does his Word even remotely suggest that the ministry is ‘sacred’ while all other vocations are ‘secular’. Scripture knows no sacred/ secular distinction.

Jesus welcomed women disciples and defended the teaching of women in the famous story of Mary and Martha. Mary Magdalene was chosen to share the most important message of all time: “He is risen!”

Years ago, our Church accepted all this and enshrined in our Code that women are eligible for eldership and ministry on an equal basis to men. If you cannot accept this, then maybe you are in the wrong Church, but I am clear I am not.

George Derby Banbridge

Dear Editor

There was a debate in the General Assembly this year on a resolution to “encourage women in leadership roles within our denomination on the same basis as men and to explore what can be done to facilitate more women exploring a call to ordination in the future”.

Some of those who opposed the resolution labelled their position ‘complementarian’. This position is that men and women are equal but have different roles. Not everyone may be aware that this theological position is of very recent origin. The term

Letters to the Editor

Write to: Presbyterian Herald, Assembly Buildings, Belfast BT1 6DW

Email: herald@presbyterianireland.org

Please note: Letters are limited to 300 words and may be edited for clarity and length. They will only be published in the Herald if the author’s name and address have been supplied to the editor. On request these will be withheld from print. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. The views expressed in the letters are not necessarily those of the Editor or PCI.

‘complementarian’ was coined in the late 1980s by John Piper and Wayne Grudem, two men who do not subscribe to Presbyterian theology.

Historically, those who sought to relegate women to roles in the church other than leadership or teaching have argued that women are inferior to men. Thomas Aquinas, for example, described women as ‘misbegotten’ – an idea he received from the Greek philosopher Aristotle. I’m sure we can all now agree that this is wrong but at least it was logically consistent to deny women the full use of their gifts because they were seen as lesser human beings. The same cannot be said of complementarianism. It sounds too much like ‘everyone is equal, but some are more equal than others’.

The Westminster Confession of Faith rightly informs us that not all Scripture is equally clear to everyone, but Scripture is clear about salvation.

Christians have different views on how different texts should be interpreted on this issue, which is not about salvation. However, great care should be taken in biblically weighing up the very recent position of ‘complementarianism’ that excludes women from fully using their gifts for the good of the church and the glory of God.

Tom Finnegan

Topical Tweets

@PCIModerator

Lovely to meet and enjoy the hospitality of the Egyptian ambassador at his residence in Dublin – and to meet #Dublin’s newly elected Lord Mayor. For both of us it will be an interesting and very different year than we are normally used to!

@WorldVision

Children who survived the #earthquake in #Syria have been battling war for 12 years. They lost the right to enjoy their #childhoods. We are working to restore that through #safe spaces where they can learn & grow.

@alaninbelfast

Just noticing that ‘retweets’ are now ‘reposts’ as @X cancels the social media brand formerly known as @Twitter!

@TearfundNI

Through lifestyle changes, praying and speaking up we can put pressure on governments to listen to those living in poverty who are most impacted by #PlasticPollution

@Care4theFamily

Anyone else suffer from ‘Microlaziness’? This typically involves looking after your family, working hard, serving the community – and yet despite this, as you’re walking upstairs, seeing something on the stairs, that needs to go upstairs, and bizarrely, you just leave it.

@nickygumbel

We may try to impress people with our strengths; but we connect with people through our vulnerabilities.

@BarnardosNI

With the rising #CostOfLiving & pressures on families multiplying, we remain deeply concerned about the impact of poverty on the children & families we support. We continue to see a greater need for support than we’ve seen before. NI needs an antipoverty strategy in place ASAP!

@christian_aid

Enough is enough. Fossil fuel companies can no longer turn their backs on the communities that they destroy and exploit. We must stand together with our global neighbours and #MakePollutersPay. Join us on September 23rd: caid.org.uk/ makepolluterspay

@UnionTCollege

A new exhibition in the Gamble Library provides an overview of our collections; with books, (some several centuries old), pamphlets, archival materials such as letters, photographs, and diaries, & more unusual items, including personal items which belonged to former Professors.

@CUIreland

A team from Christian Unions Ireland were delighted to be part of Belfast Summer International Outreach week as they sought to reach international students in the city of Belfast with evening Cafes, activities and Bible studies. Pray for ongoing relationships and opportunities from the week.

Lisburn

Working for peace in Ukraine

As the war in Ukraine passed the 500-day mark in July, PCI took part in a four-day ‘Ukraine Future Conference’ in Budapest. Organised by the Reformed Church in Hungary, one of the days was spent with local church representatives in Berehove (Beregszász) in western Ukraine.

At the request of the leaders of the Reformed Church in Hungary, in co-operation with the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia (Ukraine), representatives of 15 denominations from Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East, along with Churches from neighbouring countries and organisations from Europe and further afield, came together in the Hungarian capital for a ‘partner consultation’.

Representing PCI at the conference was Rev Uel Marrs, Secretary to PCI’s Council for Global Mission. On his return to Belfast, he said: “The four days were an opportunity to listen, discuss, worship and pray together, while affirming the principles of a ‘just peace’, while outlining opportunities for Churches to support its advancement in Ukraine. Churches from our various diverse backgrounds were able to provide

unique insights from experiences of conflict, peace and reconciliation, especially from the Middle East and South Korea, but also from our experience on these islands.”

Mr Marrs continued: “It also gave our colleagues in Transcarpathia and beyond, a platform to share their unique perspectives on the crisis, the impact on their community, and the possibility of reconciliation of all peoples in Ukraine.”

New President for Irish Christian Endeavour

Ken McGall, an elder in Second Broughshane Presbyterian Church, has been appointed president of the Irish Christian Endeavour Union (CE). His installation will take place at the 108th Irish National CE Convention to be held on Saturday 23 September at 7.15pm, at the House of Vic-Ryn, Moira Road, Lisburn.

Ken has been in CE from the age of 17 and has held various posts at society, local union and Irish union levels; at present, he is a member of the Irish CE Executive. He is married to Jean who is involved in CE as a junior leader in 2nd Broughshane and also holds the post of treasurer in Irish CE.

Ken says his vision for his presidential year would be to encourage leaders and members to serve Christ, remembering the CE motto ‘For Christ and the Church’.

Moderator attends first state event

On 11 July 1921, the signing of a truce ended the Irish War of Independence. Since 1986, on the closest Sunday to that date, the National Day of Commemoration takes place when the Republic of Ireland remembers Irishmen and Irishwomen who lost their lives in past wars, or on peacekeeping deployments with the United Nations. The annual event took place in Collins Barracks in Cork City on 9 July.

Representing PCI, Moderator Dr Sam Mawhinney attended, participating in his first state event. Speaking after the event, he said: “The National Day of Commemoration gives us an opportunity to come together and remember those who have given their lives in the defence of our nation, in the cause and pursuit of peace. It has been a great privilege to be able to take part in this national act of remembrance today and an honour to represent my Church and its people across Ireland.”

IN BRIEF

Historical Society lecture

The next lecture of the Presbyterian Historical Society will be given by Dr Andrew Holmes from Queen’s University, Belfast and is entitled: ‘Union and Presbyterian Ulster Scots: William McComb, James McKnight, and the Repealer Repulsed.’

The lecture will explore the relationship between literature and union amongst Presbyterian writers in 19thcentury Ulster. The various writings of McComb and McKnight employed a shared Ulster-Scottish Presbyterian heritage to express opposition to the imposition of English Protestant forms and principles, and to highlight the importance and distinctiveness of Presbyterian Scots and Ulster-Scots within the United Kingdom.

The lecture will take place on Thursday 19 October 2023 at 8pm in Lowe Memorial Presbyterian Church, 191–193 Upper Lisburn Road, Belfast BT10 0LL.

Reform needed to counter modernday exploitation

Speaking on the anniversary of the Slavery Abolition Act, Ross Hendry, CEO of Christian charity CARE, said:

“On 1 August 1834, the Slavery Abolition Act took effect. This momentous legislation came after a longrunning and tireless campaign involving William Wilberforce… and many other brave people…

“As we remember the tireless efforts to end the incalculable evil of slavery in past centuries, it is important to stress that this evil is by no means conquered…

“It is deeply regrettable that the government’s illegal Migration Act undermined modern slavery protections at a time when much greater efforts are required to stop those who exploit human beings in our society. We urge reform to improve modern slavery protections.”

Pictured left: Moderator Dr Sam Mawhinney, praying the concluding prayer.

Caption: Delegates, including Rev Uel Marrs, Secretary to PCI’s Council for Global Mission, at the ‘Ukraine Future Conference’ held at the request of the leaders of the Reformed Church in Hungary, in co-operation with the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia.

Tribute to Very Rev Dr Harry Allen

David Henry Allen, minister emeritus of New Row, Coleraine, died on 21 June 2023, in the 91st year of his age and the 63rd year of his ministry. He was born in Edenderry, Portadown, on 10 June 1933 to his father Arthur and mother Nan, and grew up with an older sister Lottie and younger brother Cecil.

He was educated at Edenderry Public Elementary School, followed by Portadown Technical School and Renshaw’s Shaftesbury House Tutorial College. The family were members of Seagoe Parish Church and there he was influenced for Christ within the family, and especially by a godly aunt and uncle.

He was very involved in church life through the Church Lads’ Brigade. He was converted to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in his late teens through a Billy Graham evangelist, T.W. Wilson, at a meeting in Thomas Street Methodist Church. Through a men’s Bible class associated with First Portadown Presbyterian, he then came under the influence of Rev W.M. Craig. He joined the congregation and, having served his time as an electrician in Hamilton Robb linen factory, felt the Lord calling him into Presbyterian ministry.

Through his studies, he made many lasting friendships, training at Magee Theological College, Trinity College, Dublin; New College, Edinburgh; and Assembly’s College, Belfast.

He was licensed by Armagh Presbytery on 26 July 1959, serving in Dundonald. He was ordained on 23 February 1961 by the Presbytery of Coleraine and given charge of the congregation of Main Street, Garvagh, with the addition of Killaig on 12 February 1977. He was installed by the same presbytery in the congregation of New Row, Coleraine, on 22 November 1979, where he served until his retirement on 6 September 1998.

Dr Allen was clerk of the Presbytery of Coleraine from 1972 to 1985, Moderator of the Synod of Ballymena and Coleraine in 1983, and Moderator of the General Assembly in 1996. As Moderator, he represented the Church in many situations, some difficult, in the days of much community strife.

In Garvagh, during the Troubles, he did his part in the community night watches to deter terrorist attacks but one terrible event that marked him occurred on Bridge Street in 1974 when he ministered to a local UDR soldier who was dying following a bomb attack.

Dr Allen’s warm personality put people at ease wherever he

went, and he also helped people in practical ways. One elder from the congregation in Main Street, Garvagh recalls a particular visit by Dr Allen to his home. He and his wife hadn’t been long married and had purchased a second-hand black and white TV, which was not working. When the elder arrived home from work one day, he discovered Dr Allen on the floor with the back of the TV off. He managed to get it going, much to the couple’s delight. Dr Allen’s past experience in electronics was always with him. He was gifted as a caring pastor, but also with an ability to present the gospel clearly. This was recognised in the many invitations he received to conduct evangelistic events throughout Ireland. The Boys’ Brigade (BB) at every level was also an important element in his ministry, and on retirement he was made an honorary vice-president of the Northern Ireland District. He served on several General Assembly boards and committees, convening the Board of Evangelism and Christian training from 1997–2000 and then the Board of Mission in Ireland until 2004.

Dr Allen faithfully and diligently gave advice to colleagues and congregations with wisdom and grace. He set an example of winsome, gospel-saturated ministry – in the pulpit, in the parish and in the homes of his congregation. By this and his friendship and encouragement he guided, helped and developed the ministry of ministers and congregations over many years.

Dr Allen married Florence Wilson in Newmills Presbyterian Church, Co Down in 1960 and they enjoyed 63 special years together. They have two sons, Philip and Geoffrey, and four grandchildren.

In retirement, Dr Allen was busy with the BB and the TBF Thompson Trust, and with his garden. He continued to attend and participate in presbytery meetings; such was his commitment and desire to do his part in honouring and serving the Lord. After 60 years of preaching God’s Word, he finally retired from this aspect of ministry in 2018.

Dr Allen has been appropriately described by one elder who served with him as: “A man of God, a wise counsellor and a man of great wisdom.” He will be remembered with great fondness by all who knew him. He was gracious and caring and deeply loved his Saviour and wanted others to come to know Jesus.

This article was adapted from the tribute given at Dr Allen’s funeral service.

Dr Allen has been appropriately described… as: “A man of God, a wise counsellor and a man of great wisdom.”

Dipping into the archives to take a look back at what was making Presbyterian headlines and news in history.

First word

The editor (Rev Robert Cobain)

As I leave the editor’s chair after 17 and a half years, the Church will embark on finding my successor…

The relationship of the Church with the editor of its official magazine is a unique one… The Church needs someone who loves their Church, not in the way children love their parents but as sensible parents love their children: knowing that there must be growth, and that correction and loving criticism are necessary for that to happen.

The editor needs and must seek editorial independence in the selection and treatment of news and in the expression of views. The editor will be readeroriented, seek to respect the wishes and interests of the readers and must not become the mouth piece of others.

My vision for the church

Sidlow McFarland,

minister of First Carrickfergus

Partnership in mission –going forward

Stewart McCullough

The editor can have three masters – the readers, the Church authorities and the advertisers. Even so, the editor must be imaginative and courageous in presenting views which attract and challenge readers. The editor must stimulate members of the Church to ask what it means to be a Christian in today’s world. The Church’s official magazine cannot be just a simple reinforcement of what the congregation does, says and thinks…

To my successor I extend my warmest good wishes… To all my readers I say, goodbye.

Nexus Ireland – phase 1

Working on the premise that bigger is better, but only where openings are concerned, let us take you to Lucan, Co Dublin for the opening of phase 1 of the Nexus Ireland project at Lucan Youth Centre. Nexus Ireland is a reconciliation ministry of the Youth Board of PCI and on Wednesday 16 June 1993 … the staff at the centre, together with those in the youth office had worked long and hard to put maximum effort into what turned out to be a red-letter day.

Working in partnership is not easy. Most of us have our own ideas of the best way of doing things…

It is very difficult for most of us to think globally. We find it easier to work with the specific, especially if we have a personal interest in it. For example, if one of ‘our’ missionaries is involved in a particular project then that becomes our priority despite the fact that in the overall plan of our partners there may be other areas of greater need…

Having built up interest and prayer support for the people we send overseas, can we now look for a greater understanding of our partner churches?

The Church of the future must be a Church which has rediscovered certainty about its message. This certainty was first marked in the early church after Pentecost and there seems to be no doubt that it was the experience of the living God at Pentecost which … also brought God’s power, and made the Church an example of the kingdom Jesus had revealed. The kingdom was revealed in power, both in Word, as the gospel was preached, and in deed, as the life and power of God worked itself out in their lives. My vision of the Church is a Church which has rediscovered its power through a new experience of the Holy Spirit. Without that, all our schemes for advance are mere man-made mechanisms which will fail to achieve their ultimate purpose.

Glengormley

Mr R.A. McBride, clerk of session, is seen here welcoming Rev J. Leslie Casement and Mrs E. Casement and family to Glengormley congregation.

Mr. Casement has been recently installed as minister of the congregation.

Also from September ’93

Anything for

The X-Files, created by Chris Carter and starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson debuts in the US.

Single I’d Do

Love (But I Won’t Do That) by Meatloaf is released and goes on to be No 1 in 28 countries.

Frasier starring Kelsey Grammer premieres on NBC.

Dr Rodgers; the Canadian Ambassador, Michael Wadsworth; and Rev Dr Trevor Morrow.

Joyce McKee explains how she’s enjoyed serving on a committee for PCI’s Council for Social Witness and recommends serving in this way to others.

Serving at a central level

Iam a member of Hillsborough Presbyterian Church where I serve as clerk of session. I am also a member of the Council for Social Witness (CSW) and sit on its business and finance panel. At the General Assembly this year, I was appointed as the convener of the older people’s services subcommittee for CSW. I recently retired in 2021, having worked as a social worker for over 40 years.

Like many people, my knowledge of the structures of PCI has always been a little bit hazy beyond my local congregation and, possibly, presbytery. Following the last major reorganisation, I was approached by the local clerk of presbytery (who also happened to be the minister of Hillsborough at that time) and asked if I would be prepared to act as the Presbytery of Dromore representative on the CSW. At that stage, I don’t think any of us had a clear idea of what that would involve, but I agreed anyway. Shortly after that I attended a meeting of the full Council and was asked to serve on the business and finance panel. The rest, as they say, is history!

Joining the Council has been a great experience, but like anything new, initially I was unsure of my role and the contribution I could make. There was no standard job description for a member of Council at that time, so I was able to develop my contribution alongside the convener and my own areas of interest. I have been privileged to work alongside some of the most dedicated and professional staff working for PCI across the island of Ireland and every single one of them has been welcoming and supportive in helping me find my feet as a Council member. I am very grateful for that support.

Serving on CSW has not always been straightforward. Inevitably, many of the business meetings take place during core office hours, and freeing up my work diary to attend was always challenging. Nor are Presbyterians known for the brevity of meetings! I have always found conveners open to negotiation

on meeting start and finish times, and also on the structure of an agenda, to ensure that I could contribute as fully as possible within a limited time.

A common concern and something that sometimes puts people off agreeing to serve is that the business and meetings of the councils appear to always take place in Belfast and in person. It is true that it is easier for people living in the Greater Belfast area to get to meetings, but the last five years have demonstrated that PCI councils can be creative and flexible in their approach to meetings. I have been known to get stuck in traffic, pull over into an Applegreen service station car park and join a Council or sub-committee meeting via MS Teams, using my mobile phone. So, if the thought of travelling to Belfast is holding you back, speak to the convener or secretary of the council, and they will work with you to find creative ways for you to contribute to meetings.

God calls people to serve on the different councils in myriad ways. If you think he might be calling you to this service, the best advice I can offer is to do some research on the different councils via the PCI website, or by contacting the convener or secretary of that council and asking them about the work they do. Quite often, what you think the council is about and what it actually does are different things. In my experience, you will be surprised by the depth and range of work, so it is possible that the council for you is not necessarily the one you first think of.

Our denomination needs the skills and abilities of a broad range of people, and joining a council is a great way to serve God and his people across the island of Ireland. It is important to ask if God is calling you to serve in this way – and then to be realistic about the skills and experience you bring to the task.

If you would like to serve on a PCI council, panel, committee or task group, contact your minister for more information.

Our denomination needs the skills and abilities of a broad range of people… joining a council is a great way to serve…

Events

Welcoming the Stranger

Across this island it is clear that communities are increasingly multicultural as people seek to make Ireland their home, having travelled here for all sorts of reasons.

‘Welcoming the Stranger’ offers an opportunity to come together with those from other congregations to outline the importance of engaging with newcomers and share practice and stories from a variety of contexts across the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

This event will take place in Drogheda Presbyterian Church on Saturday 16 September 2023 from 10am–2pm.

The cost of the day is £5 (or euro equivalent). To find out more or to book go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/welcomingthestranger

News

Mission personnel

Diane Cusick, PCI global mission worker, is returning to Zambia on 31 August 2023 to resume her work in early childhood development.

Summer Impact teams

PCI Impact teams took place this July and August in Belfast and Londonderry. The teams gathered each morning for worship and Bible study, then served alongside Abbey, Monkstown; West Kirk, Shankill; and Ravenhill congregations in Belfast, and Kilfennan congregation in Londonderry, offering children’s, youth and outreach activities in the community.

As well as reaching out to others with God’s love, Impact team members have grown in their leadership ability, love for God and confidence in witnessing for him.

PCI is partnering with Growing Young Disciples to run a brandnew event for young people aged 11–16.

‘Explore’ will run identical programmes in three different locations from 7.45pm to 9.30pm:

Friday 20 October 2023 – High Kirk Presbyterian Church, Ballymena

Friday 1 December 2023 – Dundonald Presbyterian Church

Friday 23 February 2024 – Clogherney Presbyterian Church, Omagh

It will be a dynamic, interactive event where leaders can bring their young people to explore what life’s all about and discover what it is like to trust Jesus with their whole lives.

More information on Explore and how to book is available at: www.presbyterianireland.org/explore

‘Follow’ is a new PCI discipleship programme for 16–18-year-olds and is designed to enable them to grow as disciples of Jesus in this crucial age and stage of life.

It will help participants deepen their faith, grow as members of their local congregation and be a witness to the world around them.

Delivered in partnership with Growing Young Disciples, ‘Follow’ will be delivered in hybrid form, with three in-person gatherings from Assembly Buildings, Belfast and two online sessions spread throughout the year, starting on Saturday 23 September.

Why not encourage young people from your congregations to get on board?

To find out more or to book go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/follow

Resources

Bite-size

Bite-size is a flexible, downloadable discipleship tool that can be used in any congregation to help young people aged 11–18 learn God’s Word in a way that connects to their lives.

This latest Bite-size module is on the theme of the Bible – it considers what we need to understand about the Bible to help us grow in faith in Jesus.

Along with the existing modules on the themes of ‘Identity’ and ‘Church’, this new Bite-size module is free and can be ordered now from: www.presbyterianireland.org/bitesize

So Much a Part of Us

Moderator Dr Sam Mawhinney opened the ‘So Much a Part of Us’ exhibition as part of Féile an Phobail, Ireland’s largest community arts festival. The exhibition of the former Albert Street congregation and associated events took place in St Comgall’s, west Belfast from 9–12 August.

Rev David Moore, minister in special work for west Belfast

Events

Church planting taster day

This event is open to individuals and congregations with a heart for church planting or mission pioneering; as well as anyone currently and actively involved in it.

The half day will include a presentation on the vision and strategy for church planting in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, stories of recent practice and will offer support and guidance to help you or your congregation take the next steps in church planting. Those who feel drawn to be involved in church planting are encouraged to attend, and congregations with a vision to plant elsewhere should come along with their minister and at least three elders or key leaders.

The taster day will take place on Saturday 21 October 2023 at Central (May Street), Belfast.

‘Leading Edge’ offers a five-part programme spread throughout the church year aimed at sharpening skills for leading in congregational life. It is ideal for ministers and others in full time ministry roles.

The themes explored will include: leading from a place of acceptance; leading in disorienting times; leading well with others; leading without having to feel in control; and leading for a change.

The first event will be held on Thursday 12 October 2023, from 10.30am to 1pm in Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church.

To find out more or to book go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/leadingedge

Refresh

‘Refresh’ is an opportunity for elders to come together to be renewed and refreshed in fulfilling the calling of eldership.

u Thursday 19 October 2023 (7.45–9.15pm)

Union Road Presbyterian Church, Magherafelt (in person)

u Thursday 9 November 2023 (7.45–9.15pm)

Assembly Buildings, Belfast (in person and livestreamed)

u Thursday 14 March 2024 (7.45–9.15pm)

Second Limavady Presbyterian Church (in person)

To find out more or to book go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/refreshforelders

Urgent prayers needed for Myanmar

The news from our friends in the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar continues to be a call for us to pray as ongoing violence devastates the country following the 2021 military coup.

On 16 July 2023 in the town of Mindat in Chin State, four members of the Presbyterian Church were detained, interrogated and beaten after it was assumed that they were supporting the resistance. Three deacons lost their lives, while Pastor Htang Kay On is receiving ongoing medical attention after he was presumed dead and dumped unconscious outside of the compound.

This news comes amidst continued reports of residents being forced to flee from their villages

as a result of airstrikes and fighting. In the town of Tahan, the home of PCM headquarters, Internally Displaced People continue to arrive, looking for shelter and safety until they can return home. Many have been housed at PCM’s Theological College. The coup started two and a half years and has led to violence, destruction, inflation, curfews and uncertainty. Recently, the military extended the country’s state of emergency, resulting in a delay to elections, which had been hoped to bring some resolution to the situation. For now, there is no end in sight. PCM continue on in these difficult circumstances, but perhaps more than ever, need us to join with them in prayer for peace.

DIARY DATES

DIARY DATES

September

Welcoming the Stranger

Drogheda Presbyterian –Saturday 16

Follow

Assembly Buildings, Belfast –Saturday 23

October

Foundations

Maze Presbyterian – Tuesday 3 First Holywood Presbyterian –Monday 9 Moy Presbyterian – Thursday 12

Leading Edge

Newtownbreda Presbyterian –Thursday 12

Refresh

Union Road Presbyterian, Magherafelt – Thursday 19

Church planting taster day Central (May Street, Belfast) –Saturday 21

Discipleshaping Church

Assembly Buildings, Belfast –Tuesday 24

November

Discipleshaping Church

Refresh Assembly Buildings, Belfast (in person and livestreamed) –Thursday 9

December

Explore Dundonald Presbyterian –Friday 1

February 2024

Explore Clougherney Presbyterian –Friday 23

March 2024

Refresh Second Limavady Presbyterian –Thursday 14

The joy of being chosen

The ‘Friends of God’ group at Garnerville Presbyterian Church, Belfast, is made up of an amazing bunch of kids. They’re trusting Jesus and stepping out in faith – and as they do so they’re going to transform lives.

The story began in October after a World Vision visit during which the children learnt about choices. We looked at the kinds of choices they get to make each day – choices like what to have for breakfast, what to wear and what book to read. Then they learnt that these choices are not available to every child everywhere – that in some places, children have no choices at all. The group was introduced to Pajule in northern Uganda. The north is the historical homeland of the Acholi people. They

learnt about what life is like for children there, children just like them but with very few choices, if any.

Destroyed by war

Like many others in the region, Pajule’s villages were destroyed in a brutal decades-long civil war in northern Uganda between the Lord’s Resistance

Army and the government. This war resulted in thousands being tortured or killed and millions of people losing their homes and livelihoods. It also turned tens of thousands of abducted children into child soldiers or bush wives.

The war ended in December 2008, but its effects endure. Ordinary people had everything taken from them: their children, homes, land, cattle – not to mention freedom, peace, hope. Many were forced to live in dangerous, unsanitary camps, becoming refugees in their own country. Former child soldiers and child brides still carry the trauma of being ripped from their families, as well as the horrors they were exposed to afterwards. They lost their childhoods overnight.

Children are at the heart of World Vision… helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life.

World Vision’s Michaela McMichael describes how one group of children at Garnerville Presbyterian is helping to support a child in the Pajule area of northern Uganda through its sponsorship project ‘Chosen’.

Starting out with nothing

When the people of Pajule were able to return, there was nothing to come home to. After fleeing, their homes had been destroyed, their crops ruined. They came back with very little and the task before them was huge. The prospect of rebuilding and recovering was daunting.

In 2010, World Vision began working alongside members of Pajule’s communities as part of an international response, initially providing emergency aid in the aftermath of the war, including running trauma camps. World Vision has continued to support their recovery by working alongside the community and church leaders, developing a plan that focuses on transforming the entire community through our sponsorship model. This model uses all financial contributions to implement the recovery plan for everyone, not just the sponsored children.

Much has been achieved but there is still much to do, and we expect to stay in the area until 2033. When the community is confident that the changes we have helped make will last, we will leave.

Fullness of life

Children are at the heart of World Vision. Our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. Our sponsorship programme in Pajule enables the whole community to do more than just survive. It gives them an opportunity to flourish.

In 2019, we were able to launch a new programme to work on long-term development issues affecting children. This focuses on ensuring that children can live life to the full. These are children who often lack basics such as clean drinking water, food security, health care and education – in some cases, living in situations characterised by violence, exploitation and discrimination.

Chosen

Back to the wonderful group of kids at Garnerville, who decided for themselves that they wanted to sponsor a child, together. This would involve raising funds that would go to support a child and their community.

In Pajule, the sponsorship programme runs a little differently to World Vision’s

traditional programme. We’ve named it ‘Chosen’, and it’s child sponsorship with a twist because the child chooses their sponsor.

This is incredibly empowering for the child as well as their parents, who get to witness their child making their own decision. One pastor in the community says that because of Chosen, parents and the community genuinely see the children as hope for the future. They become ambassadors for the entire community. In fact, there is now a children’s parliament with representatives from each school. They’ve even been known to debate with government ministers!

Introducing Monica

Once they’d made the decision to become sponsors, the girls and boys of Friends of God put together information about themselves and had a group photo taken, which was then displayed in Pajule at a ‘Chosen party’. Seven-year-old Monica chose them as her sponsor because they were the same age as her and she “liked their smiles”.

In January, I visited the group to introduce Monica and celebrate the beginning of their sponsorship journey.

We took time to talk about the impact this will have on the community, and why we do this because we know and have experienced the love of God. They finished their time together by completing ‘About me’ worksheets to send out to Pajule. Now Monica can begin getting to know this group of children who are cheering her on from Northern Ireland, praying for her, and giving her community the opportunity to have hope and a future.

As the months and years go by, the group will learn more about Monica’s life, see her grow, learn, hope and dream. They will also need to get creative as they raise the £26 per month for Monica’s sponsorship. It will be a challenge, but it will be a huge blessing on both sides.

We’re so proud of the group. The kids of Friends of God are learning to hold things lighter, to help those in need by looking beyond themselves. They are seeing and trying to understand the suffering that children their age, on the other side of the world, are facing. They are stepping up and responding to the need.

We all look forward to seeing the impact this wonderful gift will make on Monica and her community.

About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian nongovernmental organisation working in nearly 100 countries, championing child sponsorship as a way of partnering with communities to make their way out of poverty.

Inspired by our Christian faith, we help children – of all faiths and none – in some of the world’s most dangerous places. In 2022, World Vision UK reached 1.3 million children in 183 projects across 34 countries, benefitting more than three million people. Additionally, we responded to humanitarian emergencies in 18 countries, reaching over a million people –almost half of them children.

For more information on Chosen and the rest of World Vision’s work, visit: worldvision.org.uk

Monica can begin getting to know this group of children who are cheering her on from Northern Ireland…

Life lessons

Jason Nicholson Executive Secretary, Presbyterian Children’s Society

I grew up in east Belfast, where I continue to live with my wife Claire and three children: Jay (16), Harley (11) and Abel (5). Although a member of First Ballymacarrett Presbyterian when I was younger, my congregation for the past 23 years has been Mersey Street Presbyterian. My family and I are also heavily involved in the work of the Belfast City Mission Hall in Island Street, where I attended Sunday school as a young child. Upon finishing university, I worked for one year in personnel for a local retailer and then spent almost 11 years working with long-term unemployed people at East Belfast Mission.

I was appointed to the role of Executive Secretary of the Presbyterian Children’s Society in May 2019. I took over from my colleague and friend Dr Paul Gray. Paul had been secretary of the Society for 31 years, so no pressure! I was sincerely humbled when appointed.

The Society has, for almost 160 years, held to the singular purpose of supporting Presbyterian children to enjoy the best possible start in life. Despite perceptions, we help in a wide range of circumstances including bereavement; separation and divorce; single parenthood; unemployment or low income; disability; and circumstances where a parent is in long-term hospital care or even in prison. In today’s challenging financial climate these events can throw a family’s delicately balanced finances into crisis.

Families often write to thank us for their grant, where they’ll explain that “It’s come at just the right time”. Similarly, congregational ministers would inform us that our grants have ‘opened the door’ for them pastorally to support the family in a more meaningful way. However, the single biggest challenge we face is income. As the Society is independent of the General Assembly, we do not benefit in any way from United Appeal. We rely greatly on the generosity of congregations and individuals, for whom I am extremely thankful. We also have some investments, which help to provide us with the necessary income to resource our grants today, while providing some security for the future. If we have more, we can do more.

One of my greatest interests is music. I love to play the piano and to sing. I am a former tuba player, having enjoyed attending Thursday brass choir each week at the School of Music before

heading to BB at the 62nd Belfast. Music helps draw me close to God and to experience his nearness and presence.

I enjoy a blend of musical styles and hymnody. One of my current favourites is Jesus, Strong and Kind by CityAlight. This hymn communicates rich biblical truth about the Lord and his attributes, with a singable and accessible melody.

My children are my greatest achievement. I will never forget the experience of holding a newborn in my arms, realising the immense personal sense of responsibility, supported by my precious wife, of ensuring their continued safety, welfare and future prospects. It’s a huge responsibility, but one that I take seriously and am so thankful for.

I personally know the experience of having to ‘go without’. Growing up in a house with four other siblings was a challenge. Quite often, my mum had to work extra shifts to make ends meet as dad would have experienced sometimes lengthy periods of unemployment. They always (somehow) made it work. These formative childhood experiences have helped to underline for me the importance of hard work and pulling together as a family in a crisis. Furthermore, working with unemployed people at East Belfast Mission has helped to shape my understanding and appreciation of people and their abilities and aspirations.

Society today is becoming increasingly hostile to Christian values, with the church becoming worryingly isolated in an atmosphere of increasing secularism. D.A. Carson perceptively acknowledges this in his book The Intolerance of Tolerance.

One of my long-time favourite books is Ashamed of the Gospel by Dr John MacArthur. He courageously challenges the church to reflect on the purity and power of the Christian gospel and to avoid the dangers of ‘entertaining’ the crowd.

Bereavement has been a hard and difficult life lesson to learn. I am not quite there yet, perhaps I never will be. My mum passed away two years ago and prior to that, in 2017, my wife Claire also lost her mum. The loss of two formidable and much-loved characters in our lives has been difficult. Nevertheless, despite the pain of our loss, we take great comfort in knowing that they’re both at home in heaven.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023

Confident in Christ

At the opening night of the General Assembly, incoming Moderator Dr Sam Mawhinney introduced his theme for the year, ‘Confident in Christ’.

He said: “This is my call to myself and the Church of Jesus Christ and particularly to PCI. Let us be confident in Christ, let us build on the rock. Let us hold to his words in the Scriptures and let us build lives and communities that will stand and thrive in the reality of our present world, without criticism, cowering, capitulation or caving in and to do that with confidence.”

Referencing the difficulties the Church faces today, he commented: “Society tends be intolerant of contrary views, and when contrary views are expressed, they are assessed, it seems, primarily by how they make the recipient feel rather than the merit of the argument. Contrary views are often cancelled, and it is becoming harder to get a hearing for the Church in the public square. So, we live in post-Christian times – the Christian message is now not seen as good news, there is hostility towards the church, from an increasing number

of quarters; these are the storms that we face.”

He continued: “The speed of the change has been breath-taking and for those of us who live in the Republic of Ireland, in 2015 a majority of people in the state affirmed that marriage would be between two people irrespective of the sex of each partner. Then abortion was legalised through the repeal of the 8th Amendment in May 2018… Two foundation blocks of Christian teaching for society, marriage and the sanctity of life in the womb, were rocked and we felt the seismic ripples beneath our feet.”

He concluded: “Confidence in Christ comes when we know him, obey him and live in community with others who seek to follow him as disciples within the Church with a focus that is outward and missional. This is how Jesus has built his Church throughout the last two millennia and it is how Christians have survived and thrived despite the hostility of the world in every generation… Let us be confident in Christ. Let us build well, let us dig down deep, into Christ and his Word, for his

glory alone.”

Earlier in the evening, Dr John Kirkpatrick reflected on his year in office affirming that “In all parts of this island there is real gospel life. God’s promise to build his church is a reality.”

Dr Kirkpatrick also called for unity, saying: “Respect for one another even in our differences is a gospel imperative much needed right now… Working together in partnership is the best way to honour God.”

Referencing his theme for the year, ‘Grace Works’, he concluded: “Grace still works in every place for every problem and as a Church we need to depend on it and to express it to each other.”

Assembly photography: Jamie Trimble

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023

Changes to Assembly

A new model for the General Assembly has been approved. This means that the incoming Moderator will now be installed later in the week, allowing the outgoing Moderator to chair most of the business meetings with a year’s experience in the role. The installation service of the new Moderator will then be later in the week with a new, refreshed format that still allows for the Assembly doing what is constitutionally necessary.

New principal at Union

The Assembly formally agreed to appoint a new principal of Union Theological College following the retirement of Prof Gordon Campbell. Prof Michael McClenahan, current vice principal and professor of Systematic Theology, will take up the post of principal on 1 September 2023. Prof Gordon Campbell was thanked for his service in the role.

Visiting delegates

The Assembly enjoyed hosting visiting delegates from around the world. The Moderator first welcomed those from Ireland: the Venerable Elizabeth Cairns and Vivian Suitor from the Church of Ireland; Rev Dr Sahr Yambasu and Hazel Loney from the Methodist Church in Ireland; Margaret Fraser and Anne Gamble from the Religious Society of Friends; and Rt Rev Andrew Forster and Gina Copty from the Irish Council of Churches (ICC).

In conveying greetings from the ICC, Andrew Forster commented that the

ICC is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. He said it still “seeks to support all Churches in their work in building peace across this island”. Referencing the importance of working together, he said: “Maybe the secular tide has shown us that as we work together, we find strength and hope and joy in each other.”

The Moderator also welcomed those from further afield: Rev Evan Morgan, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Wales; Dr Paul Wells, representing the Faculté Jean Calvin (FJC), Aix en Provence, France; Rev Dr Mwawi Chilongozi from Malawi, Secretary General of the General Assembly of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP); a senior church leader from the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar (PCM); Adeel Rehmat (Executive Director) and Rev Dr Maqsood Kamil (Strategic Advisor) of the PAK Mission Society in Pakistan.

Commenting on the Church in

Europe, Dr Paul Wells said, “We talk about Europe and the UK and the gospel with pessimism… However, there are many signs of hope… The conflict will become fiercer in Europe, but the kingdom is Christ’s, and that is the eternal reality.”

Rev Dr Mwawi Chilongozi also conveyed greetings, saying: “The Church globally is in the post-Covid era and facing the aftermath of Covid-19. The effects of the war in Ukraine have not spared us. In Malawi, the Kwacha [Malawi currency] was devaluated by 25% in 2022 and this week it has been devaluated by 2.6% and there is high inflation. The Church is also facing the challenge of climate crisis that has resulted in dry spells, flooding and cyclones… [Cyclone Freddy] killed 1,753 people and displaced more than 500,000 people in the Southern Region of Malawi. The cyclone destroyed houses, buildings, crops and infrastructure…

“Nevertheless, the Church in the Global

South is still growing despite all these challenges it is facing. Our hope is in the Lord… Indeed, our confidence is in Christ who is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

Statement of Faith and Order

A request to the Doctrine Committee to produce a brief Statement of Faith and Order was a by-product of a previous Decision-Making and Dissent task group report.

The Statement of Faith and Order places the teaching of Holy Scripture in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Longer and Shorter Catechisms in context. The Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and the Ten Commandments are mapped on to relevant sections of the Westminster

Confession and the Larger Catechism, and a series of short paragraphs summarise fundamentals of the Christian faith and life. A resolution asked the General Assembly to “commend” the statement to the whole Church.

Doctrine Committee convener Prof Gordon Campbell noted that the statement could be easily extracted from the report and adapted for separate publication and use. The committee anticipated that it might have an educational role as a framing document for the understanding of PCI’s existing subordinate standards, and might be useful in the preparation for ordination of teaching and ruling elders. The resolution passed.

Decision-making and dissent

The Decision-Making and Dissent task group made its fifth report to General Assembly. And it turned out not to be its last.

During the past year, the task group’s work focused mainly on considering how ministers or elders who serve in public roles on other organisations or bodies might have to promote a very different position from the policies or decisions of the General Assembly.

The General Council’s convener, Dr Noble McNeely, set the latest report in context: to ask questions and express opinions, and we work to come to a consensus on issues and make decisions that we pray are constructive and contribute to the faithful witness of the Church… All members of the Assembly are equally valued and their contributions are significant and important… The Assembly does not curb disagreement and dissent; when individual conscience and private judgment is valued, there will always be room for the expression of protest.”

Dr McNeely said that the report affirmed that those in ordained leadership who opposed a decision of the Church should primarily use the courts of the Church to address their questions and concerns. Neither traditional nor social media should be used to undermine the Church’s policy on an issue or the process of debate or decision-making. The process to alter an existing decision of the Church is through a memorial and a notice of motion to rescind a previous decision.

A licensed amendment proposed by Rev Mark Neilly (First Ahoghill) was debated ahead of the General Council resolution. It proposed sending one paragraph back to the General Council for further consideration.

Paragraph 4.3(iv) deals with “private discussion or as part of debate in wider groups outside the courts of the Church”. It concludes that it would not be “appropriate for an ordained minister or elder… publicly to promote a view which undermines a stated position of the Church, whether doctrinal, moral, or administrative”.

Rev Neilly argued that the wording was ambiguous. Would public promotion include preaching and church services? It would be a “blunt instrument” if preaching could be “curtailed by the Code”.

A member of the task group, Prof Michael McClenahan, defended the report’s wording and pointed out the responses from many presbyteries had supported the view that “ordination vows need to mean something”. He asked how teaching and ruling elders could take an ordination vow to support the courts of the Church, but then speak out against their decisions.

The licensed amendment passed and while the majority of the affirmations were adopted by the General Assembly, paragraph 4.3(iv) was referred back to the General Council for further consideration and a report to the General Assembly next June.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023

Virtual communion

At the start of the Covid pandemic, the General Secretary’s office, having consulted with officers of the Doctrine Committee, circulated formal advice to all ministers that “virtual communion services should not he held”. The 2021 General Assembly tasked the Doctrine Committee to give detailed consideration to virtual communion so the Church could reach a final and settled mind on the matter.

The committee’s report concluded that meeting in person for worship is the norm and is desirable. However, it noted that inperson worship is sometimes not possible.

Throughout the Church’s history, worship has been disrupted by persecution, imprisonment, plague, famine and war.

While the Doctrine Committee did not recommend any change from the current position of outlawing virtual communion, an accompanying resolution sought to take the issue to a wider audience, asking the General Council to run a process of Church-wide discernment around extending congregational worship into the digital space.

There was considerable debate, with Rev Ben Preston (Craigy Hill) arguing that a key component of congregational worship in our current standards is physical presence.

Rev John Martin (Culnady and Swatragh) noted that livestreams from his congregations deliberately finish before

people gather around the Lord’s table as the sacrament can only be celebrated in person.

Rev David Johnston (retired) likened the report’s concluding sentence about remote and in-person communicants feeding on Christ “together apart” to Orwellian ‘doublethink’ and urged the members of General Assembly to reject the resolution, which was “based on a logical fallacy”.

The resolution passed on a standing vote and the General Council will now consider how to progress its task of wider discernment.

Frequency of communion

The frequency of observing communion is a topic that the General Assembly has returned to more than once in the last 50 years. The Assembly was asked to vote on a resolution that would encourage kirk sessions to consider the benefit of more frequent (in-person) opportunities for the Lord’s Supper.

Rev Alistair Rosborough (Ballyarnett and Knowhead) said: “It’s not frequency that matters, it’s the quality of when the Lord’s Table is observed.”

Prof Campbell acknowledged that responsibility for the frequency of the sacrament of communion would still lie with kirk sessions.

The resolution passed on an oral vote.

New communications department

A central Communications Department is to be created, drawing together elements of Creative Production along with the work of the press officer. It will have a cross-cutting role across councils to help modernise their communications with kirk sessions, congregations, presbyteries and the wider world. A head of communications will be appointed to steer this work.

Dr David Bruce presented the results of the task group’s work: “When communication is good, you don’t notice it. When communication is bad, it’s all you can see. And like all organisations with multiple spokes to the wheel, there are examples of outstanding communication in PCI, just as there are the opposite.”

Plans are already underway to revamp the denomination’s website.

Not all of the existing work will be centralised in the new Communications Department. The report proposed moving the editorial function of Presbyterian Herald into the Council for Congregational Life and Witness, while the design and production aspects of the Herald and other publications would reside in the new department.

A delegate questioned the cost of a new head of communications post and its impact on congregational assessments. But most of the debate centred on the future plans for producing the Herald

During the debate, a number of contributors questioned the rationale for separating the Herald from the rest of the communications effort, including two former conveners of the Creative Production panel and a former Herald editor, Rev Bob Cobain. He said: “It’s communicating to the Church and to the wider world… so I would encourage that we take our time [in deciding] where we put it…”

Ultimately, the Assembly voted to approve the changes.

Pandemic response

A number of recommendations from the final report of at task group looking at PCI’s response to the pandemic were adopted by the General Assembly.

Split into three parts – acknowledge, lament and offer – the report recognised biblical truths and understanding about the world’s brokenness, the sovereignty of God and his loving providence. It also acknowledged the tension between those who felt that church buildings remaining open for gathered worship would, in itself, have been a prophetic act, and others who felt that such a choice would have compromised the Church’s witness as servants in Christ in a world of need.

Karen Jardine, convener of the task group, noted that lament was a consistent theme throughout the task group’s deliberations and is a biblical response to what confuses and disorients us: “Lament, we must remember, is almost always accompanied by repentance.”

Restrictions on meeting together for worship were difficult, as was the inability

to visit loved ones in hospital or residential facilities. Shortfalls in public leadership, which became evident and continue to unravel, were also worthy of lament, along with the realisation that children and young people had missed important aspects of their educational, mental, social, physical and spiritual development.

The task group offered a number of theological, moral and spiritual principles that may help to guide the Church as it faces the ordinary trials of life as well as any similar larger situation in the future. These included consideration of whether it might be appropriate to voluntarily set aside our own rights and privileges in order to facilitate the common good.

Rev David Johnston, whose licenced amendment in 2021 triggered the report, asked “where was our lament [during the pandemic and restrictions] when these things were happening?” He noted that while the Irish government closed churches for a period, and denominations voluntarily closed churches in Northern Ireland, a group of churches successfully

petitioned the courts in Scotland and were able to reopen church services. “We did nothing to contest it… the section on lament is thus empty words.”

Rev Ben Preston (Craigy Hill) asked whether PCI would consider some form of public memorial to the pandemic, perhaps led by the Moderator.

Rev Tony Davidson thanked “those who made difficult decisions in real time under pressure” regarding how the Church responded to the pandemic. Echoing other sentiments on the importance of meeting for public worship, he added that “to congregate is more than a right, it’s more than a duty: it’s grace, and it is a joy and a warm up for eternity”.

Communicant membership of those with intellectual disabilities

A task group was asked to address the issue of accepting young people and adults with an intellectual disability into communicant membership and to assess the implications for such membership for them and their families.

In proposing the report, Lindsay Conway said: “It was my privilege to convene this group. We journeyed together and learned so much from each other, many discovering a new way of looking at aspects of the Church on a way forward… This is a landmark piece of work in the life and witness of PCI, and it requires a compassionate and positive response.”

In seconding the report, Dr David Bruce said: “This is a discussion with theological, pastoral and practical dimensions.”

An amendment was brought, proposed by Rev Jonathan Boyd, asking for the report to first be referred to the Doctrine Committee. He asked: “Is the best way forward to make people communicant members if they can’t take vows and in many cases wouldn’t be able to take communion? If we did that, then what theological principles would we be accepting and what would be the broader consequences?”

He further commented: “People with intellectual disabilities are not second-class citizens in the kingdom of God and it would be great to develop better resources to help us affirm and celebrate the grace of our wonderful Saviour towards such people and encourage their families.”

In speaking against the amendment, Rev Peter Dickinson said: “According to Scripture in our Subordinate Standards, the Lord’s Supper, as a means of grace, is a privilege of membership, not a

qualification for it.

“The issue being addressed in the task group’s report is about much more than just inclusion. It’s about true, genuine, biblical belonging… the principles presented today, provide a pathway for our sons and daughters to be recognised and formally welcomed as members of our local congregation of the visible church.”

Rev Stephen Lowry, a parent of a teenager with profound disabilities, said that he and his wife “take great comfort in the reformed faith that is outlined in the report that salvation does not rest on our intellectual decision to move towards God, but on his decisive movement towards us in the mystery of his Holy Spirit and by his grace, lest we dare think that our intelligence contributed towards the grace of God and rob the cross of Christ from its power.

“In every aspect of my daughter’s life, she’s judged on the basis of her human abilities or inabilities, and that means in almost everything she is excluded… we baptised her into a covenant community of faith whom she loves and who loves her back. We baptised her into that covenant community not because she might one day be able to become a communicant member, but because that sacrament of grace proclaims that God is able to save… Please do not let her community of faith be yet another example of being excluded because of her inability. Please let her covenant community of faith be the place of gospel and grace. Not because she’s able, but because our God is able.”

The amendment failed and the report was received by the Assembly.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023

Reconfiguration of ministry

A ‘green paper’ on the reconfiguration of ministry was presented to thie Assembly. This means it is a discussion paper that will now be sent to all presbyteries for comment. The remit of the task group involved was to conduct “an examination of the key principles and practicalities that will underpin a radical reconfiguration of ministry in the light of changing demographics and ministry and mission opportunities”.

In proposing the report, Dr David Bruce acknowledged that it may be too radical for some but not radical enough for others. He commended the importance of the report, saying: “The Church really does need to think and pray and seek the Lord’s will on these things, and do it with urgency and heart and fervour… We cannot aim simply to preserve existing patterns and structures, nor our own position… it’s vital that we realise there are gospel issues at stake.”

An amendment was passed asking that there be an option for the report brought in 2024 to go back to presbyteries for further comment before a final report is brought in 2025. A further amendment, brought by Rev Alan Dickey, asked that “the Doctrine Committee be instructed to produce a report on the principles behind the ordained ministry of Word and Sacrament” to allow the Church to “radically evaluate its current practice and future needs”. Rev Brian Kee, seconding the amendment, said: “There is, in my generation, a distinct lack of understanding of the role and purpose of even having an ordained minister and why it’s even necessary, influenced by other denominations and parachurch organisations who take very different views on these things.” After some debate, in which a number of speakers stated that there was already a widespread understanding of the role and purpose of the ordained ministry, the amendment was lost.

In commending the report, Jeremy Eves, an elder from West Church, Bangor, spoke of “the need to provide training and equipping for elders and the whole people of God… the missing piece is how the people of God are to be envisioned. How will the members in the pew today catch a vision to mobilise them to be effective disciple makers of tomorrow?” He also highlighted that presbyteries are “things that people in the pew… really don’t understand”.

Congregational assessment

No change to the rates of congregational assessments was proposed for the next year. Committee convener David Thomson explained that the Church incurred a significant deficit of £1.7 million in 2022, compared to a surplus in 2021 of £1.6 million. That deficit was largely due to the operations of the Council for Social Witness and a range of measures were in place to address the issue.

Pensions

The next triennial valuation of the current defined benefit PCI Pension Scheme (2009) is due by the end of 2023, and will be presented to the 2024 General Assembly along with a report looking at long-term options for the denomination’s pension provision for ministers, licentiates, executive and administrative staff, Irish mission workers, deaconesses and global mission workers.

The panel looking after this work noted that “the nature of pension schemes is that liabilities are being created that may last for some 50 years and, consequently, a long-term view of funding is required”.

United Appeal

Donations made by congregations to the United Appeal for Mission support PCI’s outreach into the world, starting on our own doorstep. Congregations raised 96% of the Covid-reduced 2022 target of £3,300,000 by the time last year’s appeal closed in January 2023. Taking late contributions into account, 98.8% of the target was met.

This year’s appeal is ongoing, and its target is £3,500,000. Convener Martin Hampton explained that Council submissions for 2024 had been reviewed considering increases in cost of living, salaries, utility and insurance costs. The 2024 United Appeal target has therefore been set at £3,400,000.

Final Assembly for Financial Secretary

While rates of assessment and pension scheme valuations vary over time, one constant in PCI has been the work of the

Financial Secretary Clive Knox. Dr Noble McNeely recognised the enormous contribution of the man who always had the data at his fingertips, could explain financial concepts in plain English and whose door was always open to congregation treasurers, presbytery finance conveners and council staff.

“It’s been my privilege to have worked for the Presbyterian Church for the last 23 years. It’s like leaving a family,” said Mr Knox as he thanked the conveners he’d worked with, the staff in the office and the clerks. “I’ve worked with so many godly people, I’ve been blessed. I’m thankful to God that he’s watched over me.”

His successor will be Ken Swarbrick. “I will pray for him,” Mr Knox told the Assembly, continuing in the spirit of his own predecessor who promised to pray for him daily as he took up the post. Members of Assembly rose to their feet to applaud Mr Knox.

Celebrating 50 years of ordaining women as ministers

A second memorial was presented by South Belfast Presbytery. It noted the 1973 decision of the General Assembly to ordain women to the ministry, and the upcoming 100th anniversary in 2026 of the decision to make women eligible for election as ruling elders.

The memorial requested that the anniversaries would be used “to encourage women in leadership roles within our denomination on the same basis as men, and to explore what can be done to facilitate more women exploring a call to ordination in the future”.

In her speech proposing the memorial, Rev Corina Heron referenced the statistics that the denomination currently has more than 1,000 female elders (around a fifth of the total, spread across 56% of congregations). The gender balance of ministers “reveals there is still progress to be made” with just 19 active female ministers (5.2%) out of an overall total of 363 active ministers in the denomination. “What are the reasons for this shortfall and how can we ensure that our denomination is truly a space where those who are feeling called by God to serve in his church in ordained ministry find it to be a warm, welcoming and encouraging place?”

Seconding the memorial, Rev Andy Galbraith noted that “female ordination is not thriving in our denomination” and suggested “that regardless of what position our conscience draws us to, as a General Assembly we all share a God-given responsibility to foster and encourage the calling of women to use their gifts without limits across our denomination. That is an ongoing responsibility flowing out of that decision 50 years ago.”

During the debate, concern was expressed by Sonia Kane, women’s representative of Iveagh Presbytery, at adding to

the burden of work already being progressed by General Council. She also stated that many women like her held a complementarian view, and did not support the ordination of women.

Dr Ian McNie suggested that it was for the local church “to pray that God would put it into their hearts of people in our congregation to go forward into ministry… we don’t need a committee to tell us to do it”. An under 30s delegate felt that there was an emphasis on encouraging gifted women into ordained ministry rather than the many other ways they can serve God. She asked for “respect for women who have studied God’s Word and are convinced complementarians”.

Rev Uel Marrs spoke in support of the memorial and outlined how the Presbyterian Church of East Africa had celebrated its 40th anniversary of ordaining women with a two-day theological symposium. “We’ve talked about listening and learning from the global Church. Are we serious about doing that?” He said: “We should be ashamed if we do not in some way seek to celebrate these past 50 years and indeed 100 years of ordination.”

Egalitarian and complementarian views were expressed. The Clerk stated that PCI had one clear and settled position, namely that women are eligible for ordination on the same basis as men. He urged members of Assembly not to use the debate on this memorial as some sort of proxy debate on that issue. A formal proposal was made by Dr Trevor Morrow to pass from the debate, a procedural means of moving on to the next item of business without taking a vote. Speaking in support of the proposal to move on, the memorial’s proposer Rev Heron hoped that the Church would “consider other ways to celebrate and encourage women in ministry”.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023

Recognised ministers

South Belfast Presbytery petitioned the Assembly through a memorial, asking the General Council to re-examine the issue of recognised ministries, the current position meaning that some ministers cannot play a full role in presbytery when they move out of active parish ministry to work for another organisation.

Speaking in favour of the memorial, Rev Ivan Steen argued that given the reduction in the number of congregations and an increase in vacancies, the workload of presbytery is increasing. The Clerk of Assembly, Rev Trevor Gribben, explained the history of the Recognised Ministry Scheme and why the Assembly had decided to discontinue it.

The memorial was defeated on a standing vote.

Public Affairs Officer thanked Rev Daniel Kane expressed deep appreciation to Karen Jardine, PCI’s Public Affairs Officer, who will move on from her role to study for the ministry in September. He said: “Her deep understanding of the gospel along with her vast capacity for compassion and her massive ability to read the cultural context and apply the gospel in a way which is both gracious and confident is legendary.”

Gracious, gospel confidence in a changing landscape

Rev Daniel Kane, convener of the Council for Public Affairs (CPA), encouraged the Assembly to pay serious attention to the CPA paper ‘Gracious, gospel confidence in a changing landscape’, which resulted from the ‘Beyond These Steps’ initiative. He said the census statistics (from NI in 2021 and ROI in 2022) “challenge us to find positive ways of navigating our way ahead given our diminishing position in wider society as geopolitics and demographics shift around us… Not thinking the worst of our opponents and being careful not to use stereotypes and caricatures, which only dehumanise the other person who is also made in the image of God, will be essential in this new reality.”

Education

The CPA report affirmed that as a denomination we cherish the education of our children and young people. Appreciation was expressed for all those within PCI who are involved in the education sector. With changes due in NI in regard to the reconstitution of governors and also in ROI with respect to schools’ boards of management, continued participation and engagement was encouraged.

The Council also called for immediate support for special schools across Ireland, highlighting the deplorable levels of resourcing and funding. Rev Daniel Kane commented: “This is a perfect opportunity for church members to step into the

gap and help alleviate this unacceptable state of affairs by volunteering at a local special school or serving on the board of governors of a special school.”

Dr Andrew Brown, chair of PCI’s State Education Committee, highlighted how difficult things are across the education sector, saying, “If ever there was a time for us to be involved in education it is now. Schools are at breaking point, school leaders are at breaking point, school budgets are beyond breaking point, Special Educational Needs provision is broken.”

He continued: “I exhort you, colleagues, as we move forward to continue to see the need for us to be at the centre of the educational life of this province and island… we can be certain that what we do is relevant, impactful and life-changing.”

Submissions to the Irish Parliament

A submission to the Oireachtas Committee on Health on the proposed introduction of ‘safe access zones’ around health care facilities was part of the CPA report, expressing concern that the proposals as drafted may create a precedent for the curtailing of free speech and the limitation of the expression of faith in public.

The supplementary report also highlighted two significant legislative developments relating to the beginning and end of life. A private members’ bill seeks to further liberalise abortion legislation, bringing it more into line with Northern Ireland. Karen Jardine said: “The proposals under consideration are in stark contrast to previous commitments made by the Irish government following the 8th Amendment referendum to make abortions ‘rare’, and ensure that babies with disabilities would not be terminated.”

Rev William Hayes, convener of PCI’s Republic of Ireland panel, referenced statistics from Scotland that suggest abortions occur twice as much in deprived areas as affluent areas. He said the Church should not just be pro-life, adding: “We need to speak out well on socio-economic causes of abortion.”

Regarding the end of life, a Joint Oireachtas Committee has been asked to consider and make recommendations for legislative and policy change relating to what they have termed ‘assisted dying’. Jardine said, “It is deeply disappointing that the terms of reference presume a direction of travel of policy and legislative change, and that the committee does not intend to carry out an open call for submissions”.

Cost-of-living crisis

Referencing the current cost-of-living crisis, Jardine said, “PCI congregations are responding to these challenges in different ways through school uniform schemes, providing warm spaces, coffee hubs and lunch clubs, discrete financial assistance or formal partnership with organisations like the Trussell Trust and Christians Against Poverty. Such initiatives are commended by the Council in its resolutions.”

Good Friday Agreement anniversary

Following the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, Jardine said: “Whilst the Agreement paved the way for more settled relationships north/south and east/west, and facilitated a transition from armed conflict to more peaceful times, for some it was and continues to be very painful particularly around prisoner release and the changes to policing.”

She continued: “It is regrettable that the circumstances have yet to be reached whereby all parties can find themselves in

a position to re-form the NI Executive… The restoration of devolved government, with the necessary short and mediumterm financial underwriting, is a priority.”

Giving thanks for chaplains

The convener of the Council for Mission in Ireland (CMI), Dr Frank Sellar, celebrated the work of chaplains across health care, prisons, armed forces, universities, colleges and rural mission. While the contexts varied, the mission of gospel outreach was the same.

Prayers were urged for “our hospital and prison chaplains both south and north [who] continue to engage with people at their most vulnerable moments”.

Dr Sellar also spoke of the steps being taken to bring additional volunteer team members into the rural chaplaincy work being pioneered by Rev Kenny Hanna. He also addressed a long-observed gap in PCI’s chaplaincy provision among university students in the city of Dublin, and highlighted the establishment of a Dublin Student Ministry task group.

Forces chaplaincy panel convener Dr Rob Craig reminded the Assembly that forces chaplains spend long spells away from their families, not only when they are on deployment “in Afghanistan, eastern Europe, on the high seas, and under the sea”, but also when they’re serving back at base. He called for forces chaplains to be included in public prayer, not just around Armistice Day, and highlighted video resources available on the PCI website that

can be used by congregations.

Commenting on the war in Ukraine, Dr Craig said that it had “been a reminder to us all to pray for peace and to be peacemakers as we follow our Lord, the Prince of Peace”.

CMI also remembered two of its staff who died in the last year, Michelle Purdy (deaconess in Ballyclare) and Rev Dr Paul Bailie (who had served as chaplain to the Army Cadet Force).

The convener paid tribute to the former Council Secretary, Dr David Bruce, who retired last year and has been replaced by Rick Hill.

RSE education

The Council also highlighted changes to legislation, introduced by the Secretary of State, in regard to relationship and sexuality education (RSE) in NI.

Rev Daniel Kane said: “We believe strongly that delivering high-quality RSE within our schools is much more than just passing on information based on legal, biological or medical facts. It involves consideration of behaviours, values and attitudes that bring meaning and purpose to our understanding of healthy and flourishing relationships.”

Speaking to this resolution, Dr Olwyn Mark, lecturer in practical theology at Union College, said: “This is not about imposing a Christian worldview on young people, but affirming the importance of school ethos, the role of faith in education, and considering carefully what a distinctly Christian contribution to RSE can be.”

Home Mission

In his first speech as Secretary of CMI, Rick Hill spoke of being “impressed by the quality of ministry and mission that is currently happening across this island”.

“There are challenges, yes. Pressures, sure. But if we only focus on those, we may miss stories of growth, fruitfulness and transformation through the gospel of Christ and the power of his Spirit.”

Mr Hill pointed to growth in Kilkenny, which now requires an overflow area, church planting progress in Balbriggan, encouragements in Sligo and Naas, the process of electing local elders in Galway and Corboy, a positive start to work in west Belfast, and a significant property project to establish an inaugural church building in Maynooth after almost two decades of meeting in rented space.

He also noted new communicant members more generally, the sustaining of stable witness in rural areas, congregations reaching migrants in grace-filled ways and the fruitfulness of an Alpha course in the International Meeting Point, which led to more than two dozen baptisms in one of its neighbouring congregations.

Highlighting the work of Home Mission ministry, he outlined that mentoring was being offered to each of the ministers, and a strategy of each Home Mission congregation deciding whether it was on a planting, revitalising or a sustaining pathway, with bespoke networks and support being readied for each.

Mr Hill asked, “How can we maintain a truly all-Ireland vision as a denomination? And how can we ensure that a shortfall of ministers won’t result in some of our cherished congregations further south or west being overlooked?”

Global mission relationships

PCI is looking afresh at its global mission relationships. Going forward, the Council for Global Mission will be focusing on fresh terminology to signify these relationships: ‘partnerships’, ‘companions’ and ‘networks’. ‘Partnerships’ refers to a potentially long-standing two-way relationship at the reformed denominational or institutional level. ‘Companions’ refers to relationships that are potentially only for a season – for example, with local mission agencies or independent institutions in the particular country. They are also likely to be more project-focused. Finally, ‘networks’ allow for like-minded (evangelical but not necessarily reformed or confessional) mission practitioners to discuss, plan and resource mission work with PCI.

Refreshing elders

The Congregational Life and Witness (CLW) report outlined a series of new initiatives for a wide variety of areas of church life, one of which related to elders.

Following a survey of elders across all 19 presbyteries, an initiative to refresh and encourage elders in their calling has been agreed. Regional gatherings, called ‘Refresh’ will be held in the autumn, offering an opportunity for elders to come together and be renewed. While encouraging in-person participation, if possible, kirk sessions or individual elders will also have the alternative of joining a livestream of at least one of the events. The format will be a mix of encouragement from Scripture, specific input on leadership, and time for discussion. Material from the programme will also be recorded to be packaged and released for use in congregations.

Discipleshaping Church Today

Another initiative from CLW, in the area of discipleship, is a conference entitled ‘Disciple-shaping Church Today’.

The conference, to be held in Assembly Buildings Belfast on 24 October 2023, will provide ministers, church leaders and interested others with an opportunity to reflect and recalibrate the conversation around what it looks like to build a disciple-shaping congregational life in ways that are both biblical and practical.

The format will offer a mix of plenary content and a variety of models for discussion aiming to address why discipleship is difficult today and how we might shape forms of Bible engagement, worship and community that grow disciples to follow Jesus in our present age. It is proposed that video material of core content will be captured and circulated in a format that would maximise a variety of uses in congregational settings. The keynote speaker will be Andrew Fellows.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023

Exploring Race and PCI

PCI has completed an important report entitled ‘Exploring Race and the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’.

It is a follow-up to work carried out by the Irish Inter-Church Meeting, which conducted research on race and a number of Churches and denominations in Ireland.

The task group set up to examine this issue within PCI was asked to hear and record first-hand experiences of black and minority ethnic (BME) members of PCI and to determine the opportunities and challenges faced by them. The group was also asked to provide recommendations as to how PCI can better ensure the flourishing of BME people within all aspects of PCI.

For a full account on this report, please see the article written by task group convener Helen Freeburn, on p46.

Artificial intelligence

The CPA proposed that it look at the issue of artificial intelligence (AI) in the future. Convener Rev Daniel Kane said: “The recent meteoric rise in the development of artificial intelligence, especially chatbots, is a game-changer. The Council proposes the compilation of a statement of principles around AI, which might include defending the unique value of human beings, responding to the resultant impact AI will have on families and young people entering the workforce and advocating for the surveillance of AI safety.”

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023

Stories from Malawi, Syria and Lebanon

Members heard from partner Churches across the world, some attending in person, some sending video messages due to visas not being granted to travel to the General Assembly.

It was the eighth such session and the convener of the Council for Global Mission, Rev Stephen McCracken, explained that the theme of the reflection was taken from Romans 12:12: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Rev Dr Mwawi Chilongozi, the Secretary General of the General Assembly of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, in Malawi told the Assembly of the difficulties facing her Church. These included the cyclone earlier this year, the resultant food insecurity and the financial crisis, adding that “most people living in rural areas cannot afford a bar of soap”.

She said her congregation in Thanthwe has 550 communicant members who still attend at church every Sunday: “They trust that God is the answer for all situations. God is our refuge and strength, an everpresent help in trouble.”

Another partner Church of PCI is the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, which has 40 congregations across the two countries. Rev Ibrahim Nseir is minister of Aleppo Evangelical Church, which experienced significant structural damage in February’s earthquake.

He gave delegates a video tour around his congregation’s ministries. Sunday services are attended by 250–300 people, 200 children attend the Sunday schools and 150 attend a women’s meeting. He described the congregation’s most important ministry as education. New Generation School educates 1,315 students from kindergarten through to baccalaureate. The education of girls is encouraged. Students are welcomed from all traditions: “We care not about their religion.” Three thousand patients are being treated in the health care centre, some receiving free medicine.

At the time of the earthquake, Rev Nseir explained that the church and clinic were able to distribute medical care, blankets, food and hygiene baskets. “We know the marginalised people are the most interesting category for Jesus. We distributed everything we could for the glory of God always.”

The outgoing Moderator travelled to Beirut and met Rev Nseir along with other church leaders a few weeks before the Assembly. Dr Kirkpatrick described feeling “overwhelmed and humbled by the scale of what the local church is dealing with and the amazing response”.

Council Secretary Rev Uel Marrs travelled with the Moderator to Beirut. He explained that when he asked our brothers and sisters in Lebanon what we in Ireland could do, they said: “Please keep showing up.”

Church planting

While the Assembly had agreed to move towards closure of three Home Mission congregations, Rick Hill said, “The challenge is not to withdraw from such areas or diminish our witness, but rather reimagine our presence and strengthen our mission”.

It is hoped that a minister could be called to begin replanting work in the town of Wexford in the coming year.

He continued: “Today, the need remains to spread our nets wide across this land. If we don’t, we will simply go about the task of reallocating resource and managing decline in a way that gives us our day, but fails in our basic missionary calling.”

Over 80 towns with a population of more than 10,000 people have been identified as having no significant gospel witness. Whole counties lack any Presbyterian witness and less than 10% of congregations are found within the provinces of Leinster, Munster and Connacht.

Alongside such established, recognised forms of service as deaconesses and Irish mission workers, the Council wants to develop the role of ‘mission pioneers’ – individuals who can be appropriately assessed and trained to help pioneer mission and develop church planting work in various settings under the oversight of a local congregation or presbytery.

Concluding his speech to the Assembly, Mr Hill said: “Jesus remains good news, the fields are still harvest-white, and posturing ourselves once again with bold faith, creative imagination and courageous action will help plot a pathway to a more dynamic future.”

Evening celebration

At the evening celebration, Rev Jonty Rhodes preached on the theme of ‘Confident in Christ’, saying, “It’s from the pulpit, as Christ is preached, [that] lives are changed”. During the evening, the congregation heard about the work of several PCI churches in the Moderator’s presbytery of Dublin and Munster. These included Cork and Aghada, Kilkenny and Drogheda.

Myanmar

The livestream of the General Assembly was turned off during the presentation from Myanmar, an indication of the sensitive situation for Christians in that country.

PCI’s Mission Support Officer for Partnerships, Pip Florit, asked a senior church leader about the situation in his home country.

“The fighting happens from time to time in the middle of the town, among the civilians. We have been hearing the gun firing and mortar shelling sounds almost every night… Moreover, at night-time there is curfew… We need to remain indoors. When a health emergency happens, people find it very difficult. So, in short, the situation in Myanmar is not good.”

He said that his Church could not refuse to respond to the unrest, bombing and shootings. “Helping refugees, taking care of the injured people and even comforting the bereaved families are undeniable ministries our Church has been doing for months.”

In terms of mission, the Church continues to reach out, sharing the gospel. “God has blessed the work of the Church

that more than 300 lost souls have been found each year.”

He also spoke of one of the biggest challenges: “Because of war, people need to leave their homes and towns and flee to a safe zone for their safety. There are abandoned villages among the Church family because of that reason.”

Asked about signs of God’s work in the Myanmar Church, he said: “The invisible God is visible through our partner Churches around the world. We have been receiving moral and financial support since the hardship started. God has many instruments for helping the needy in our Church. We have been experiencing the presence of God amidst the suffering.

“God is with us. He is working with us and working in us. God has shown his power to us that nothing is impossible with Him. He is a God that makes impossible possible.”

Sign language on the floor of the Assembly

During the Council for Social Witness debate, Assembly business was simultaneously interpreted into British Sign Language (BSL). Members of the deaf community from Kinghan Church were able to follow the business from the gallery. The BSL interpretation was also visible in the livestream.

Congregational involvement in care homes

“Our Christian ethos is the beating heart of everything we do to serve and care for the most vulnerable members of our society. It is what makes our services different and distinctive.” Those were the words of the incoming convener of its Older Persons committee, Joyce McKee.

She suggested that with a little thought and some creativity, the life and work of Presbyterian care homes and their residents can be incorporated into the fuller family life of the Church, to the huge benefit of everyone.

Safeguarding review

After a period of pandemic disruption, safeguarding awareness is rising across congregations with the resumption of face-to-face training, running alongside online learning sessions. A doubling of the number of volunteer trainers was welcomed in the report of the Taking Care committee.

General Assembly voted to reconstitute the Taking Care committee into a Taking Care panel, an administrative change that opens up membership to a wider pool of people with professional expertise that can aid the safeguarding work.

Flexible pathway review

In 2019, the Assembly gave the Council for Training in Ministry (CTM) permission for ministry students who had undertaken previous study to have a flexible pathway. A recommendation was brought this year stating that it has been helpful and should be continued. In proposing the report, Rev Nigel McCullough said: “I do want to emphasise that all students for the ministry must meet the General Assembly requirements – these are never bypassed –but with the flexible pathway they can be shown to have already been met or may be potentially met ‘on the job’.”

Challenging year for Social Witness services

The Council for Social Witness has had “a challenging year” according to its secretary Dermot Parsons.

There have been system upgrades on top of a cost-of-living crisis and a downturn in staff recruitment that followed Brexit. But he told the General Assembly that he has seen “strong progress” as the services work through a culture change programme and the senior team tackle long-standing problems.

He also acknowledged that “some sector-wide matters have hit us harder owing to limited preparedness for difficult times” but said that “persistence has been vital” and praised managers who have “established new work approaches and have effectively implemented them right across our services”. As a result, “our residents and tenants are better – and more effectively – cared for now than a year ago”.

The Council is taking action to tackle a 2022–23 financial deficit that was exacerbated by the ending of Covid-related funding, recruitment challenges linked to the cost of agency staff, rising energy and food costs, and a historical reliance on some profitable services that covered shortfalls in other areas.

The Council has increased top-up fees for residents, which, while keeping the level well below the sector average, will contribute to financial stability within three years. Fruitful discussions are underway with statutory funders to address areas where funding does not meet service costs. Staffing levels in most services have improved recently. Occupancy levels have risen and are now more closely monitored. New income streams are being explored, and the viability of all services is under regular review, with monthly financial reporting.

Parsons said that the Council approach was one of “servant leadership”: “If we are to show that people matter to God – those people being our service users, staff and those in congregations – we will only achieve that through humility.”

Caring for ministers

Highlighting the work of the Pastoral Care of Ministers and their Families panel, Rev Nigel McCullough said: “Having ministers is one thing, caring from them is another.” He referred to a recent morning conference, hosted by the Moderator, to discuss this and said: “Examples of good practice were shared. It was a very helpful morning and we trust that presbyteries will be able to implement some of the things that were discussed there, as appropriate.”

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023

Students

Ten people were recommended to the Assembly for ministry commencing in September 2023. Convener Rev Nigel McCullough asked the Church to continue to encourage people in their congregations to consider ministry: “The encouragement of ministers, elders and local leaders is the most significant human factor in the journey of someone towards ministry. And I think we need a culture shift so that we begin to see the raising up of new gospel workers as part of the key calling of ministers and elders… So pray and encourage.”

The new BA degree

Prof Gordon Campbell, the principal of Union Theological College, reported that the first cohort of new undergraduate students have completed year one of their Bachelor of Arts in Theology degrees in cooperation with St Mary’s University, Twickenham. He said that although applications from prospective students for

this coming September have been coming in, a marketing campaign to promote the course is also just about to begin. However, as Prof Campbell acknowledged: “Union still needs to become more widely known among teenagers and their parents; and links directly with NI schools need to be created or further developed. We are working hard at getting the word out… May I … encourage all Presbyterians to continue to commend our BA in Theology to school-leavers and others, across the Church.”

Rev William Hayes highlighted that more needed to be done to encourage students in ROI to consider studying at Union. Prof

Campbell accepted this and welcomed any advice or help on how to do this effectively.

Linkage Commission

Under the report of the Linkage Commission, the congregations of Wexford and Enniscorthy will be dissolved on 31 December 2023.

However, the Council for Mission in Ireland has plans to start a new church plant for the south-east of Ireland in Wexford. Ballymote congregation in the west of Ireland will also be dissolved on 31 December 2023.

In Belfast, the congregations of Great Victoria Street (GVS) and Windsor are merging. Windsor has already sold its building and has been using the GVS building. Now, the two congregations will merge and Rev Ivan Steen will be the minister. Rev William Harkness, minister of GVS, has accepted a call to Belmont.

Republishing the Code

Norman Cameron, convener of the Judicial Commission, described the task of the Code republishing panel as “mammoth”.

He said, “It had been the hope of the Commission that we would have a full draft before the Assembly for this year but the detailed nature of the work has meant that a final draft will be brought to the 2024 Assembly with the second draft being circulated to presbyteries by 31 August this year for any comments on matters of substance”.

Seconding the report, Dr Donald Watts said, “I wish to first of all thank presbyteries for the concerned and thorough way in which they engaged in the consultation process this year”. He assured the House that all significant changes would be brought to the Assembly to agree and only then would they be implemented.

Sam Bostock, a licentiate from East Belfast Presbytery, spoke against a resolution to place presbytery services within ‘Regulations’ rather than the Code. After a tied standing vote of 119 to 119, a card vote was taken and the resolution ultimately failed – with a vote of 115 for and 145 against.

Mission Connect

Praising God for his goodness

Mission news from workers around Ireland and the world.

Every aspect of our Church’s mission depends to some extent on United Appeal. Hundreds of projects and programmes at home and overseas are helping to advance God’s kingdom, showing God’s love in action to hundreds of thousands of people.

God as a co-editor and co-publisher Volker Glissmann

The changing face of mission

Steve and Rosie Kennedy

Praising God for his goodness

Rev Kenny Hanna

Keeping the main thing the main thing

Sharon Heron

God is a faithful gardener

Rev David Clarke

A new journey begins Tori McClelland

Including September prayer diary

God as a co-editor and co-publisher

Volker Glissmann

Global mission worker, Southern Africa

Once in a while, God moves projects forward in an unplanned, unexpected and surprising way. One of my side projects is editing a book with an Australian colleague about early pioneers’ experiences in TEE (theological education by extension) from the 1970s to the 2000s. The book is about learning from the experiences in diverse countries, situations and churches to help contemporary TEE practitioners in their ministry today. We decided the best way to serve the global TEE movement is by starting our book publishing operation.

God continues to surprise us by opening doors where there were no visible doors previously.

One of the contributors to the project mentioned in their draft a beneficial book that had helped them a lot when they envisioned their own TEE programme. The book was published in Kenya by an Australian missionary, a key TEE course writer, and a pan-African trainer from the 1980s. We knew of the person, but she was not among the people we initially approached. Generally, it is often not possible to locate individuals if we only have a name. But, within 24 hours, we established contact.

We then asked if she would be interested in contributing. We learned that she had kept a detailed archive covering all her 30 years in Kenya. She agreed to contribute and linked us to two other early practitioners. She then mentioned that she had written a tutor training book for TEE practitioners that was unfortunately out of print. She wondered if we would be interested in revising, updating and republishing the guide to allow contemporary practitioners to benefit from it.

God continues to surprise us by opening doors where there were

no visible doors previously. Recently, I read about TEE in Uganda and found mention of a 20-year-old self-published book for TEE course writers. We found an old email address for the author, and it still worked. We discussed his experience with TEE in Ethiopia and his continent-wide TEE training in the 1970s/1980s. He also told us that he recently revised the book and had planned to publish it in Ethiopia with one of the TEE programmes but that the plans had been delayed due to Covid and finances. Then he offered us the right to publish his book. The manuscript is ready. The only thing that delays publication is that we have not started our publishing operation yet. We’d better hurry up! God is doing something here. It is very humbling to see how God arranged all of this suddenly and how the individual was so eager to be part of what we do. God shows that he is our co-editor and co-publisher!

Please pray:

• Praise the Lord for preparing the contact with a really important and experienced TEE expert ahead of us who was willing to allow their work to be published.

• Please pray for Malawi, as the last few months have brought many challenges.

• Please continue praying for the flood victims of Cyclone Freddy and for the government to restore services.

• Please continue to pray for the health and safety of the whole family.

The changing face of mission

Steve and Rosie Kennedy Global mission workers, Romania

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” Isaiah 43:19

Change is an inevitable, and some might argue essential, part of church life – sometimes planned for and strategised, and sometimes a response to circumstances and events. As we minister in Cluj-Napoca in Romania, recent months have seen a number of significant changes cross our path.

In February, one of the pastors of Tóköz Reformed Church, Péter Visky, retired after several decades of fruitful ministry in the congregation and indeed wider in the denomination.

Looking to the future, the Tóköz congregation called a couple, Szílvester and Csilla Bánto-Tamás (both ordained pastors), to join the pastoral team. Working alongside senior pastor András Kozma, the coming months will see Szílvester and Csilla settle into life in the congregation, and bring their own gifts and passions.

As armed conflict has continued in neighbouring Ukraine, our work with refugees is ongoing in both our baby and mum club and our after schools project.

With little sign of peace on the horizon, the Romanian government is placing an increased focus on integration of refugees into society. With some humanitarian aid agencies following this shift in emphasis, we are exploring with our project coordinator and wider congregation how we can help the Ukrainian community into a greater sense of connectedness and integration.

In Cluj Christian Fellowship, we continue to see God bless us with new families, and draw us into new relationships and

opportunities. Our second infant baptism took place in April and a number of new individuals and families have joined our young fellowship.

In July, we were delighted to welcome an Exodus team, many of whom were from our home church at Orangefield Presbyterian. We had the opportunity to explore a new relationship with YWAM (Youth with a Mission), where the Exodus team helped run a kids’ club, do home visits in nearby Mera village, and work with the Ukrainian community.

Of course, change can feel disconcerting, but is also a time for excitement and opportunity. As we look to God to guide a new ministry team in the congregation, to open opportunities for deeper relationship with the Ukrainian community, and to give us his wisdom for our church fellowship, we are reminded of his promises that his changes are always good; that God “by the power at work within us, is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).

Please pray:

• For Szílvester and Csilla as they settle into a new congregation, and find their place of ministry in the life of the fellowship.

• For wisdom as we seek ways to help the Ukrainian community experience connectedness, integration and community.

• For our community of faith at Cluj Christian Fellowship, as we plan for the new church year in September and continue to grow as disciples and messengers of the gospel.

In Cluj Christian Fellowship, we continue to see God bless us with new families and draw us into new relationships and opportunities.

Praising God for his goodness

Rural chaplaincy is centred upon Jesus, serving as pastoral evangelists among farmers, farming families and the rural community, helping anyone from any background.

The rural chaplaincy team includes Jim and Tyrrell, who multiply the ministry in livestock markets, soon to be joined by David, who will visit agri-businesses, and myself.

Our normal schedule is structured around weekly visits to each livestock market. While our rural chaplaincy logo makes us clearly identifiable, we also carry pocket-sized information cards, a custom-made gospel leaflet dealing with challenges facing farmers and copies of the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs. These help equip us as we share Jesus through our words and witness. We are here for everyone and are warmly welcomed.

Speaking engagements include: weekly Sunday services, farming events, monthly evangelistic hotel Bible studies in Hilltown, school visits and Young Farmers’ Club meetings. We have many pastoral visits. Often, we are asked to help in challenging circumstances.

Farm support organisations play a central role in rural life and we are blessed by growing relationships with them. A night in Mourne entitled ‘Challenges Facing Farmers and Farming Families: The Difference Jesus Makes’ was attended by around 150 farmers of all backgrounds, including many young farmers. We were also delighted when Good News For Everyone generously gave us 100 copies of the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs, with a further 200 donated by a supportive County Armagh church and a kind farming family.

Further landmarks occurred in the summer. We now have PCI

stands at agricultural shows in each of the four presbyteries. The summer also saw us receive permission from Rathfriland Livestock Market to hold a carol service in the market on the Friday evening, 1 December with anticipated local involvement. This represents an exciting development in the work of rural chaplaincy and, with two evangelistic missions to speak at in October, God-given opportunities abound.

I would like to sincerely thank everyone for your ongoing support, especially your prayers. God is graciously responding. All that is happening is down to him. To God be all the glory.

Please pray:

• For God to speak through Kenny and draw people to salvation, at evangelistic missions in October: Magherally (Saturday 7–Sunday 15) and Balteagh (Thursday 26–Sunday 29). Please see monthly prayer updates for details.

• For the weekly work.

• For a carol service in Rathfriland Livestock Market (Friday 1 December). May God guide in the planning and bring along many people of all backgrounds.

• We would really appreciate your regular prayers. If you would like to receive monthly prayer updates, please contact CMI with our latest news: mission@presbyterianireland.org or ring +44 (0)28 9032 2284 and ask for CMI. Thank you for your interest.

Rev Kenny Hanna

Rural chaplain

Farm support organisations play a central role in rural life and we are blessed by growing relationships with them, through events, meetings and pastoral situations.

Idon’t think Carnfunnock Country Park knew what had hit it when three coaches with 170 people arrived with families from all around the world. This was our English class outing, something that was very special for all the families as most of them live within the confines of one hotel room. For many, this was the first time they had left Belfast since they arrived here. The glee was felt by all and we experienced the excitement in the centre for the days leading up to the outing.

The most beautiful memory

studies, we look for the nuggets of opportunity to share the good news of Jesus and the salvation that he offers.

The boy said, “God made the ocean”

I have from the day was when the bus came down towards the sea, a little Ethiopian boy, with bulging eyes, said to his friend from Namibia, “Look, it’s the ocean!” His little Muslim friend asked, “Who made that?” The boy said, “God made the ocean”. I could feel the tears of joy running down my face and I was reminded very clearly of the tremendous privilege and opportunity we have to share more of God with people from all over the world with different faiths and cultural backgrounds.

After the families had finished 300 halal burgers, crisps and drinks, many of the young families headed down towards the beach to swim in the ‘ocean’. Although the water was freezing at the end of May it was still a wonderful experience for our friends. There was a great buzz in the centre after the outing with many so grateful for another happy memory made for many families as they adjust to life in Belfast.

Our goal in IMP is to share the good news about Jesus. Keith Preston (Irish mission worker at IMP) always reminds us to “Keep the main thing the main thing”. Day after day, as we beaver away in the background, helping people practically, giving support, filling out forms, providing food, teaching English, sharing in Bible

Northern Ireland is seeing asylum seekers arrive every day, with over 1,500 presently staying in hotels in Belfast. We are thankful to see many more churches getting involved in trying to help those who are fleeing wars in many countries like Ukraine, Sudan, Eritrea etc. The need is huge and we are so grateful for the many volunteers who work alongside us from different church backgrounds. We could not do it without them.

There are many painful stories of trauma, death, abuse and torture. People arrive and we try to navigate through the mess and turmoil that they have experienced to help practically, provide a safe place, a warm welcoming home and through it all to share Jesus. We value your prayer support so much and cry out to God on their behalf that their wounds will be healed and their hearts drawn to God.

Please pray:

• For wisdom and discernment as we navigate the challenging and painful circumstances of people’s lives.

• For new converts – that they will grow and mature and we can continue to disciple them through teaching more of God’s Word and get families settled into churches where they will grow.

• Thank God for these amazing opportunities, where we have seen God at work in miraculous ways.

• Thank God for the strength he has given us to be involved in his mission and for his incredible provision.

Sharon Heron Deaconess serving in International Meeting Point (IMP)

Keeping the main thing the main thing

...a little Ethiopian boy… said to his friend from Namibia, “Look, it’s the ocean!” His little Muslim friend asked, “Who made that?”

Of all the pictures that Jesus gives us of gospel work, perhaps the one I’m most grateful for is that of sowing seeds. None of us are ever in control of the harvest; we have little or no say in the conditions of the soil and yet our role is clear – to sow and keep on sowing. Indeed, we are to prayerfully expect that the good seed will produce abundant fruit under the providential care of the expert gardener, God himself.

We’re very thankful that God has blessed the congregation with a growing and vibrant Sunday school. What a special joy it is to hear the sound of children ‘disrupting’ our worship each week. Earlier in the year we began a new weekly children’s outreach called ‘Kids’ Connect’ and we’ve partnered with other local churches to host various messy events. Our summer Bible club returned again this year with the theme of ‘Amazing Treasures’ and our youth group has enjoyed lots of trips to join with other young people at Summer Madness and PCI Onward events. We await with prayerful anticipation the fruit that God will produce in their lives as they grow.

Having said that, it can sometimes feel like the soil we sow in is particularly dry and resistant. The Ireland we live in is secular in nature, sceptical of organised religion, yet searching for something. Only God can soften hearts, yet we believe there is much we can do to commend the truth of the gospel by how we live in and love our community. To that end, we’re delighted that one of our newest ministries, the Haven Friendship Group, recently celebrated its first anniversary. As our dedicated volunteers engage in the slow, intentional work of building relationships and supporting those who attend, the beauty of the gospel is displayed. Over the past year, 37 different nationalities have been through our doors – from Algeria to Yemen! We’re especially

encouraged that some have asked for copies of Scripture to read themselves – who knows where or when that seed might sprout.

As we think about fruit, we’re encouraged too by our recent membership classes where eight adults have joined us as communicant members, from five different countries. One of the strengths of our church family is our diversity. At least 20 nationalities are represented in Sligo Presbyterian, ranging from Cuba to Malawi to Cameroon and India – a wonderful reminder that God’s family is taken from every tribe, tongue and nation. We’re looking forward to an extended harvest flower festival this September – an opportunity to reflect the creativity of the Creator, to give him thanks and to invite our community to join us as we do that.

The fruit that God is producing in our corner of his kingdom is sometimes slower to come than we’d like; it sometimes doesn’t look the way we expect it to, but it is growing – because God is a faithful gardener. Please join us as we pray for more, to his glory.

Please pray:

• That in our Sunday worship services God’s Spirit might work powerfully – using his Word to speak to us, deepening our faith and renewing our minds so we might become mature disciples of Christ.

• That we might have an ever-increasing confidence in the gospel and a renewed desire to see those we know and love come to faith.

• Give thanks for all who serve in our church and pray that God might help us to be faithful and persistent as we sow.

Rev David Clarke

Sligo Presbyterian Church

Only God can soften hearts, yet we believe there is much we can do to commend the truth of the gospel by how we live in and love our community.

God is a faithful gardener

A new journey begins

In these last six months, I have discovered the blessing of a supportive and Jesus-centred church family. I oversee and coordinate various ministries, including our evening kids’ club, which has developed in this time, now with a regular attendance of 30–40 children each week.

It has been wonderful seeing the children engage with Jesus through songs, crafts, games and stories. And equally, supporting our leaders by facilitating opportunities to utilise their skills and highlighting that ‘they can do this’, reminding us of all of Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.” We are thankful for the partnership of Tesco Newtownards, which has been a valuable resource for our kids’ club.

It has been a privilege to witness countless smiles and laughter of so many families from our local community who were welcomed into our church building to three Messy Church events. Over 100 adults and children joined in at each event to worship God in such a messy way! I was surrounded by a wonderful team from our congregation who helped before and during the event. This in itself was a great connecting experience within our church family in practical ways, and through praying together.

Addressing our church during the kids’ slot in Sunday morning services has been an enjoyable honour. I love taking the time to imagine creative and memorable ways to deliver the gospel to the church, and love seeing the buzz and chat this creates amongst the congregation, both young and old. Out of the main service, I have a hands-on approach with our Sunday morning kids’ programme, ‘The Gospel Project’, which runs all year round. It takes a lot of team-building preparation and coordination in supporting

our wonderful leaders and helpers in delivering a Jesus-centred programme to our children.

Our weekly Monday morning mums and tots’ group, Sunbeams, has been an enjoyable opportunity to engage with members of our local community on a oneto-one basis, bringing Jesus into the lives of others over a cup of coffee, a chat and a hall full of toys.

Alongside these particular ministries it has been fantastic to take the gospel to young people outside of the church building. This has included assemblies at three local primary schools and a high school, using the ‘It’s Your Move’ programme and helping to facilitate a dedicated prayer space.

In August, I planned our ‘Hero Headquarters’ themed summer outreach kids’ club, where we looked at many different heroes in the Bible and how we can use their strengths and qualities in our own lives. Jesus is the superhero! We must continue in trying to be more like him. Now, that is a challenge I wish everyone would accept.

Please pray:

• For our church, its leaders and helpers to continue our outward approach to ministry.

• For our local community and children to be open in hearing the gospel and accepting the love of Jesus.

• For our ministries within Movilla Presbyterian Church.

• That we remember all praise and glory belongs to God. We thank and praise him for all that he has done, is doing and is going to do.

Tori McClelland

Youth outreach worker, Movilla Presbyterian Church, Newtownards

It has been a privilege to witness countless smiles and laughter of so many families from our local community who were welcomed… to three Messy Church events.

n CHAPLAINS – For Kenny Hanna (rural chaplain) and the team as they enter a busy schedule for harvest time.

n EDWIN AND ANNE KIBATHI – For Edwin and Anne and for the work they do visiting congregations, encouraging, mentoring and raising leaders.

n CHAPLAINS – For university chaplains and for students as they begin their first year at university or start a new term – that they would cultivate fellowship and good friendships with people.

n ANGELINA AND STEPHEN COWAN

– Give thanks for the Tuum young people who have returned from discipleship programmes. As Judy and Melina seek to ‘translate’ their head and heart knowledge in a practical way, they are helping with the care and homework supervision of the 60 young girls who live in the safe house in Seren.

n COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL WITNESS – For the CSW office staff: Elaine Glass as she leads the admin team; Gail Gamble and Wilma Steele (both senior secretaries); Cathy Mullin (Taking Care administrator); and Kenneth Downes (senior intern officer).

n WELCOMING THE STRANGER – For this event happening on 16 September and for congregations in PCI that are responding in creative and meaningful ways to welcome those who are making Ireland their new home.

n DIANE CUSICK – Give thanks that Diane has received medical clearance to return to serve in Zambia and pray for her as a timeline for her return is drawn up and other preparations taken forward.

n COMMUNITY OUTREACH – For Jack Wright working in St Andrew’s, Bangor – as he begins his role as a community outreach worker and as he seeks to serve the Lord in all he does.

n SAFEGUARDING – For the ongoing safeguarding work within PCI and the development work being led by Jacqui Montgomery-Devlin. Pray too for wisdom for members of the new Taking Care panel and the oversight of the new convener, Dr Norman Hamilton. Give thanks and pray for John Steven, appointed as a temporary training and development officer.

n HOSPITAL CHAPLAINS – For Ken Doherty as he pastorally cares for patients and spends time with them, that he would bring God’s comfort in to all situations.

n MALAWI – For Goodson Saulosi, recently appointed as director of Scripture Union Malawi (SUM) – that he may know God’s wisdom and guidance as he takes up this new role.

n URBAN MISSION – For the congregation of Westbourne – that they would go deeper in the knowledge and truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that they would be drawn to share the gospel in their surrounding community.

n INDONESIA – For the team engaged in the ongoing repair work on the Evangelical Christian Church of Timor’s (GMIT) radio station, and that Radio Suara Kasih will very soon be broadcasting again, providing a range of Christian programmes across the island.

n GARY AND MARY REID – For a full recovery for Gary who has recently been unwell, especially that the Lord will grant him strength and health. Give thanks for the recent induction of Rev Dr Mwaura Kabaiku as the new minister, serving the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), Narok Parish.

n WORLD ALZHEIMER’S MONTH – The theme for Alzheimer’s Month 2023 is ‘Know dementia, know Alzheimer’s’, focusing on post-diagnosis support. Pray that following assessments, those affected and their carers will receive appropriate support and advice.

n SOUTH BELFAST FRIENDSHIP HOUSE

– For Carol Reid, the children’s and family worker, as she coordinates the various programmes for children in the local community.

n DEACONESS –For Tracey Nicholl serving in St James’, Ballymoney; give thanks for the school uniform days that took place in August, giving out items of school uniform to those who need them.

n SPECIAL MINISTRY IN WEST BELFAST – Following the recent exhibition in St Comgall’s on Divis Street, pray that the connections made would develop into ongoing relationships and that there would be people interested in beginning to study the Bible together.

n COMMUNITY OUTREACH – For Heather Anthony in First Ballynahinch as she serves in her role – that relationships would be built with key personnel in the community.

n MYANMAR – For the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar (PCM) families who have experienced loss of loved ones, injury and destruction of property due to airstrikes on their village earlier this month.

n DEACONESS – For Heather McCracken serving in Belfast Health and Social Care Trust as she engages with patients and families – that the Lord would equip her for each situation she encounters.

n NEPAL – Give thanks that the United Mission to Nepal (UMN) General Assembly back in May was a time of fruitful interaction and blessing. Pray for all who work with UMN – that through their dedicated service many will come to know fullness of life.

n CHAPLAINS – For the four Presbyterian ministers who serve as reserve chaplains as they combine this role with their pastoral duties. Pray also for the seven Presbyterian ministers who serve as cadet chaplains, who may encounter many young people with little or no Christian background.

n INTERNATIONAL MEETING POINT – For those who work and volunteer at International Meeting Point in both north and south Belfast – that they would continue to share God’s love to all those who come through the doors.

n RIVER HOUSE – This is a residential home for older people is in Newcastle, Co Down. Pray for staff in River House as they attend training. Give thanks for the commitment of the manager, Lisa Taggart, and Rebecca McMaster, the newly appointed deputy manager.

n CHURCH PLANTING – That those interested in church planting in PCI would attend the upcoming church planting taster day on Saturday 21 October.

n CHAPLAINS – For PCI’s prison chaplains – that they would speak hope and love into each prisoner’s individual circumstances.

n HOME MISSION –For the congregation of Sligo; give thanks for all who serve in the church. Pray that God would guide them to continue to share God’s word faithfully in their community.

n OLDER PEOPLE SERVICES – Many of the Council for Social Witness residents live in homes accommodating 30–50 people. Pray that there would be good relationships between residents who may not have known each other before moving into the homes, and within the staff teams who work so hard to meet the needs of residents.

www.presbyterianireland.org/prayer

Angelina and Stephen Cowan

Tracey Nicholl

Occasionally, just occasionally, a conversation can not only make you think, but affect your attitudes and actions. That was my experience recently when a Christian friend used a word I had never heard before: ‘respair’. It is the opposite of despair and is about having renewed hope, being encouraged and being delivered from distress or hopelessness. (As an interesting aside, it appears that the word hasn’t been in general use for over 500 years. That fact is not to our credit!)

In our conversation, my friend said that in this society where so many people are in distress, are desperate and disillusioned, he wants to play his part as a follower of Christ and bring encouragement, hope and uplift to as many people as he can. For it is all too obvious that words are often the source of huge pain to people. It’s hard to miss the daily diet of such words and language that we see and hear almost every day on social media, on television and radio, and in newspapers. Even in everyday conversation it is all too common to deal in half-truths, or demonise or misrepresent other people. Sadly, we do rather like to watch a public argument, and at times we may even enjoy joining in. Being verbally destructive comes very easily to us – and we excuse that by commending what we describe as ‘plain speaking’.

The Bible does not miss and hit the wall when talking about the evils that can come from what we say. Even a quick read of James 3 in the New Testament gives a sobering warning of the dangers of using words badly: “The tongue also is a fire; a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”

And in Proverbs 12 we are told that “the words of the reckless pierce like swords”. Indeed they do. I have thought a lot about that conversation with my friend, and with the Lord’s help, I am trying to take his initiative to my own heart and life as a result of what he said.

It is no accident that the Bible so often tells us to be channels and agents of ‘respair’. “Encourage one another and build each other up…” (1 Thessalonians 5:11); “Each of us should please our neighbours for their good, to build them up” (Romans 15:2). And the famous verse in Proverbs 16 could not be clearer: “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

It is also very significant that Barnabas in the New Testament had a name that means ‘son of encouragement’, and he certainly lived up to that name. For example, we read in Acts 11 that

many people had come to Christ in Antioch and Barnabas was sent there to see for himself. “When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.” The Lord honoured him because his ministry of encouragement was an outworking of his godliness. “He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord” (Acts 11:24).

So, what does it look like to be a Barnabas in this troubled modern world – to be a bringer of respair into everyday life? Let me offer a few suggestions as I try to work this out carefully myself:

1. Saying nothing is sometimes a great deal better than adding to idle and unhelpful chat. Silence really can be golden.

2. Challenge language that is destructive or demeaning. Not to do so is to acquiesce with it.

3. Err on the side of being gracious and forgiving, rather than insisting you are in the right (even if you are!).

4. Instead of being a player in the national sport of complaining, be someone who appreciates others – especially the many people you rely on every day in the supermarket/at the doctor’s/in the petrol station/in the café… wherever and whoever.

5. Don’t feed your mind and your ears with unhelpful verbal rubbish. Would not our minds, our souls and our language be much the better for taking to heart Paul’s guidance to the church in Philippi: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”

Surely in this troubled and distressed society, the Lord is calling all his followers to be agents of godly respair – and for each of us to be a 21st century Barnabas.

Norman Hamilton discusses the importance of watching what we say and the value of focusing on words that build up and encourage.

…the opposite of despair and is about having renewed hope, being encouraged and being delivered from distress or hopelessness.

Norman Hamilton

Very Rev Dr Norman Hamilton is a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

It was the summer after P7; mum was out with my little sisters, and dad and I were washing the dishes...

“You know where babies come from?”

“Eh… yep.”

“And that Santa isn’t real?”

“Eh… yep.”

“Good, wouldn’t want you getting teased at big school.”

My dad is brilliant and from becoming a father myself, my admiration for him has only grown, but the only thing I was sure of by the end of this ten-second conversation was that Christmas Eve just got a lot less exciting.

Changing culture

That was nearly 30 years ago. Since then, the smartphone in your hand has changed the world in all kinds of ways, not least when it comes to how we approach conversations about relationships and sex. While schools teach children and young people some things about relationships and sexuality (RSE), our culture arguably teaches them much more. Let me share just a few statistics that reflect some recent changes:

• It is estimated that by 2035, 50% of relationships in the UK will begin online.

• A YouGov poll found that the number of young people aged 18–24

Help with... ‘the talk’

With changing legislation in Northern Ireland around how sex education is taught in schools, David Smyth highlights a useful resource to help parents navigate how they communicate with their children on this topic.

identifying as bisexual rose from 2% in 2005 to 16% in 2019.

• Today, Apps using artificial intelligence can generate deep-fake pornography using a single photograph of someone’s face.

• A study by Ofsted in England and Wales found that 88% of 15-yearold girls had been sent sexual images they did not want to see and 80% had come under pressure to provide sexual images of themselves.

It’s difficult keeping up with the pace of change right now and perhaps harder still not to freak out... social media, music, TV shows and pornography all communicate powerful and persuasive messages. Some of this content is explicit, but it all communicates implicit values about worth and dignity, the role and value of sex, bodies and human identity. We want to have age-appropriate and meaningful conversations with our children and young people about these things, but let’s be honest – it’s not easy.

Changing legislation

In June 2023, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission released a wide-ranging report into the state of RSE in Northern Ireland. It was largely critical of current RSE provision and in my view, frames the current non-denominational Christian ethos within controlled schools as inherently problematic. The report was challenged by many churches, including PCI, both in terms of the process of the investigation that led to the report, and some of the recommendations.

This influential report coincided with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland introducing legislation that is likely to change the delivery of RSE in schools here. This is a brief summary of what the Secretary of State has said so far:

• The new regulations “will make age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, covering prevention of early pregnancy and access to abortion, a compulsory component of the curriculum for adolescents”.

• The Department of Education has a legal duty to issue guidance on the content and delivery of the education to be provided by 1 January 2024.

• A duty will be placed on boards of governors and principals to have regard to the guidance.

Apps using artificial intelligence can generate deep-fake pornography using a single photograph of someone’s face.

• The Department will also be under a statutory duty to make regulations about the circumstances in which, at the request of a parent, a pupil may be excused from receiving that education, or specified elements of that education.

• The Department of Education is to ensure schools afford parents the opportunity to review relevant materials.

• The regulations, in practice, “will result in educating adolescents on issues such as how to prevent a pregnancy, the legal right to an abortion in Northern Ireland, and how relevant services may be accessed”.

Changing the conversation

Many parents and teachers have already raised concerns with us about some of the content that is to be delivered and the ability of schools to continue to teach RSE within their wider nondenominational Christian ethos as per current practice. While the legal changes are much narrower than the recommendations in the report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, it remains to be seen what exactly will be included in the new guidance.

These changes are concerning, and many are advocating for safeguards when it comes to what exactly is taught and how. In fact, it could be tempting to oppose the teaching of all RSE, or try to withdraw our children entirely. Some campaign groups will inevitably adopt this posture and strategy. Yet, in my view, this would neglect our duty to bear witness to the gospel in its broadest sense. Relationships and sex are good gifts to humanity from a good God and we want to see every

PCI’s response

Through the Council for Public Affairs, PCI is actively engaging with the Department of Education and CCEA on the proposed changes to the RSE curriculum. A public consultation on the new guidance for RSE in relation to contraception and access to abortion is expected later in the year, along with a consultation on opt-out provisions for parents.

But as well as the challenges, consider the amazing opportunities for parents and carers to help children and young people form a good and healthy understanding of identity, relationships and sex.

This is about discipleship – helping our children follow Jesus in today’s rapidly changing culture. This will involve intentionally modelling good relationships to them, teaching them the bigger story of Scripture; helping them to navigate contested issues with truth and grace and cultivating space for distinctive beliefs and practices, forgiveness and redemption.

This is also about mission – modelling the good, true and beautiful story that has changed our lives and the world. And we might be surprised to find that we share a lot of common ground with nonChristian parents when it comes to lots of these issues.

young person thrive in this plural society. So this is not about forcing our beliefs on anyone but professing and advocating the gospel as good news for every area of human life, including relationships and sexuality education. While the content of lessons in the classroom is important, so is what happens in the playground – 93% of 11–15-year-olds have smartphones and so we need to have better conversations with our children at home.

Maybe past sins or an ongoing secret struggle with pornography makes you feel hypocritical or disqualified from saying anything at all? These are complex and sensitive issues going to the heart of our beliefs, identity and relationships – and indeed our own failings. So we come to these conversations with humble hearts, as saints who often continue to struggle with our own sinfulness.

Three ways that you can respond today:

Download a free copy of our ‘Time to Talk’ resource.

You can access it here: www.eauk.org/resources/ what-we-offer/reports/time-to-talk

Hard copies can also be ordered and/ or our team members are willing to providing training to parents and youth leaders – for more information contact Lisa via l.curry@eauk.org

Contact your local public representative.

Large-scale campaigns are important but individual emails and phone calls are vital too. Be positive in your willingness to engage around the best interests of children in forming healthy relationships and also honest about your concerns when it comes to teaching on things like ‘access to abortion’. In Northern Ireland, you can find your elected representative here: www.theyworkforyou.com/ni/

All of this is why we designed ‘Time to Talk’ to help parents and carers have better conversations about RSE with their children and their school. It covers issues like pornography, abortion, sexual harassment, gender identity, coming out and consent. It also gives that bigger picture of the Bible story and the cultural story, where they intersect, where there is common ground and clear distinctives. It’s packed with tips to help make these conversations honest, gracious, Christcentred and transformative.

So be encouraged – in the midst of very real cultural and legislative change, the challenges and the opportunities, it’s time to talk…

David Smyth is head of Northern Ireland at the Evangelical Alliance and an elder at Legacurry Presbyterian.

Come along to one of our ‘Time to Talk’ evenings.

We plan at least two in-person events and one online webinar in September and October for parents, carers, teachers, church and youth leaders. We will walk through our ‘Time to Talk’ resource and help guide you when responding to any consultation on the legislative changes and associated guidance. Keep an eye on our social media for dates and locations or email Lisa as above to register your interest.

While the content of lessons in the classroom is important, so is what happens in the playground…

An oasis in the desert

While the Western media has largely moved on, Syria and Lebanon continue to experience significant challenges. In Syria, the major battles may have ceased, but it is still caught up in what is now a 12-year-old war. As for Lebanon, over the past four years it has experienced crisis upon crisis. The Covid pandemic, the port explosion, followed by political and economic collapse. What about their Christian communities –marginalised minorities whose very existence is at stake? In May of this year, Dr John Kirkpatrick (PCI Moderator at the time) and I visited Beirut in Lebanon to find out more. We had the privilege of participating in a three-day international partners conference with brothers and sisters in Christ from the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL).

Refugees

Church leaders, ministers and experts in Middle East affairs highlighted circumstances currently being faced in Syria and Lebanon. Concerning refugees, Syrians continue to leave their country and some 1.2 million of them are now in Lebanon, on top of the existing population of 4 million. Proportionately, that’s rather like the population of Mexico moving to the USA! While Syrian refugees have been receiving a basic level

of assistance, the same provision is not in place for the struggling Lebanese. This has been fuelling anger and prejudice, threatening the delicate equilibrium between ethnic groups.

Economic collapse

Then there is economic collapse. Whether we are speaking of the Syrian or Lebanese currency, both have lost 98–99% of their purchasing power. What would have bought a house a few years ago will now buy only a pair of shoes! The average monthly salary is about US$10–12 a month. Health care systems have deteriorated and medication has become unaffordable. The only people appearing to prosper are smugglers, drug dealers and those politicians living off the money siphoned out of the country. Growing numbers are unemployed and living under the poverty line, dealing with shortages of fuel, water and electricity. Increasing numbers of people are depressed and despairing, and crime and prostitution are on the rise. In Syria, the infrastructure has collapsed, the country is fragmented,

its future unstable. In Lebanon, the social fabric, internal security, the very nationhood of the country is now under threat. It’s on the brink of becoming a ‘failed state’.

Migration

Not surprisingly, there is a rise in migration. In addition to the ongoing flow of refugees from Syria, more recently Lebanon has seen an estimated 10–12% of the population leaving. About 40% of doctors and nurses have left the country. Conflict and economic collapse are not the only drivers in the region; climate extremes are also contributing to migration northwards due to more frequent droughts and water shortages. When it comes to education, in Lebanon some 90% of graduates are leaving and few young people remaining are able to afford to go to school or university. In Syria, the Christian population is estimated to have fallen significantly below the pre-war figure of 10%, while in Lebanon it has more recently declined from 33% to 24%, with few likely to return. This places a question over the very existence of Christian communities in these two countries in the future.

Opportunities

Nonetheless, despite all the challenges, the church is eager to see things from God’s perspective, knowing that there are

NESSL… holds on to a vision of being an oasis in the desert… fighting hostility with love, praying for its enemies…

Uel Marrs reports from a recent trip to Syria and Lebanon where the church is striving to be an ‘oasis in the desert’ as it faces difficulties unimaginable to our Western minds.

also opportunities. Perhaps ongoing crises will somehow prove to be the electric shock needed to shake off indifference, a Kairos moment for revitalising faith and practice, leading to creativity and achievement such that a small, marginalised, church might yet be transformed into a mighty sign of hope. There is a remnant, crying out to God: “Will you not revise us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (Psalm 85:6).

While NESSL has only about 12,000 members, it is the only denomination whose 40 or so congregations are spread strategically throughout Lebanon and Syria. It holds on to a vision of being an oasis in the desert, of being faithful, of ‘irrigating’ the land with justice and peace, fighting hostility with love, praying for its enemies, believing that ultimately sweetness will come forth from bitterness. Of course, that means digging channels under the hot sun. To this end, NESSL continues to put on the gospel-providing programmes for children, young people, women, and to train leaders to the highest standards at the Near East School of Theology. Migration may have led to significantly fewer church members, but many congregations are finding more people attending than ever before, including inquirers from all kinds of religious and ethnic backgrounds.

The international partners reflected together on how they too readily move on to responding to the next global crisis while losing sight of NESSL’s ongoing programmes. Rev Ibrahim Nassir, minister of the Presbyterian Church in Aleppo, whose congregation was deeply impacted by the devastating earthquake that hit North West Syria in February of this year, pointed out that they now have enough funds for their work supporting earthquake victims, but face deficits in so many areas of the synod’s ongoing work.

Take, for example, the six schools run by the synod, first established by missionaries even before churches were planted. The conference learned how these nationbuilding schools help to shrink cultural gaps and increase common spaces in which young people from all backgrounds

What would have bought a house a few years ago will now buy only a pair of shoes!

facing so much instability, uncertainty and social pressure are able to tackle issues.

Then there is NESSL’s relief programme, running since shortly after the outbreak of the war in Syria, regularly providing basic support for 1,200 Christian families at times close to starvation. While a relief programme still running after 12 years was not what was envisaged, it means survival for families who are able to earn so little.

Three years ago, in order to reach out more widely, NESSL set up a faith-based NGO, the Compassion Protestant Society. It seeks to engage in humanitarian and development initiatives with the motto ‘Faithful to the Call, Compassion to All’. It was fully engaged during the Covid pandemic and is currently prioritising the running of four Syrian children’s education centres in Lebanon given that there are 600,000 school-age children from Syria stretching the public-school system far beyond its limits.

The fulfilment of NESSL’s vision through life-giving programmes will not succeed without its church leaders and pastors, many of whom are in danger of burnout. It is so disheartening for a pastor, after painstakingly training a congregational leader, to see that person leave the country. One minister expressed the fear that he was so occupied with people’s daily needs that he was missing Kairos moments of opportunity, and had no time to develop any kind of strategic plan for ministry and mission. Conference participants were urged to pray for resilient, faithful, visionary leaders, who would model holiness, integrity, humility

and selfless service.

NESSL is very thankful for its international partners, recognising that each brings their own flavour and value. While financial support is deeply appreciated, more fundamentally it’s about friendship, long-standing relationships, pastors meeting pastors, congregational twinning, partnership that reaches the pews! On one level, it does seem that the Christian community in Syria and Lebanon is on a life-support system, and very much in need of the ‘oxygen’ of partner support. On another level, international partners recognised they had so many lessons to learn from their faithful, resilient brothers and sisters, especially that hard times can turn out to be hopeful, fruitful opportunities in which the Lord achieves what might otherwise prove impossible. As one international participant reflected, we have to keep showing up, spending time around the table together, and “to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (Romans 1:12).

Rev Uel Marrs is PCI’s Global Mission Secretary.

For more information

For partnerships to grow there needs to be a good flow of information. A five-minute video featuring Rev Ibrahim Nseir and Aleppo Presbyterian Church is available from the Mission Department, Assembly Buildings.

For those who want to learn more, please take note of NESSL’s online presence where text is often available in English including:

• The NESSL website: www.synod-sl.org

• Facebook: @synodsl

• YouTube: NESSL

• The Compassion Protestant Society: www.compassionps.org

• NESSL’s denominational magazine Annashra (for which there is also a mobile App): www.annashra.org

Being a discipleshaping church today

“The world has changed since the pandemic.” I’m sure you have heard that said about many areas of life. Nevertheless, it is often difficult to put our finger on what exactly has changed, and how, and what that means for how we go forward.

Even if that is the case, it is good to acknowledge that things are not what they were, rather than just revert to our old assumptions and time-worn ways of doing what we have always done in the way that we have always done it.

The world of discipleship

Growing in following Jesus is one area of church life where there is a sense that things have changed and are changing. We can no longer assume that the world will be accepting, or even passive, about Christian views, values and living. As we try to live out our faith, we do so into a headwind of contrary messages and countering culture. A world that is all about ‘me’ makes it ever harder to keep a focused trust and dependence on Jesus as Lord. A culture in which seeing is believing makes living for a God who is above and beyond us a very real act of faith. The constant messaging that our happiness is the greatest pursuit doesn’t

sit easily alongside a life of service of God and others in his name. Being a disciple today is not for the faint-hearted. It really does require a long obedience in the same direction.

A church life that shapes disciples

Added to all of this is the growing realisation that the busyness of contemporary life has eaten into many of the routines and rhythms of the way we do church life. Previous patterns of never-ending meetings, activities and programmes no longer seem to gain the buy-in from a weary and worn church membership. Nevertheless, the basic ways in which disciples are shaped and sustained in the life of faith remain unchanged. Worship, Bible engagement, prayer and community are as important as ever, maybe more so as we swim against the tide of secularism.

So, what might a contemporary expression of church life that supports and serves discipleship look like in 2023 and beyond? For sure, it will need to recentre upon and reclaim the

unchanging basics; however, it will almost certainly need to think about how they can be reimagined and refreshed in shape and form if we are not to spend the next season of church life trying to claw back ways of doing things that may already be beyond the point of no return.

The Discipleshaping Church Today

The Discipleshaping Church Today gathering in Assembly Buildings, Belfast will begin to grapple with these questions in a fresh way for the denomination.

Our guest speaker will be Andrew Fellows, author of the intriguingly entitled book Smuggling Jesus back into the Church: How the church became worldly and what to do about it. He will set the scene as to why living a life of faithful discipleship has become so difficult today and how, as the Church, we need to ensure that we are not unwittingly colluding with the prevailing culture, rather than standing counter to it.

Following a time of discussion, participants will split into three streams to consider together how the Church can best give expression to three areas crucial for supporting and sustaining discipleship:

• How might we shape forms of Bible

Being a disciple today is not for the faint-hearted.

David Thompson previews an important upcoming PCI event intended to help set the future shape and direction of equipping disciples in congregational life.

engagement that grow disciples to follow Jesus in our present age?

• How might we shape our corporate worship services to build disciples to go out and follow Jesus in our present age?

• How might we shape congregational community to support ‘one another’ to follow Jesus Monday–Sunday in our present age?

After lunch, feedback captured from these conversations will offer some initial impressions of what it means to be a discipleshaping church today, before a closing session from Andrew Fellows that will focus on Jesus-centred discipleship.

Encouraging as many as possible to come and contribute to this attempt

at a denominational discipleship reset, Andrew Dickson, PCI’s Congregational Life Development Officer, explains: “We know that a disciple-shaped life isn’t crafted overnight. It takes hours, days, weeks, months and even years of commitment. It requires sustained scriptural focus. It takes intentional relationships. It needs the rhythms of worship, prayer and service found in the local church. This gathering is designed to encourage ministers, elders, leaders and other interested members to reflect

Smuggling Jesus back into the Church

Andrew Fellows explains what his book, Smuggling Jesus back into the Church: How the church became worldly and what to do about it, is all about.

Over the last three decades I have been inspired by a small group from the Jewish tribe of Issachar that get a brief mention in the Old Testament. The second book of Chronicles informs us that “they understood the times and knew what Israel should do”. If we are going to shape strong disciples in the 21st century, it is essential that we go on ‘culture watch’ so we can know what the church should do today. My book is a sketch of how I have come to understand our times and how I see the contemporary church being shaped by our age. I am convinced that the church in the 21st century is in danger of becoming secularised. This has been a gradual process that has occurred without our even noticing. Only now is it possible to detect some of the more obvious signs where this enculturation is happening. One of the fallouts of this process is a terrible disordering of what Jesus intends his church to be.

If the church is going to reverse this trend it is essential that we recover a biblical understanding of what it means to be worldly. Sadly, this key New Testament concept has become rather neglected in our churches. Much of this neglect is because former generations of Christians taught that you could avoid becoming worldly by steering clear of certain behaviours. This was turned into a list of prohibitions of what we needed to avoid – don’t mix with unbelievers, don’t smoke, don’t drink –and so the list was extended. What this often resulted in was a shallow legalism.

To wrestle seriously with what the Bible says about ‘the world’ we must appreciate that being worldly goes much deeper than behaviour. Paul gets at this in Colossians 2:8 when he warns against being taken captive by hollow ideas that “depend on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ”. Here is a nod to the fact that ‘the world’ exists in the hidden realm of ideas and values. If we aren’t careful and attentive, these very subtly shape what we come to trust in, how we think, what we desire, the way we perceive reality and

on what it means to develop the kind of church life that shapes faithful followers of Jesus in today’s world.”

Rev David Thompson is Secretary to PCI’s Council for Congregational Life and Witness.

Event details

The Discipleshaping Church Today Assembly Buildings, Belfast Tuesday 24 October 2023 10.30am–3pm

To book a place, please go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/events

what we live for. Essentially, they disciple us in worldliness. That’s why we should read the Bible’s concept of ‘the world’ as a reference to the dominant values in any culture that give shape and direction to human society – values that conflict with Christ’s rule and authority over all things. Because these become so entrenched and pervasive they take on the status of super-values. It would be hard to overstate what a formidable enemy these are for every follower of Jesus. My book goes on to name and describe the super-values that shape the society we live in today.

To resist ‘the world’ it is essential that our churches are on culture watch. That means understanding how the world works in our time, and how the church is being compromised. If we are going to make resilient disciples today, it is essential that we engage culture and not run away from it. Only when ‘the world’ is clearly grasped will we resist the pressures of the secular age. Then our churches can become places where Jesus is reflected in all his goodness and beauty.

Andrew Fellows was appointed pastor of a church in Bradford, West Yorkshire in 1988 where he served for seven years. In 1995, his family moved to the English branch of L’Abri Fellowship, where they lived and worked for 21 years. From 2011–2016, Andrew was the chairman of L’Abri International. Now based in Cambridge, he is the pastor of a newly formed church alongside his work of speaking and writing. He has a special interest in reaching sceptics and encouraging followers of Christ to develop the life of the mind so it includes the whole gospel to the whole world with all of its implications.

To order a copy of Andrew’s book, priced at £11.99, please go to: https://ivpbooks.com/smuggling-jesus-back-into-church

…it is essential that we engage culture and not run away from it.

Flourishing together

It was a privilege to sit together in rooms around the island of Ireland listening to experiences and insights and it was indeed humbling and a blessing to be reminded of God’s beautiful family, brought together through Christ, made up of his children of every tongue, tribe and nation.

We heard from members of PCI – brothers and sisters – stories of being truly welcomed and becoming deeply part of local church life, and we also heard about some hard and sad experiences, when people felt marginalised and belittled.

It was noted at a recent meeting, by Rev Stephen McCracken, convener of the Council for Global Mission, the importance of listening to the global church and really listening to how they see us. As we benefit from new voices and insights, we are challenged in our sin and our need of repentance. We are also enriched in learning, love, fellowship and service as we grow closer into the likeness of Jesus, reaching out with the good news of the kingdom together and with the

Spirit’s empowering, continuing to fulfil the Great Commission.

Following the report from the Irish Inter-Church Meeting entitled ‘Exploring Race and the Churches in Ireland’, the Council for Global Mission decided to set up a task group to record, in more depth, first-hand experiences of black and minority ethnic (BME) members of PCI – to determine and report on the opportunities and challenges faced by them and to provide recommendations as to how PCI can better ensure the flourishing of those from minority ethnicities within PCI.

We were aware, as we began, of a divergence of opinions regarding current terms in use such as ‘ethnic minority’ and ‘black, Asian and minority ethnic’ (BAME). We decided, accepting all its limitations, that ‘black and minority ethnic’ would be used; recognising our shared identity in Christ being primordial, one participant later eloquently noted, “I am not a minority in my Father’s house”.

Helen Freeburn outlines the findings from PCI’s recent report: ‘Exploring Race and the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’.

Community, comfort, caring

Many participants had attended some form of reformed church in their home country and so the local PCI church “felt like my church back home” and seemed a place where faith was shared with people with similar values. For others, they were invited or linked in by another person attending (the International Meeting Point in Belfast or similar initiatives played a role in this too).

Theological and environmental, but primarily relational factors, were part of the attraction. Participants spoke of churches as being “welcoming”, “caring”, “accommodating” and having a “sense of community and belonging”, providing comfort (particularly mental), well-being and peace: “My soul rests in this church.” Fellowship and friendships with people who ‘celebrate one another’ was key. The church was described as family: “We are like brothers and sisters.” This was particularly important for those who may have lost family members or left them behind. One person said, “It’s the best church I have been to”. Another noticed “the way people love each other”. Others said: “I had found a place where I was welcome”; “God showed me I wasn’t alone”; “I wanted to feel connected, to make true friends… they were accepting”; and “After [the service] was so crucial, getting to know people… [and realising] you don’t need to be alone in anything in life”.

sharing of food and being part of hospitality at church was also very important for many (especially enjoyed when providing food from one’s own cultural background).

Challenges

The challenges shared included the lack of depth of human relationships and interaction within church at times – locals were not seen to be as relational as people from other cultures, with a focus on process and timekeeping, rather than human interaction. Some reported an initial reluctance from local people to accept people from a different ethnic background at church, which settled with time. One person noted that in wider society, “It’s hard to make friends with local people”, and for some, this extended to church members not engaging with them outside the church building.

Others shared a sense that, in general, the spiritual life of the church was not as deep as it could be, citing a lack of commitment to fundamental aspects of Christian living, along with activities being on a ‘superficial’ level.

When asked about racism within the church, there was a hesitancy to answer, but almost all had experienced forms that were subtle, such as a reluctance by some church members to sit next to them, or making inconsiderate comments. One person noted: “People do not think what they say is racist.”

A number of participants shared on the issue of direct racism and felt these incidents were handled badly by the church, with one person saying: “I still hurt and continually seek God in the matter.” In other cases, it was felt there was a problem of lack of understanding.

Some shared that common ground could be found where there were theological differences, and the values of the church celebrated instead, especially helping those in need. However, many expressed a sense of isolation in wider society: “Without church, I wouldn’t have made friendships… and I would have been very lonely.”

Participants were really pleased to be asked to take part in services and activities – this was seen as a sign of acceptance, and being voted on to committee, council or kirk session provided a sense of belonging. The

The intersectionality of race and gender was also expressed, with one participant noting in church a “white male focus”, and being actively discouraged from greater participation in the spiritual life of the church. Some female participants felt they were only seen as wives of their husbands. This increased a sense of rejection if being from a minority ethnic background.

One participant spoke of never being asked to share about their home country and culture, yet they noticed those who visit the church from overseas often share on their experiences abroad.

For a few participants, church service

…we are challenged in our sin and our need of repentance.

attendance had been very hard at times and lonely.

There was also talk of the challenges of adjustment to a different culture and environment, with one participant stating: “For foreign nationals, everything is foreign.” Communication and cultural differences were noted: “It’s sometimes difficult to speak one’s mind and not be judged.”

For those adjusting from a nonChristian background, a need was expressed for the basics of the teaching of the church to be explained in more detail. It was also observed that groups from a single minority ethnic group, or the use of one secondary language in the service, could feel exclusive.

Other general challenges were mentioned, such as poor attendance levels at groups due to congregational members being so busy, the need for more congregational involvement in ministries, lack of transport to church and lack of

An awareness and understanding of unconscious bias and resisting the tendency to ‘other’ people from different backgrounds is also needed.

Participants called for church members to live out the gospel, saying church members should “be more Christ-like outside church”, and “practise a spirit of humanity”. Other suggestions included: more visits by members to the sick and bereaved; more prayerful support for people in need; supporting people who have encountered racism outside the church; having an awareness of language issues.

It was clear that people from other backgrounds want to be approached and asked to do things in church and to be encouraged to be involved, with the understanding that they may make mistakes: “Trust us that we can lead a fellowship.”

It was also suggested there could be more opportunities to engage and interact with others, with more events, perhaps at presbytery level. It was asked “Are students for the ministry taught on cultural differences?” and whether more ministers from other backgrounds would be helpful in this regard.

funds for ministry work. The impact of Covid-19 was also cited – for those without local support networks, this increased isolation and disconnection.

It is worth pointing out that we heard from those who have come, stayed and become members. Another interesting exercise would be to hear from those who came but did not stay!

Considerations

We asked for suggestions for what those in church leadership could do to encourage people to participate and be included fully. Often the responses were overwhelmingly relational. The starting point was to regard people from elsewhere as any other member of the body of Christ – that we are “all God’s people”. One person said, “Don’t see colour. See Christ and see one unity.” Another commented: “Just see people from other countries as your own people.”

At the same time, there was a plea to recognise, provide for and celebrate difference. Opportunities to talk about one’s culture, attentiveness to the needs of people of different cultures and a need for ‘cultural intelligence’ were suggested.

Those who shared with us were encouraged that the Church was looking at this topic. For various reasons, we had fewer participants than initially hoped for, but helpful and full contributions were received from 26 individuals. Though not representative of the Church as a whole, we were able to receive insights from comments that were often repeated.

Participants may have been deterred from participation due to vulnerability (while in or having been in the asylumseeking process), or a desire to not seem ungrateful or to criticise ‘hierarchies’ or ‘authorities’ in the Church. One person commented: “In most African cultures, people do not like talking about such sensitive issues, as the majority of African people tend to be suspicious and also would fear what might be said afterwards.”

It is also worth noting that most participants were very proficient in English and felt empowered to give their views. The thoughts of more vulnerable or less empowered members in the church have therefore been missed and a further exercise, using peer researchers who can

…we have more opportunities to reach out with the good news of Christ together…

…one participant noting in church a “white male focus”

reassure and explain, may be beneficial. A significant theme from the hearing exercise was the different approaches to relationships and interaction, with participants from cultures where the emphasis is on relationships and group identity encountering a ‘Western’ culture where individuality and autonomy are important. The term ‘ubuntu’ was discussed, an African concept encompassing the interdependence of humans on one another, with an emphasis on community, care for others and relationship. For many participants, group activities and general congregational commitment are so important.

The topic of ‘integration’ is complex, knowing the importance of adjusting and settling, feeling ‘at home’ and yet at the same time celebrating and learning from others’ backgrounds. The balance may look different for different situations and for those generations that are following.

There is also significant expertise and knowledge among those who

minister with and to people from diverse backgrounds, particularly important where there are more transient or vulnerable congregations/church members. The upcoming ‘Welcoming the Stranger’ event on 16 September in Drogheda seeks to provide a space for exchange, learning and prayer.

Conclusion

Sincere thanks go to all those participants who kindly shared their time, experiences and insights with us. Some are not featured here but you were heard – thank you. The full report is found in Appendix D of the Council for Global Mission Reports, General Assembly 2023 and is available on PCI’s website: www. presbyterianireland.org Perhaps, if you are a member of presbytery, you could raise this report so it is not forgotten. A big thank you also to the task group members who guided the process so well and especially to Michael Potter who collated the research and drafted a great deal of the report.

As we flourish together through Christ, we reflect the kingdom of God, already here but not fully, where those from every nation, tribe, people and language are united in praise, worship and service! All matter equally and none are minorities to our heavenly Father, Son and Spirit. The heart of our identity is found in him who gave his life to save and “redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14).

As the global and local church intertwine, we have more opportunities to reach out with the good news of Christ together, and provide “a countercultural community of grace in which all can flourish” (Ruth Garvey-Williams).

May Christ’s name be glorified!

Rev Helen Freeburn is Inter-Cultural Relations Agent, Global Development Committee and minister of Galway Presbyterian Church.

Participants spoke of churches as… having a “sense of community and belonging”

Building strong foundations

An upcoming PCI event, which will run at regional venues in the autumn, focuses on supporting congregations with their youth and children’s ministry. Ruth Bromley and Graeme Thompson explain more.

Ministry among children, young people and their families has never been easy. However, for many congregations, parents, children and youth ministry leaders and other caring adults, engaging with some new realities on the ground feels quite different than it did four years ago before the interruption of the pandemic.

Ruth Bromley and Graeme Thompson offer their bird’s eye view on some observable trends and share the vision for ‘Foundations’ events designed to encourage and envision those who lead and help in children’s and youth ministry.

New realities for ministry among children

Ruth Bromley (PCI Children’s Development Officer)

In principle and in practice, Christian parents are the primary disciplers of their children. However, this responsibility has often been inadvertently passed on to children’s ministry leaders. Perhaps both sides have colluded in this arrangement because parents have felt ill-equipped and congregational leaders often revel in that role.

The cessation of much congregational children’s ministry caused by the pandemic has maybe caused us to reflect once more about how parents and congregational children’s ministry leaders can better play their parts together. However much parents are given the primary role in their children’s discipleship, few would dispute the benefit of the reinforcement, support, wisdom and prayers of the church community around them. Maybe as a church we need to both better equip parents in their role of discipling their children and also ensure that our children’s ministry leaders are doing the best job possible at teaching and discipling children within the congregational setting.

Rhythm

Work, school, extracurricular activities, ageing parents and financial pressures all add extra busyness and stress to family life and squeeze family time. Trying to make up for lost time, most congregations have found themselves propelled into hurrying back to activities and programmes after the pandemic. Perhaps there is a way of slowing down to think about

how these fit with the rhythms of contemporary realities in family life, preserving the quality of what we do without feeling like we need to offer something every night of the week for different family members.

Competition

Connected to this busyness of church life is the increase in competing activities for children. Sports clubs, birthday parties and other activities are now also a regular feature of Sunday morning in a way they weren’t in the past. It feels like we are struggling to know what to do with that.

Perhaps as churches we find ourselves trying to compete, but we can’t and probably shouldn’t. Children’s ministry shouldn’t revolve around trying to be more entertaining or attractive than a birthday party or a football match. It can offer genuine relationship, a caring intergenerational community and teaching that introduces children to the hope and future they have in Jesus. That is what is valuable and attractive, not the facilities or fun we have to offer that are secondary to what we do.

Pastoring

An increasing number of children are showing signs of anxiety and stress. This may be particularly around the transfer test and the pressure, but it is almost certainly also a result of the disruption to life, the normal opportunities of childhood years and relationships caused by the pandemic. Perhaps we need to recognise that this calls for a more pastoral emphasis and approach to what we do and how we do it, bringing hope, consistency and genuine care to children and their families.

An increasing number of children are showing signs of anxiety and stress.

New realities for ministry among young people

Graeme Thompson (PCI Youth Development Officer)

In all but some of the largest and best resourced congregations, the number of young people around church and its activities appears to have decreased significantly, especially among older teens and young adults. We may be discovering that the critical mass of young people required to approach youth ministry as we did in the past is no longer there. In addition, the average age is younger, meaning many have not had the usual gradual journey into the experience of youth ministry and find taking part more challenging. Consistency of engagement is also a challenge, and leaders are often reporting having to work harder than

‘Foundations’ evenings

before to be effective. Responses may require neighbouring churches to find ways of organising to work together and to move from a large to small group approach or working one-toone.

Leaders

In most cases, congregations are also reporting that resources and capacity are smaller when it comes to leadership. Churches are having to make difficult choices and reflect on their programmes, but are also seeing opportunities to try new approaches. In the coming church year, PCI is launching two new initiatives intended to supplement ministry in the local congregation. ‘Explore’ is an evening discipleship event for 11–16s that will take place in three different venues. ‘Follow’ is a

As we face up to the new realities around us in the world of children’s and youth ministry, we can feel isolated, weary and disillusioned. It’s good to be reminded that not only are others in the same boat in the same storm, but that Jesus is in the boat with us in what we do in his name.

The ‘Foundations’ evenings provide an opportunity for volunteer leaders and helpers in children’s, youth and family ministry to come together for equipping, encouraging, sharing and resourcing for ministry. They offer time and space to step back from what is the hectic busyness of running ministry among children and young people, to listen and learn together with others about how we can effectively adjust to the changes we are finding.

Those attending will have the opportunity to attend two workshops from the following four:

• Effective ministry among children in small groups;

• Effective ministry among young people in small groups;

• Engaging children with the Bible for a life of faith;

• Engaging young people with the Bible for a life of faith.

five-part discipleship programme for 16–18s spread throughout the year. Congregations will want to bring young people or encourage sign-up to increase the capacity of discipling their young people.

Church

There is also evidence that just as engaging young people in youth specific programmes has got harder, many are participating less in wider congregational life, with fewer older teens at Sunday worship and other core church activities. Many families are also less consistent in their involvement at all levels of church life, so it can be challenging to build momentum. This flags again the need to consider what a genuine all-age congregational family looks like in the local church.

Why not organise to come together as a group from your congregation? Equally, if you come on your own, it won’t be long before you find a familiar face or new friend with whom to share and talk.

Dates and venues

• Tuesday 3 October 2023 – Maze Presbyterian Church

• Monday 9 October 2023 – First Holywood Presbyterian Church

• Thursday 12 October 2023 – Moy Presbyterian Church

The programme at each venue will run from 7.45–9.15pm.

For more details or to make a booking, go to: www.presbyterianireland.org/events

…the number of young people around church and its activities appears to have decreased significantly…

Some time, just for me

So, my kids want a dog. “A dog?” I say. “You must be joking. I can barely keep the humans in my life clean, fed and watered let alone adding a hound into the mix.”

Being a mum is busy, challenging and all-consuming. I spend my life hoping that whatever is tough right now with my kids is ‘just a phase’, and that it will pass soon. And it usually does, but then another one pops up, leaving no space for a breather. I often feel like the hamster on the wheel – if I stop running, I will do that thing where the hamster is catapulted around the wheel for a few rotations before being chucked out, unceremoniously, on to a pile of hay. Anyone else feel the same? Oh good, it’s not just me then.

The routines and ‘to do’ lists, the necessities of feeding, changing and cleaning (and that’s just my teenage boy!), the homework and the permission slips, the friendships and the break-ups… it’s all exhausting. And all this can, at times,

be boring and mundane, but then just for good measure, we get those times that are full of drama, and a crisis or three will hit our family.

It’s at these moments I wish for the mundane again. And at these crisis moments, it feels like I am always on the back foot, just reacting to things. Often, I long for the head space to be proactive. But that wheel keeps on turning, and I think I have fallen into the lie that if I am not trying everything, it is as if I am doing nothing. Perhaps I am not doing enough, perhaps I don’t love my kids enough. Social media is constantly telling me that I don’t have the perfect family everyone else on there seems to have, and that I don’t measure up to a certain standard that no human could ever achieve anyway. To say that I spend a lot of time comparing myself to others is an understatement – try most of the

time! And how come the other mums at the school gate appear to have it together while I am hiding my PJs under my long coat? All of these pressures feel like a ton weight bearing down on my tired shoulders.

Hold up… stop the hamster wheel… I need to get off (gracefully).

Over the last two years, my good friend Cathy Madavan and I have met hundreds of mums across the UK. We are touring with an event called ‘Mums’ Night Out’, which is a chance for mums to have an evening where the pace of the hamster wheel can slow down a bit. We put on an evening that is full of effective well-being tools, real-life stories and a whole lot of laughs. As mums ourselves, Cathy and I know that it’s sometimes hard to get the balance of life just right. And I can tell you, being in a room full of other mums who are feeling the same is just so affirming and encouraging.

We put so much pressure on ourselves to achieve… everything, to give everything 100%. Now I will be the first

…we are the influencers of the next generation.

Gill Lyth discusses the difficulties of motherhood and highlights a new event by Care for the Family, designed to support and encourage mums in their important role.

to admit that maths was not my top subject at school, but even I can work out that the maths of that simply does not work. We cannot be giving 100% to everything 100% of the time. And remember, we are not just giving 100% to being mums. We are no doubt trying to be the best friend, or colleague or partner… and our percentages will be heading into the thousands!

You know that crash when we get to bed every night? That’s because being a mum is tiring and draining – loving our little humans uses up vast amounts of energy. And we may be caring for others in our lives too, we may be working, we may volunteer, have church responsibilities… The question has to be asked: “What about me?”

That is a valid and good question to ask. We need to be giving ourselves time to re-energise, refresh and restore. God himself is a God of Sabbath, encouraging us to take some time away from the busyness, and to find some peace. I often wonder if there is an innate part of us as mums that feels guilty about prioritising ourselves. It feels selfish, or we think it will be detrimental to our kids. But that could not be further from the truth. I have begun to realise that prioritising some ‘me time’ is actually beneficial for my kids. I am less stressed and less grumpy; more likely to make space to spend quality time with them when I am able to enjoy it rather than grudge it.

So how do we make sure that we do have time to stop?

Well, how about we try these two things: ask ourselves “Am I having some time just for me?” and ask our fellow mums, “Are you having some time just for you?” It’s not rocket science, it’s not fancy, it’s not a new trend that will take the internet by storm – it’s simply asking a question, and answering honestly.

So, how can we stop? First off, identify something that can drop down the priority list, or can even be knocked off

the ‘to do’ list. It’s about identifying some time in the day that normally would be filled, and ring-fencing it… for you. This may sound very formal, but it is a fantastic way to start making some space, to encourage you to see that stopping is possible – and I know that for a lot of us, this will be really hard. But if it can become a practice, a regular thing in your day, then it will eventually become a habit.

And what does stopping actually look like? Well, that’s the wonderful thing –it’s up to you. Maybe it is sitting for the length of your favourite worship song with no one else in the room with you. Perhaps a walk along the street, listening to the sounds of the world around you. Reading a chapter of a book, writing down three things you are thankful for, listening to or reading Scripture, colouring, crocheting… find something that fills you up, and gives you renewed energy.

As one mum to another, I challenge you. Tonight, before your head hits the pillow, write down on a piece of paper the one thing you are going to change tomorrow that means you will have some time just for you. And then write down the name of one fellow mum whom you are going to ask, “Are you having some time just for you?” Stick it on your mirror, on the fridge, on the dashboard of the car – somewhere you will not forget it. Making time for you could be the most life-changing thing you will do all year.

Sure, the mundane will still carry on, the crisis will pop up along the way and

our ‘to do’ lists will never be done. Yes, we may be pushed to limits we did not know we had, and we may well grow in ways we did not know was possible. But as mums we are often the unsung heroes and we are the influencers of the next generation. We are incredible. Oh, and remember, no matter what the Insta post shows, their reality will probably always be a little less polished or perfect.

Gill Lyth took on the role of Care for the Family’s Scotland representative after being a chocolatier for 5* hotels, A-list celebrities and royalty. Now, rather than creating chocolates, she simply eats them. Her particular interest is in speaking about mental health using her own experience. She lives in Dunfermline with her husband and two children.

Mums’ Night Out

Mums’ Night Out is a chance for mums to have a night out and invest in their own well-being – because a happy, healthy mum benefits the whole family.

Join Cathy Madavan and Gill Lyth – two mums who get it – for an evening of laughter, real-life stories and encouragement. Mums will leave feeling equipped and refreshed to face the many demands of motherhood.

7 November – Portstewart

8 November – Belfast

9 November – Banbridge

For more details or to book a ticket go to: cff.org.uk/mumsnight

I have begun to realise that prioritising some ‘me time’ is actually beneficial for my kids.

Cathy Madavan Gill Lyth

REVIEWS

Jesus Revolution LIONSGATE MOVIES

Jesus Revolution is based on the amazing true story of the national spiritual awakening in America during the early 1970s, beginning within a community of teenage hippies in Southern California, then spreading across the rest of the world.

It begins as pastor Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammer of Frasier fame) finds that his church is slowly dying and is unable to connect with the younger generation. This starts to change when he meets Lonnie Frisbee, a charismatic hippie streetpreacher. Smith eventually warms up to Frisbee and welcomes other hippies into his house, and then into his church congregation.

At the same time, high-school student Greg and his friend Cathe start to see their peers being dangerously irresponsible with drugs, searching for self-discovery. They eventually find solace at Smith and Frisbee’s ministry, after Cathe hears Frisbee preaching.

The ministry explodes in popularity and is nicknamed the ‘Jesus Movement’, one of the greatest spiritual awakenings in America.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and while it’s not completely accurate to the real story, I found it really encouraging to see depicted on the big screen how God moves in incredible and unexpected ways, and continues to, even now. There is no release date for streaming in the UK yet, but there is an opportunity for churches to host screenings – contact emma@kovapr.com for more details.

Unless otherwise stated all resources are available from your local Faith Mission Bookshop or online www.fmbookshops.com

Know Your Enemy

Graham

Benyon

10PUBLISHING

£5.99

In the introduction to this book the author refers us to The Art of War, a book on military strategy written by Sun Tzu in China in the 5th century BC, which contains the line: “If you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperilled in a hundred battles… If you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperilled in every single battle.”

With this in mind, the reader is reminded that there is an ‘art of war’ in the Christian life too and that we’re fighting in a spiritual battle against the enemies of sin and Satan, so we ought to know Satan’s strategy and how he fights and we ought to know where we are weak.

At the outset, Benyon asserts: “Too often Christian books have offered the ‘key’ to victory over sin; this one doesn’t. That’s because the fight against sin will continue for the rest of our lives and will remain hard.”

Each of the six chapters then takes a slightly different look at sin from a variety of angles, reflecting both sins of omission or commission, or put another way ‘moral vandalism’ or ‘moral negligence’. The warning that a passive Christian life can be as sinful as an obviously disobedient one was very thought-provoking.

Although a bit repetitive in places, I found this book an easy read and helpful in identifying areas where we might unwittingly be subject to Satan’s attack. HG

The Great Story and the Great Commission

Christopher J.H. Wright

This superb, succinct overview from theologian Chistopher Wright (who has Presbyterian roots in Belfast) traces the drama of God’s mission as “the whole Bible in seven acts”.

These are: creation; rebellion; promise; Christ and the gospel; New Testament (NT) mission; final judgement; and new creation. Wright then outlines the following marks of this mission: evangelism and teaching (building the church); compassion and justice (serving society); and creation care (fulfilling our mandate from Genesis 1).

At the centre of this mission is the biblical gospel – God in Christ reconciling the world to himself through the blood of the cross. There is no point asking which is more important – the hub or the wheel? Both are needed for a vehicle to move. Likewise, all these marks of God’s mission belong together with the gospel. And when they do come together, the result is “missional magnetism”. For example, when the NT Church displayed compassion and justice (Paul spent much of his energy remembering the poor and organising gifts), this complemented evangelism and discipleship to serve as a magnet drawing people to Christ.

The whole of creation is also a thread integral to the mission story, running as it does from the creation of heavens and earth through the Great Commission and on to the redeemed new heaven and new earth. Wright elaborates on the goodness of creation, the glory of creation and the goal of creation, again drawing on numerous biblical texts. Plenty to chew on here to widen our vision of the Lord’s mission – and ours.

REVIEWERS

Stumbling Toward Zion

David W. Smith

LANGHAM GLOBAL LIBRARY £18.67

During the Covid-19 pandemic, with normal worship and other usual activities suspended, some congregations discovered that the neglected biblical theme of lament spoke into their situation of suffering and loss.

David Smith (pastor, cross-cultural missionary and teacher) has written an important book, which looks at the thread of lament throughout the Scriptures: not only the Psalms of lament, but also Job and Lamentations (who knows this book beyond 3:22–24?), and in the New Testament. I was particularly drawn to Smith’s engagement with Alan Lewis’s Between Cross and Resurrection: A Theology of Holy Saturday. He says: “We have not listened to the narrative of the gospel ‘until we have constructed this cold, dark Sabbath as the day of atheism.’” The wideranging bibliography includes at least 135 authors.

This book will challenge any sense of triumphalism, or complacency, and any theology that doesn’t engage with a world where suffering – due to disease, slavery, flood, bereavement or whatever –is the norm.

Who will benefit from reading it? Ministers, students, those who shape our worship services (don’t forget the minor key!), those caring for the suffering and those crossing boundaries to bring the gospel to a world that’s hurting more than we usually see.

The fact that all the commendations are from leaders in the majority world Church should in itself be enough to make us sit up and take notice. I highly commend it.

Lauren Daigle

Lauren Daigle

ATLANTIC

Available via streaming services

This is Lauren Daigle’s third studio album, which she decided to selftitle, saying: “It definitely showcases a lot more of who I am.”

Daigle first came to attention on American Idol, competing as a contestant in 2010 and then in 2012, which established her as a credible artist in both the Christian and secular

Hope Wins Goff Hope

AUTHENTIC MEDIA

£9.79

Hope is often a sentiment that is overshadowed in today’s society. From an early age we are taught of a future hope for all those who believe in Christ. But what happens if your life’s journey is laden with trial, tribulation or tragedy?

Through Hope Wins, Goff Hope draws upon his own personal experiences, twinned with hymn citations and biblical

charts. Her crossover appeal was most clearly seen with the song You Say, from the album Look Up Child, both of which earned her Grammy awards.

Although this album doesn’t seem as strong as her last, it is still classic Daigle and has several noteworthy tracks. Don’t Believe Them is a challenging listen for how we live our lives: “How are you going to love someone if you don’t forgive them? ... How are you going to live out the words you’re preaching if you don’t believe them?”

To Know Me is an emotive tribute to those we have loved and lost.

Kaleidoscope Jesus has a 70s vibe. Daigle says: “My love for people comes from Jesus.” So it acknowledges the fact that we are all different, yet equally loved by him. Valuable is a lyrically beautiful track that Daigle wrote after a counselling session. She says she realised that the question on which she based all her life interactions was: “Am I valuable?” This song is a response to that. Overall, this is a solid album and fans will definitely find something here to enjoy.

teachings, with the aim of demonstrating that the Holy Spirit is a constant hope to lift us out of turmoil.

Hope has experienced many challenges to his faith, including a 12-year cancer battle and the sudden death of his daughter. He is entirely honest when detailing his emotions, reactions and deepest thoughts when facing these events. He places no judgement. Everyone must voyage through their own journey – whether it be of grief or acceptance – and it is never a sign of weakness in a Christian’s faith to question why.

Towards the conclusion, Hope provides his insights into the book of Revelation. Although he acknowledges that many view this book with fear and varying interpretations, he contends that it should be viewed as a book of hope. After all, this life is a prelude to something more glorious.

An excellent resource for those seeking a relatable reference in times of suffering.

SH – Sarah Harding is editor of the Herald KA – Kathryn Anderson is a member of Anahilt Presbyterian Church GH – Grace Harding attends West Church, Bangor

HG – Hazel Gilliland is an administrative officer in PCI’s Creative Production Department MJ – Michael Jemphrey is a member of Knock and a translation and anthropology consultant AB – Alistair Bill is minister emeritus of Saintfield Road Presbyterian

REFLECTIONS

Pastor and people David Clarke

Studies in 1 Peter 5

“An upright, undesigning priest is God’s providence in a village.” That phrase, quoted in the great French novel Scarlet and Black, reflects the essence of Peter’s appeal as he closes his letter. Peter had mentioned the “painful trial” (4:12) that would await them, with the danger that some might fall away; and sounded the ominous note that judgment would “begin with the family of God” (4:17). Both circumstances underline the need for faithfulness in pastoral care.

The apostle is content to identify simply as a “fellow-elder” (5:1) using an official designation. The Greek word behind it is Presbuteros, which provides a name for the style of church government – rule by elders – that we espouse. Elders are “shepherds of God’s flock” (v2), an image rich with Old Testament associations. The dying Jacob bore witness to “the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day” (Genesis 48:15).

From those who would shepherd God’s flock, Peter demands integrity. Such integrity will display itself by the presence of three attitudes listed in verses 2 and 3. First, “not because you must, but because you are willing”. The dominating motive must not be a reluctant obedience to the stern voice of duty, but a willing devotion to God. Service should spring, as Luther observed, “from the very bottom of the heart, out of love for the thing itself, out of joyous devotion to the work which the Lord thy God gives thee”.

Likewise, overseers should be “not greedy for money, but eager to serve”. While the labourer is worthy of his hire, it is fatally damaging to integrity if profit becomes a paramount consideration. When Samuel faced such an insinuation, he was able to reply, “Whom have I cheated? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe?” (1 Samuel 12:3). While assessment of motives, like recollections, may vary yet, as the historian Macaulay asserted, “Pecuniary disinterestedness everybody comprehends”.

Integrity is further marked by “not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (v3). Greed can take many forms, not just for food or money, but also for power and prominence. The church is not ours, but is God’s flock, and that is no place for anyone to strut or pontificate.

When Archbishop Desmond Tutu confessed “I have a tendency to enjoy the limelight”, he was simply acknowledging the intoxicating power of prominence. A more appropriate

reaction for a follower of Christ is that of William Fletcher. The Swiss-born minister of Madeley in Shropshire was once asked by the King’s secretary which preferment he would like. His answer was simple: “More grace”.

The next quality Peter commends is humility. The young are easily exasperated by those further along the march of the years. Peter calls for mutual respect between the generations. Reminding his readers that “God gives grace to the humble” (v5 and Proverbs 3:34), Peter’s mind drifts back to that humiliating experience in the Upper Room, when Christ took a towel and washed the disciples’ feet (John 13:1–17). “Put on the apron of humility” is Scottish theologian James Moffatt’s inspired interpretation of Peter’s thinking.

Humility is a quality not easily cultivated in these exhibitionist days, with social media tempting many to flaunt even the most modest of achievements. Our subtle human hearts can easily fake humility, and we can rarely spot our own pride. The social campaigner the late Lord Longford failed in that regard when he boasted: “There is only one good book on humility. I wrote it myself!”

The third quality Peter encourages is stability. Dangers abound, and temptation is a constant menace. The Tempter often masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) and, as Eve discovered, his suggestions are so plausible. Eve’s assessment (Genesis 3:6) that the fruit was good for food, pleasing to the eye and productive of wisdom seemed eminently proper, yet led to fatal consequences. Part of being aware of the devil’s schemes is to realise that the “angel of light” can also be a “roaring lion” (v8). Satan is a coward, and resistance is the remedy. As James wrote: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Enabling us to stand firm is “the God of all grace” who will “make you strong” (v10). The Greek word used is the one from which we derive our word ‘steroid’, while the Greek word behind ‘restore’ can refer to the setting of a broken bone, and the repairing of nets. Jay Blades, presenter of BBC One’s The Repair Shop, is not the only one in the repair business. The God of all grace will “himself” restore us, for he is interested in us as individuals, you and me.

The church is not ours, but is God’s flock, and that is no place for anyone to strut or pontificate.

Very Rev Dr David Clarke is a former PCI Moderator and minister emeritus of Terrace Row Presbyterian Church, Coleraine.

To share good news stories from your congregation please send your photographs and details to herald@presbyterianireland.org

Clough congregation expresses thanks

In April, Rev David Bingham, minister of Clough Presbyterian Church in Co Down, presented a painting to Francis Johnston in recognition of his many years of service in various capacities: clerk of session, treasurer and BB captain. Included in the photograph is Mr Johnston’s wife, Hazel.

Celebrating ten years in Trinity, Ahoghill

Recently, the congregation of Trinity, Ahoghill surprised its minister and his wife with gifts to mark his ten years of ministry and to show their appreciation to them both. Pictured are: Rev Brian Smyth (minister of the Co Antrim church), George Knowles (clerk of session) and Pamela Smyth.

100th birthday in Monaghan

Enid Turtle recently celebrated her 100th birthday at a small gathering in Mullinahinch House in Monaghan. Muriel is the widow of the late Rev James Thompson Turtle, minister of 2nd Ballybay Presbyterian for 40 years. Pictured: Dr Mawhinney (PCI Moderator), Mrs Turtle and Rev John O’Donnell (Moderator of Monaghan Presbytery). (Photo credit: Rory Geary)

Long service recognised in Tartaraghan

Rev Philip McKelvey presented gifts to Doreen Collen (right) in recognition of 43 years of faithful service as treasurer in the Co Armagh congregation, and to Eileen Livingston in recognition of 41 years of faithful service as a member of the church committee.

Stonebridge recognises long service

Gerald Mackarel has retired as clerk of session of Stonebridge Presbyterian Church, Co Monaghan, after 30 years. The photo shows Gerald and his wife Doreen being presented with a picture of the church by James McConnell, senior member of Stonebridge. Also in the photo are the other elders from Stonebridge along with the minister, Rev John H Hanson.

50 years marked at Rasharkin

The Co Antrim congregation recently held a service to mark the 50th anniversary of Rev Kennedy being installed as minister of Rasharkin Presbyterian. Jacqueline Steele also received a gift to mark 40 years as a teacher in the Sunday school. Pictured (L–R): Donna Kirkpatrick (Sunday school coordinator), Jacqueline Steele and Rev Alistair Kennedy.

Centenarian at Kilmore

Very Rev Dr Roy Patton and his wife Daphne are pictured with Cecil Orr (member of Kilmore congregation in Co Down) who celebrated his 100th birthday on 26 June 2023. Also included in the picture is Rev Mark Spratt, minister of Kilmore.

Ravenhill congregation celebrates 125 years

Members of Ravenhill congregation in east Belfast gathered together for a special service on 28 May 2023 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the congregation. The all-age service included an account of the church through the years by Ivan Jess, elder emeritus and the author of Centenary History, together with prayers led by members from across the generations.

Badges awarded at Granshaw BB

Granshaw Boys’ Brigade in Co Down recently held its display, with four boys receiving their Queen’s Badges: Jake Daley, Noah Graham, Aaron Shaw, Luke Brown.

Queen’s Badge presented at McQuiston Memorial BB

Three members of the 19th Belfast Company gained their Queen’s Badge at their parents’ night in May. They are (L–R): Aaron Greenwood, Ross Elliott and Michael Greenwood.

Tag good news stories from your congregation on Twitter with #lifeinpci and @pciassembly

Dedication at Loughbrickland

The Co Down congregation recently held a service of dedication for new windows in the church building. The congregation’s choir led the praise, with former minister Rev Dr Colin McClure dedicating the windows. Pictured (L–R): Rev Dr Colin McClure, Rev Patricia McBride (minister of Loughbrickland), Gareth Edgar (Archtec, windows manufacturer) and Raymond Fegan (D7 Property Services, main contractor).

Moderator visits Craigy Hill

The Moderator, Dr Kirkpatrick, opened a new vestibule at Craigy Hill Presbyterian Church, Larne in April. Pictured are: Rev Ben Preston (minister of Craigy Hill), Dr Kirkpatrick and Mr Martin Delaney (assistant minister of Craigy Hill).

New communicants at Irvinestown

Pictured are young people from Irvinestown Presbyterian Church who were received as full members of the congregation at a recent communion service. (L–R): Justin Smith, Kelci Thompson and Charlie Cobane. (Photo courtesy of Norman Donnell, Irvinestown)

Commemorative plaques presented at Upper Cumber

On Sunday 23 April, the Co Londonderry congregation of Upper Cumber presented commemorative plaques to John Haslett for over 40 years’ service stamping the church loyalty cards and as secretary of the Presbyterian Children’s Society. Alan Lindsay was also presented with a plaque to recognise his retirement from the role of clerk of session after 25 years. Also included in the photo is Rev Stephen Hibbert (convener) and Jack McFarland (clerk of session).

First Presbyterian Church, Armagh, celebrates 350th anniversary

First Presbyterian Church, Armagh, recently celebrated its 350th anniversary with a festival of creative displays, entitled ‘350 Years in Scripture, Stitches and Stone’. Pictured after the opening service are members of session and committee: Melanie Houston, Alan Turtle, Norman Shilliday, Ian Kyle (clerk of session) and Sadie Somerville, with Rev Graham Mullan (vacancy convener) and Paul Greenfield (Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council).

LIFE IN PCI

Faithful service at Downpatrick

In May, the congregation of Downpatrick marked with thankfulness the long service of Eleanor Cochrane on the church committee. Eleanor, pictured here with Rev Owen Patterson, minister of Downpatrick, served for many years, wearing many hats in the areas of catering and property finance among other jobs.

Ards Presbytery PW LINK meets

Ards Presbytery PW LINK’s AGM was held in May 2023. Cloughey was chosen as the venue because members there had recently re-formed a PW group. The speaker was Rev Lesley-Ann Wilson, chaplain to Woodlands Youth Justice Centre. She used the story of Zacchaeus to connect this year’s PW theme of ‘Being Transformed’ to her work at Woodlands.

To share good news stories from your congregation please send your photographs and details to herald@presbyterianireland.org

New elder at Ballydown

Dr John Campbell was ordained and installed as a ruling elder in Ballydown in the Presbytery of Iveagh in June. (L–R) Mr Alexander Martin (ruling elder Magherally), Rev Nigel Kane (Magherally), Mr Jim King (clerk of presbytery), Dr John Campbell, Rev Andrew Boreland (moderator of presbytery), Rev Mark McMaw (Tandragee), Rev Liam Rutherford (Ballydown).

Elders ordained at The Mall Armagh

Mr Tommie Savage was one of eight men ordained to the eldership on 15 May 1983 at The Mall Presbyterian Church, Armagh. The congregation continue to give thanks to God for his long and faithful service, especially in the place of prayer. Mr Savage is pictured with Rev Peter Gamble and Mr Colin Berry, clerk of session.

Installation of Rev Emerson McDowell in First Ballymena

Rev Emerson McDowell (middle of front row) was recently installed as minister of First Ballymena Presbyterian Church. He is pictured (L-R) with Rev Norman Cameron (convenor of vacancy), Rev Alistair Bates (moderator of Ballymena Presbytery), Rev Joseph Andrews (clerk of Ballymena Presbytery) and Tom Heaney (clerk of session). Back row (L-R) Colin Patton, Rev Jeffrey Blue, William Smyth, Junior Whyte, Rev Richard Morrison, Mark Hood and Rev Darren McCorriston.

The regulator Ruth Sanderson

Ipopped out for some milk the other day on a fairly typical summer afternoon – i.e. cool and drizzling.

As I walked back down along our high street, two pints of bluetop in hand, I passed a shop that had been a jeweller’s but had closed earlier in the year because of retirement. It was a beautiful shop when it was trading. Gorgeous, elegant necklaces, earrings, cufflinks and bracelets in the window. Small silver boxes and trinkets and a neatly formed display of high-end watches sparkled under the dazzling lights. I had never had reason (sadly) to go in, but I used to admire what was on offer. At Christmas, a miniature railway snaked through the display jewellery, the engine’s gleaming freight carriage laden with tiny, coloured parcels.

For months, it had its window blinds drawn and a sign thanking customers for their loyalty over the previous decades. Yet on the day I passed by, to my amazement, the blinds had been raised, the glass frontage sparkled, the sign had had a lick of paint and in the window sat two pristine, gleaming, antique grandfather clocks. Statuesque and stately and polished to a bright sheen.

A sign read ‘Come in, free exhibition until 4pm’. Despite the milk in hand and an incredibly busy day ahead of me, I couldn’t resist the allure of a nosy.

A bell tinkled above the shop door as I entered, and to my amazement I was transported from an ordinary, damp high street to a mecca of all things horological. There were dozens of tall, grand clocks, lined up throughout a bright, well-lit room peppered with sundials on plinths and a huge Persian rug. On it, raised on a platform, sat a celestial Ptolemaic planetarium – a round, jewelled globe in the centre of a clock and calendar, its gold bands of timekeeping rotating around an intricate circular mechanism. It was made by a 90-year-old clockmaker from Edinburgh. He had spoken a little for the exhibition and said that he was so engrossed with making clocks that he, ironically, hadn’t noticed the passing of time. He said that he started making clock mechanisms when he was 18, looked up and was suddenly 90.

These pieces were not just about telling the time, they were pieces of art; crafted gold mechanisms of such beauty that it’s hard to describe in words. Each part of them moving and rotating in a rhythmic tick, tick, tick. They were all, of course, simply measuring devices, made with such skill to keep track of

the most limited resource we have: time.

Many of the larger clocks had painted faces, depicting ships at sea, the setting sun and rising moon. One had an enamel depiction of a tiny town, with birds slowly moving their way across the sky and dusk falling as the day passed. However, one in particular caught my eye. It was not painted; it was completely plain apart from three clock faces – one for hours, one for minutes and one for seconds. The face simply read ‘Regulator’.

I had never seen a ‘regulator’ before. The man curating the exhibition (himself a horologist) got very excited when I asked him to tell me about it. He explained in some detail the role of the regulator. It was a master clock, by which all other clocks were set. He explained that the fancier clocks all lost time, that many of the superfluous details, such as enamelling and even chiming mechanisms, would throw the clock’s timing off by milliseconds, which would eventually add up to seconds, then minutes. As the winding or metronomic components slowed, they too would lose time. The regulator was free of chimes, pictures, paintings, barometers –anything that might impede perfect timekeeping.

In the past, every town had a clockmaker who would create and fix all the timepieces in the area. Of course, now we have no need for clocks – we have phones, wrist watches, a digital display on the bottom right of our computer screens. Now time is everywhere, but a century ago, there was (if you were well off) one clock in the house. If you were very well off, a grandfather clock. These clocks all had to be set. Yet how would the world operate if everyone kept a slightly different time? And so, the regulator in the clockmaker’s shop window told everyone else what the actual time was. It ruled the hours and minutes and seconds. Another was usually put somewhere public, like a train station or a town hall, so everyone could see the real time and work to the same rhythm.

It struck me as a pretty easy analogy. Christ is our regulator. He sets the correct time for us; he is the perfect measurement against which to set the speed and continuity of our own lives. He came to show us the perfect example, and for us to follow it, to set our clock to his perfect time, as it were. How often do we feel ‘out of time’ in our faith, as though we aren’t keeping in step as we should? How fortunate for us that we can look at the regulator and keep in time with him.

Christ is our regulator… He came to show us the perfect example…

CARRYDUFF PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

seeks to appoint a

FULL TIME FAMILY WORKER

The person appointed will be a committed Christian with an evangelical outlook. The work will involve efforts to reach families in the community and assisting with congregational duties and church organizational work involving children and families.

Applicants should possess and be capable of demonstrating effective communicative and interpersonal skills relevant to families, children and young people.

A minimum of two years’ experience in paid employment of family, children’s and/or youth work is essential.

For further information and an application form please contact:Rev A.S. Smyth, 1 Manse Gardens, Carryduff, BT8 8SB Tel: (028) 9081 2232. Email: a.smyth@hotmail.co.uk

The closing date for receipt of a completed application form is Friday, 29 September 2023.

CROSSWORD

1 Paul wrote to these Greek Believers twice (11)

2 Salve (8)

3 Coffee chain (9)

4 That’s strange (3)

5 This could describe Satan (9)

6 More than one or two (7)

7 Frequently experienced on the Sea of Galilee (6)

13 Conflict (3)

16 A prefix (2)

19 Shiny (6)

20 Large Asian country (5)

21 Teacher (5)

23 Desire (4)

24 King Charles may be known by these initials (3)

25 Short sibling (3)

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Harvest

Flower Festival

“PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING”

Friday 29 September – Sunday 1 October 2023

Friday 29 September 2pm–7pm

Saturday 30 September 11am–6pm

Sunday 1 October 2pm–5pm

Closing Harvest Service

Sunday 1 October at 7.30pm

Refreshments available – Group Bookings essential

Contact – Alison Lyster

Tel 00353 86 8368638

Email alisonlyster@yahoo.co.uk

Clontibret Presbyterian Church Braddox, Monaghan, Co Monaghan. H18 V340

22 Dec 2024

DONATION ENVELOPES

Church Envelopes

Only buy the envelope numbers that you need

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THE CASE STUDY

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This congregation saved £515!

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Tricord 3A Ballygowan Road, Hillsborough BT26 6HX DONVELOPE.NET

MILLISLE AND BALLYCOPELAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

250th ANNIVERSARY

Flower Festival

Friday 24th May 2024

Satur day 25th May 2024

Sunday 26th May 2024

10-00am - 8-00pm

10-00am - 8-00pm 2-00pm - 5-00pm

T hanksgiving Ser vice Sunday 6pm

Other local attractions include:

Eden Pottery

Mount Stewart House & Gardens

Ballycopeland Windmill

Refreshments, Morning Coffee, Light Lunches, Afternoon teas to 7-30pm

Group bookings essential for further catering contact

Patrica Lightbody Mob: 07912449690

Proceeds in aid of Church Funds

“WALKING BY FAITH”

CHURCH RECORD

VACANT CONGREGATIONS, MODERATORS AND CLERKS OF KIRK SESSIONS

(Information supplied by clerks of presbyteries, conveners of Assembly commissions and councils.)

1. LEAVE TO CALL GRANTED

Application forms are available on request from the Clerk’s Office or may be downloaded from the PCI website.

BALLYALBANY and GLENNAN:

REV D.T.R. EDWARDS: (Ballyalbany) Mr Sam Condell, Billary, Smithborough, Co Monaghan. (Glennan) Dr Michael Wallace, 8 Fellows Grange, Fellows Hall Road, Killylea, Co Armagh, BT60 4LR.

BALLYNURE:

REV D.J. KELLY: Mr George Clarke, Kinnen House, 70 Ballyvallagh Road, Gleno, BT40 3NA.

BALLYRONEY and DRUMLEE: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years)

REV GEORGE McCLELLAND: (Ballyroney) Mr David Peters, 30 Seafin Road, Ballyroney, Banbridge, BT32 5ER. (Drumlee) Mr Graham Truesdale, 128 Lackan Road, Ballyward, Castlewellan, BT31 9RX.

CARNLOUGH-CUSHENDALL and NEWTOWNCROMMELIN: (Reviewable Tenure – 5 years 70% Part Time Ministry)

REV J.A. BEATTIE: (Carnlough-Cushendall) Mr Norman McMullan, 91 Ballymena Road, Carnlough, BT44 0LA. (Newtowncrommelin) Mr James Gillan, 67 Gracefield, Ballymena, BT42 2RP.

CLONTIBRET and MIDDLETOWN: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years)

REV J.H. HANSON: (Clontibret) Mr S.R. Gray, Legnacrieve, Castleshane, Co Monaghan, H18 DN20. (Middletown) Mr David McElnea, 45 Madden Road, Armagh, BT60 3LJ.

DROMORE, FIRST:

REV ANDREW FAULKNER: Mr John Wilkinson, 10 Island Hill, Dromara Road, BT25 1HA.

DUNFANAGHY and CARRIGART: (Home Mission) 50% Congregational Ministry, 50% CMI Mission Project

REV T.J. BRUCE: (Dunfanaghy) Mrs Ethel Montgomery, ‘Millrace’, Marble Hill Road, Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal, F92 N2WO. (Carrigart) Mrs Joy Buchanan, Figart, Carrigart, Co Donegal, F92 N2WO.

ENNISKILLEN:

REV G.M. ANDRICH: Miss Kate Doherty, Tiernisk, Drumgay, Enniskillen, BT74 4GH.

FAHAN (Home Mission) 50% Congregational Ministry, 50% CMI Mission

Duties: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years)

REV P POOTS: Mr James Lamberton, 1 Deanfield, Limavady Road, Londonderry, BT47 6HY.

GARDENMORE:

REV B.S. PRESTON: Dr Philip Shepherd, 1 Huntersbuoy Lane, Larne, BT40 2HH.

GARVAGH, MAIN ST and KILLAIG:

REV KNOX JONES: (Garvagh, Main St) Mr Alan Farlow, 39 Ballynameen Road, Garvagh, BT51 5PN. (Killaig) Mr Ivan McKane, 27 Cashel Road, Macosquin, Coleraine, BT51 4PW.

HILLTOWN and CLONDUFF: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years)

REV KENNETH NELSON: (Hilltown) Mr John Ervine, 51 Rostrevor Road, Hilltown, Newry, BT34 5TZ. (Clonduff) Mr Cecil Brown, 39 Bannfield Road, Rathfriland, Newry, BT34 5HG.

McQUISTON MEMORIAL: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years)

REV DR COLIN BURCOMBE: Mr Ken Galbraith, 14 Millars Forge, Dundonald, Belfast, BT16 1UT.

RALOO and MAGHERAMORNE: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years)

REV DR CECIL GRANT: (Raloo) Mr Geoff McBride, 72 Raloo Road, Larne, BT40 3DU. (Magheramorne) Mr Morris Gardner, 89 Ballypollard Road, Magheramorne, Larne, BT40 3JG.

RATHFRILAND, FIRST:

REV C.G. HARRIS: Mr David Scott, 13 Sleepy Valley, Rathfriland, Newry, BT34 5HL.

STRABANE and SION MILLS: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years)

REV P.B. HOUSTON: (Strabane) Mr William Watson, 44 Orchard Road, Strabane, BT82 9QS. (Sion Mills) Mr Colin Campbell, 26 Albert Place, Sion Mills, Strabane, BT82 9HN.

WARINGSTOWN:

REV R.L. BROWN: Mr David Crawford, 148 Avenue Road, Lurgan, BT66 7BJ.

2. LEAVE TO CALL DEFERRED

CLADYMORE and TASSAGH:

REV R.I. ABRAHAM: (Cladymore) Mr David Wilson, 73 Kilmachugh Road, Mowhan, Armagh, BT60 2EN. (Tassagh) Mr Philip Crozier, 68 Bachelors Walk, Keady, Armagh, BT60 2NA.

DROMORE and DRUMQUIN:

REV E.T. FRAZER: (Dromore) Mr Lynden Keys, 25 New Park Road, Dromore, Omagh, BT78 3JU. (Drumquin) Dr Paul Booth, 231 Tummery Road, Irvinestown, BT78 3UF.

GORTNESSY:

REV COLIN McKIBBIN: Mr Ross Hyndman, 32 Temple Road, Strathfoyle, Londonderry, BT47 6UB.

RICHVIEW:

REV N.S. HARRISON: Mr Victor Garland, 25 Abingdon Drive, Belfast, BT12 5PX.

SETTLED STATED SUPPLY APPOINTED

BALLINDERRY:

VERY REV DR W.J. HENRY, Minister of Maze.

BOVEEDY:

REV DR T.J. McCORMICK, Minister of 1st Kilrea.

CAHIR: (Home Mission)

REV WILLIAM MONTGOMERY, Minister of Fermoy.

KATESBRIDGE:

REV N.J. KANE, Minister of Magherally.

TYRONE’S DITCHES:

REV J.K.A. McINTYRE, Minister of Bessbrook.

3. DECLARED VACANT

ARMAGH, FIRST:

REV G.R. MULLAN: Mr Ian Kyle, 8 Drummanmore Road, Armagh, BT61 8RN.

ARMAGH ROAD, PORTADOWN:

REV N. McCULLOUGH: Dr David Lowry, 5 Ridgeway Park South, Portadown, BT62 3DG.

BALLEE:

REV T. P. McCULLOUGH: Mr John Quigley, 81 Queen’s Avenue, Magherafelt, BT45 6DB.

BALLINA, KILLALA and BALLYMOTE: (Home Mission)

REV D.J. CLARKE: Mr Geoffrey Shannon, Robin Hill, Carraun, Corballa, Ballina, Co Mayo, F26 A070.

BALLYCASTLE and CROAGHMORE:

REV DR ANDRE ALVES-AREIAS: (Ballycastle) Pat Shirley, 22 Dunamallaght Rd, Ballycastle BT54 6PB. (Croaghmore) Andy McGugan, 158 Whitepark Road, Bushmills, BT57 8SS.

BALLYLINNEY:

REV MARK RUSSELL: Dr Michael McBrien, 24 Lylehill Green, Templepatrick, BT39 0BF.

BALLYNAHATTY, CREEVAN and FINTONA:

REV JONATHAN COWAN: (Ballynahatty & Creevan) Mr John Nevin, 116A Clanabogan Road, Omagh, BT78 1SN. (Fintona) Mr Keith Boland, 119 Blackhill road, Fintona, Omagh, BT78 2LN.

BANAGHER:

REV DAVID BROWNLOW: Mr Ivan J Montgomery, 66 Teenaght Road, Claudy, BT47 4DD.

BELLAGHY and KNOCKLOUGHRIM:

REV J.B. MULLAN: (Bellaghy) Mr Harry Ferson, 12 Railway Terrace, Castledawson, Magherafelt, BT45 8AY. (Knockloughrim) Mr Wilbur Bownes, 10 Meadowell Fold, Westland Gardens, Magherafelt, BT45 5DP.

BELVOIR:

REV B.J. WALKER: Mr Brian Dunwoody, 19 Drumart Drive, Belfast, BT8 7ET.

Editor’s Note: Information for this page is supplied by the General Secretary’s Department. Vacancies for conveners of commissions, councils and committees of the General Assembly are online at www.presbyterianireland.org/convenerships

Clerks of presbytery please note: Only material received by the General Secretary’s Department by noon on the first Friday of the month can be included in the Church Record.

BUSHMILLS:

VERY REV DR D.I.J. McNIE: Rev Martin Gracey, 6 Bush Crescent, Bushmills, BT57 8AJ.

CASTLEDERG FIRST and KILLETER:

REV R.A. ORR: (First Castlederg) Mr Robert Rutledge, 36 Ednagee Road, Castlederg, BT81 7RD. (Killeter) Mr Robert McKelvey, 17 Carrickadartans Road, Castlederg, BT81 7NQ.

CASTLEDERG, SECOND AND URNEY:

REV DAVID REID: (Second Castlederg) Mr Bert Huey, Tossa, 8 Listymore Road, Castlederg, BT81 7JG. (Urney) Mr Norman McMullan, 80 Orchard Road, Strabane, BT82 9QT.

CASTLEROCK:

REV D.H. BROWN: Miss Heather McSparran, 26 Freehall Road, Castlerock, BT51 4TR.

CRUMLIN:

REV BEN JOHNSTON: Mr James Livingstone, “Edin”, 56 Largy Road, Crumlin, BT29 4RW.

CUMBER and UPPER CUMBER:

REV S.W. HIBBERT: (Cumber) Mr Cecil Pollock, 248 Tamnaherin Road, Londonderry, BT47 3LY. (Upper Cumber) Mr Jack McFarland, 12 Cregg Road, Claudy, Londonderry, BT47 4HX.

DROMARA, SECOND:

REV D.H. GILPIN: Mr Herbert Chambers, 29 Stewarts Road, Dromara, BT25 2AN.

DUNDROD:

REV R.C. KERR: Mr William McClure, 20 Thorndale Road, Dundrod, BT29 4UD.

ENNISCORTHY and WEXFORD: (Home Mission)

REV M.R.J. ANDERSON: (Enniscorthy) Mr Ian Gibson “Tanglewood”, Monart, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. (Wexford) c/o Mr Ian Gibson.

GLASCAR and DONAGHMORE:

REV M. McMAW: (Glascar) Mr Alan Little, 38 Loughbrickland Road, Rathfriland, Newry, BT34 5HF. (Donaghmore) Mr David Shilliday, 21 Cargabane Road, Donaghmore, Newry, BT34 1SB.

GLASTRY and KIRKCUBBIN:

REV A. GILICZE: Mr James McClements.

GREAT VICTORIA STREET:

REV ALISTAIR BILL: Mr Colin Houston, 23 Beechgrove Avenue, BT6 0ND.

HYDEPARK and LYLEHILL:

REV C.K. McDOWELL: (Hydepark) Mrs Lynas Alexander, 22 Broadacres, Templepatrick, BT39 0AY.

KELLS: (Home Mission)

REV ALAN McQUADE: Miss Ruth McCartney, Shancarnan, Moynalty, Kells, Co Meath, A82 PF60.

KILMAKEE:

REV ROBERT LOVE: Miss Aileen Irvine, 5 Aberdelghy Park, Lambeg, Lisburn, BT27 4QF.

KILREA, SECOND:

REV DR CLIVE GLASS: Mr John McIlrath, 9 Moyagoney Road, Kilrea, Coleraine, BT51 5SX.

LOUGHALL and TARTARAGHAN:

REV ALASTAIR McNEELY: (Loughgall) Mr James MacQueen (need address) (Tartaraghan) Mr Norman Cornett, 11 Cloncarrish Road, Portadown, Craigavon, BT62 1RN.

MONEYDIG:

REV DR S.D.H. WILLIAMSON: Mr Steven Torrens, 115a Agivey Road, Kilrea, Coleraine, BT51 5UZ.

NEWINGTON:

REV DR I.D. NEISH: Mr John Lynass, 8 Bushfoot Park, Portballintrae, BT57 8YX.

NEWTOWNARDS, SECOND:

REV C.W. JACKSON: Mr Ivan Patterson, 11 Heron Crescent, Newtownards, BT23 8WH.

NEWTOWNBREDA:

REV ANDY GALBRAITH: Sir Bruce Robinson, 3 Deramore Drive, Belfast, BT9 5JQ.

PORTAVOGIE:

REV G.J SIMPSON: Mr Trevor Kennedy, 1 Cairndore Road, Newtownards, BT23 8RD.

RANDALSTOWN, O.C.:

REV G. MOORE: Mr Alun Coulter, 48 Portglenone Road, Randalstown, BT41 3DB.

RASHARKIN:

REV A.J. McCRACKEN: Mr Norbury Royle, 96 Drumsaragh Road, Kilrea, BT51 5XR.

RATHCOOLE:

REV A. CARSON: Mr Norman Creaney, 7 Coolshannagh Park, Newtownabbey, BT37 9LA.

RATHGAR – CHRIST CHURCH:

REV DR S. MAWHINNEY: Mr Paul Fry, 44 Monolea Wood, Firhouse, Dublin 24, D24 A2V3.

RAVENHILL:

REV J. WARBURTON: Mr Denis Marriott, 216 Orby Drive, Belfast, BT5 6BE.

TULLYCARNET:

REV R.S.J. McILHATTON:

VINECASH:

REV P.W.A. McCLELLAND: Mr Thomas Graham, 38 Richmount, Portadown, BT62 4JQ.

WARRENPOINT and ROSTREVOR:

REV J.S. MAGUIRE: (Warrenpoint) Mr Denis Brady, 28 Seaview, Warrenpoint, Newry, BT34 3NJ. (Rostrevor) Mr Terry O’Flynn, 15 Aurora Na Mara, Shore Road, Rostrevor, BT34 3UP.

WATERSIDE:

REV RICHARD TREGASKIS: Mr William McIlwaine, 19 Glenaden Hill, Altnagelvin Park, Londonderry, BT47 2LJ.

TEMPORARY STATED SUPPLY ARRANGEMENT

BALLYCAIRN:

REV MORRIS GAULT: Mr Brian Milligan, 19 Glenariff Drive, Dunmurry, BT17 9AZ.

BELLVILLE:

REV D.S. HENRY: Mr Mervyn King, 29 Ardmore Road, Derryadd, Lurgan, BT66 6QP. GRANGE with CRAIGMORE:

REV R.S AGNEW: Mr Jamie Harris, 32 Portglenone Road, Randalstown, BT41 3BE. NEWTOWNSTEWART and GORTIN (Home Mission):

REV JONATHAN COWAN: (Newtownstewart) Mr James Baxter, 22 Strabane Road, Newtownstewart, Omagh, BT78 4BD. (Gortin) Mr Adrian Adams, 32 Lisnaharney Road, Lislap, Omagh, BT79 7UE.

SPA and MAGHERAHAMLET:

REV DAVID BINGHAM: (Spa) Acting Clerk - Mr Stephen McBride, 28 Ballynahinch Road, Castlewellan, BT31 9PA. (Magherahamlet) Mr David Whan, 74 Castlewellan Road, Dromara, BT25 2JN.

WHITEHEAD:

REV D. CROMIE: Ms Helen Graham, 4 Kilcarn, Islandmagee, BT40 3PJ.

THE ELDERSHIP

Ordained and Installed:

DONACLONEY: Wayne Buttery, Brian Turkington

HILL STREET, LURGAN: Glenn Barbour, David McReynolds

JERRETTSPASS: Ian Copeland, Andy McComb

KINGSMILLS: Andy Cartmill, David Ferris, Kenneth Herron, Alan King

Installed

HILL STREET, LURGAN: Lewis Porter

Died:

DONAGHEADY: Ian Donnell

NEWTOWNCUNNINGHAM: Ian Edwards

CHURCH RECORD

continued from page 61

THE MINISTRY

Licensed:

Stephen Cairns, by North Belfast Presbytery on 25 June 2023

Matthew Houston, by Ballymena Presbytery on 18 June 2023

Joshua McCance, by Dublin and Munster Presbytery on 18 June 2023

Scott McMenemy, by Armagh Presbytery on 11 June 2023

Graeme Read, by Omagh Presbytery on 2 July 2023

Ordained and Installed:

Samuel Bostock, as Minister of First Saintfield on 27 June 2023

John McCracken, as Minister of Lowe Memorial on 18 June 2023

Installed:

Ashley Graham, as Minister of Union Road, Magherafelt and Lecumpher on 16 June 2023

William Harkness, as Minister of Belmont on 15 June 2023

Resigned:

Ashley Graham, as Minister of Banagher on 15 June 2023

William Harkness, as Minister of Great Victoria Street on 14 June 2023

Retired:

Colin Morrison, as Minister of Eglington on 30 June 2023

Died:

David Henry (Harry) Allen, Minister Emeritus of New Row, Coleraine on 21 June 2023

John Maddock, Minister Emeritus of Carryduff, Belfast on 15 July 2023

CLASSIFIEDS

Please note: Adverts must be received in writing (email or post) by the first of the month preceding publication to guarantee inclusion. Adverts received after that date will be published if space permits. Advertising rates can be found on the website –www.presbyterianireland.org/herald – or telephone the Herald office on +44 (0)28 9032 2284 for more information.

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