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10/09/2007
Free Presbyterian Political Ties Tested
The Rev. Ian Paisley has announced that he is to stand down as moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church in January.
The announcement followed a five-hour meeting of the church's presbytery on Friday.
However, the end of Rev. Paisley's tenure as head of the church has thrown into sharp relief the tensions within Free Presbyterianism.
A statement by 'Concerned Free Presbyterians' said that they now hoped to dissociate the church from its political links.
The Rev. Ian Paisley, who is First Minister in the Stormont executive, has served as moderator for over 50 years, and will remain a Free Presbyterian minister. He is head of the Democratic Unionist Party, currently the largest unionist group in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
In a sermon delivered on Sunday, Rev. Paisley admitted that the church was facing a "very real crisis," but he said he would pray to be able to preach until the end of his days.
(SP/KMcA)
The announcement followed a five-hour meeting of the church's presbytery on Friday.
However, the end of Rev. Paisley's tenure as head of the church has thrown into sharp relief the tensions within Free Presbyterianism.
A statement by 'Concerned Free Presbyterians' said that they now hoped to dissociate the church from its political links.
The Rev. Ian Paisley, who is First Minister in the Stormont executive, has served as moderator for over 50 years, and will remain a Free Presbyterian minister. He is head of the Democratic Unionist Party, currently the largest unionist group in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
In a sermon delivered on Sunday, Rev. Paisley admitted that the church was facing a "very real crisis," but he said he would pray to be able to preach until the end of his days.
(SP/KMcA)
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New Presbyterian moderator is named
The Reverend David Clarke of Terrace Row Church in Coleraine has been named as the new moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The 59-year-old, who is originally from Ballymena, received 14 votes out of the 21 Presbyteries who took part in yesterday's election.
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06 August 2015
Call For Free Vote Regarding Same-Sex Marriage
There are reports that two churches in Northern Ireland have called for the region's politicians to be allowed a free vote regarding same-sex marriage. It is understood representatives from both the Catholic church and Presbyterian church have said party whips should be removed on the issue when it is next debated at Stormont.
Call For Free Vote Regarding Same-Sex Marriage
There are reports that two churches in Northern Ireland have called for the region's politicians to be allowed a free vote regarding same-sex marriage. It is understood representatives from both the Catholic church and Presbyterian church have said party whips should be removed on the issue when it is next debated at Stormont.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
