Minutes of the General Assembly 2017
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2017 2017 MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND STATISTICS OF THE Presbyterian Church in Ireland BELFAST, 2017 CONTENTS MINUTES OF ASSEMBLY, JUNE, 2017 Monday ..................................................................................... 1 Tuesday...................................................................................... 18 Wednesday ................................................................................. 29 Thursday .................................................................................... 47 Friday......................................................................................... 53 Changes in the Code .............................................................................. 71 _____________ STATISTICS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Presbytery and Congregational Statistics ............................................... 85 Ecclesiastical Changes ........................................................................... 131 Form of Bequest ..................................................................................... 131 Index of Minutes and Statistics .............................................................. 133 Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC104483) Registered Charity in Republic of Ireland (20015695) BELFAST, 2017 BELFAST, 2017 1 MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE General Assembly OF THE Presbyterian Church in Ireland Held at Belfast, June, 2017 FIRST SESSION Monday, 5th June, 2017 7.00 pm Within Church House The Right Rev Dr FP Sellar, Moderator of the General Assembly, welcomed, on behalf of the Assembly, the Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, representatives of sister Churches, of educational and community organisations, and other special guests present. The Moderator led in public worship, expressing thanks for the help he had received during his year in office. After delivering an address he constituted the Assembly with prayer. The Rev TD Gribben, Clerk of Assembly, announced that the names of 579 ministers being ex officio members and 442 elders on whose behalf commissions had been received, had been entered on the Roll of the Assembly, together with 41 Assembly Elders, Conveners and nominees of the General Assembly Nominations Committee. In addition 248 people in various categories, not 2 MINUTES members of the court, have been invited to sit and deliberate, 17 of whom are from other Churches. The following Ministers and Ruling Elders were present at the Annual Meeting:- BELFAST ASSEMBLY 1. ARDS PRESBYTERY Ministers Ruling Elders Congregations Dr. W.P. Addley .................... .............................................. Theological Professor W.T. Cordner ....................... .............................................. First Bangor Dr. D.J. Watts ....................... .............................................. Clerk of Assembly Dr. S.N. Williams ................. +Mrs. J. Mann ...................... Theological Professor R.J. Montgomery ................. .............................................. Trinity, Bangor T.W.D. Johnston ................... Miss V. Steele ....................... Hamilton Rd., Bangor Dr. R.A. Patton ..................... J. Adamson ........................... Ballygilbert S.A. Little ............................. .............................................. Shore Street, Donaghadee C.W. Megaw ........................ W. Pollock ............................ Helen’s Bay .............................................. C. Graham ............................ First Newtownards N.W. McAuley ..................... .............................................. Greenwell St., Newtownards C.J.C. McMullen .................. .............................................. West Church, Bangor W.G. Cameron ...................... .............................................. Glastry -do- ....................................... .............................................. Kirkcubbin J.M. Wade ............................ G. Mawhinney ...................... Portavogie D. Stanfield .......................... +S. Dalzell ............................ First Bangor Associate .............................................. Miss A. Lang ....................... First Bangor J.H. Flaherty ......................... T. Jenkins.............................. Millisle and Ballycopeland P.C. Lyle ............................... J. Luke .................................. Ballyholme Dr. W.J.P. Bailie ................... +B. Knox .............................. Mission Africa R.J. Stevenson ...................... J. Brown ............................... Carrowdore and Ballyfrenis M. Henderson ....................... .............................................. Chaplain to the Forces G.J. Kennedy ........................ .............................................. Ballygrainey J.M. Browne ......................... J. Gibson ............................... First Donaghadee L. Wilson .............................. Ms. F. Blair ........................... Ballycrochan T.J. McConaghie .................. Mrs. E.M. Savage ................. Conlig N.D.H. Stewart ..................... R. Walker .............................. Greyabbey A.J. Galbraith ....................... +Ms. V. Scott ........................ West Church, Bangor Associate A Ditty .................................. Mrs. A. McCullough ............ Scrabo G.J. Simpson ........................ A. Boyd ................................ Ballywalter M.A. Johnston ...................... A. Briggs .............................. St. Andrew’s, Bangor J.P. McWatters ...................... J. Black ................................. Strean, Newtownards R. Hamilton .......................... B. Turtle ............................... Movilla .............................................. J. Crawford ........................... Regent St., Newtownards .............................................. D. Carson ............................. Trinity, Bangor .............................................. .............................................. Cloughey + = Elders appointed by Presbytery * - Representative Elders from another Congregation BELFAST, 2017 3 2. ARMAGH PRESBYTERY Ministers Ruling Elders Congregations Dr. J. Thompson ................... .............................................. The Mall, Armagh T.A. Moore ........................... .............................................. Hill Street, Lurgan J. Gordon .............................. .............................................. Second Keady; Drumhillery D.R. Byers ............................ .............................................. Cladymore; Tassagh Dr. J.S. Carson ..................... +G. Kennedy ........................ Theological Principal A.D. Davidson ..................... L. Crowe ............................... First Armagh .............................................. M. Graham ........................... Armagh Road, Portadown R.L. Brown........................... R. Dowey ............................. First Portadown R.I.A. Allely ......................... .............................................. Craigavon; Vinecash T.A. McNeely ....................... .............................................. Richhill E.P. Gamble .......................... W.H. Scott ............................ The Mall, Armagh D.J. Hutchinson .................... .............................................. Moy; Benburb N.J. McCullough .................. K. Belshaw ........................... Hill Street, Lurgan P.D. Thompson ..................... M. Hamilton ......................... Waringstown S.D. Finlay ........................... T. Edgar ................................ Druminnis -do- ....................................... .............................................. Redrock .............................................. T. Canning ............................ First Lurgan P.L. McKelvey ..................... J. MacQueen ......................... Loughgall -do- ....................................... N. Cornett ............................. Tartaraghan B. Reid ................................. .............................................. Caledon -do- ....................................... .............................................. Minterburn I. Thompson ......................... H. Dunwoody ...................... Lislooney -do- ....................................... .............................................. Knappagh L.W. Webster ........................ .............................................. Craigavon S.M. Hamilton ...................... .............................................. Cladymore -do- ....................................... .............................................. Tassagh Dr. M.C. Cowan ................... .............................................. Theological Lecturer .............................................. J. Whittle .............................. Vinecash .............................................. J.M. Woolsey ........................ Ahorey .............................................. J. Mason ............................... Clare .............................................. D. Riddell ............................. Moy 3. BALLYMENA PRESBYTERY Ministers Ruling Elders Congregations Dr. R.E.H. Uprichard ........... .............................................. Trinity, Ahoghill Dr. J.M. Finlay ..................... .............................................. Harryville, Ballymena J.J. Andrews ......................... J. Lamont .............................