2015 2015 MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE Presbyterian Church in Ireland BELFAST, 2015 CONTENTS MINUTES OF ASSEMBLY, JUNE, 2015 Monday ..................................................................................... 1 Tuesday...................................................................................... 19 Wednesday ................................................................................. 32 Thursday .................................................................................... 55 Changes in the Code .............................................................................. 79 _____________ STATISTICS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Presbytery and Congregational Statistics ............................................... 105 Ecclesiastical Changes ........................................................................... 151 Form of Bequest ..................................................................................... 151 Index of Minutes and Statistics .............................................................. 153 BELFAST, 2015 BELFAST, 2015 Daily Minutes 1 MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE General Assembly OF THE Presbyterian Church in Ireland Held at Belfast, June, 2015 FIRST SESSION Monday, 1st June, 2015 7.00 pm Within Church House The Right Rev Dr Michael A Barry, Moderator of the General Assembly, led in public worship and addressed those present before constituting the Assembly with prayer. The Clerk reported that the names of 624 ministers and 452 commissioned elders have been entered on the Roll, together with 44 Assembly Elders, Conveners and nominees of the General Assembly Nominations Committee. In addition, 188 people have been invited to sit and deliberate, 16 of whom are from other Churches. The following Ministers and Ruling Elders were present at the Annual Meeting:- 2 BELFAST, 2015 BELFAST ASSEMBLY 1. ARDS PRESBYTERY Ministers Ruling Elders Congregations D. Johnston ............................. ................................................. First Newtownards Dr. W.P. Addley ....................... ................................................. Theological Professor W.T. Cordner .......................... ................................................. First Bangor Dr. D.J. Watts .......................... ................................................. Clerk of Assembly Dr. D.R. Purce ......................... Ms. E. Nixon ........................... Groomsport Dr. R.A. Russell ...................... ................................................. Ballywalter ................................................. +Mrs. J. Mann ......................... Theological Professor ................................................. D. Carson ................................. Trinity, Bangor T.W.D. Johnston ...................... G. Nesbitt ................................ Hamilton Rd., Bangor Dr. R.A. Patton ........................ J. Adamson .............................. Ballygilbert S.A. Little ................................ ................................................. Shore Street, Donaghadee C.W. Megaw ........................... Mrs. A. Murray ........................ Helen’s Bay ................................................. C. Graham ............................... First Newtownards W.J. Carlisle ............................ B. Turtle ................................... Movilla C.J.C. McMullen ..................... Mrs. J. Richardson ................... West Church, Bangor W.G. Cameron ......................... J. McClements ........................ Glastry -do- .......................................... ................................................. Kirkcubbin J.M. Wade ............................... ................................................. Portavogie Dr. W.J.A. Sleith ..................... J. Crawford .............................. Regent St., Newtownards Mairisine Stanfield .................. ................................................. First Bangor J.H. Flaherty ............................ T. Jenkins ................................. Millisle & Ballycopeland P.C. Lyle .................................. Ms. H. Millar ........................... Ballyholme Dr. W.J.P. Bailie ...................... ................................................. Mission Africa R.J. Stevenson ......................... J. Brown .................................. Carrowdore & Ballyfrenis G.J. Kennedy ........................... Ms. V. Scott ............................. Ballygrainey S.J. Castles .............................. ................................................. Lisnabreen T.J. McConaghie ..................... Ms. E. Savage .......................... Conlig G. McConville ......................... ................................................. Chaplain to the Forces N.D.H. Stewart ........................ ................................................. Greyabbey A Ditty ..................................... J. Doherty ................................ Scrabo ................................................. K. Hughes ................................ Cloughey ................................................. A. Boyd ................................... Ballywalter ................................................. T. Shaw .................................... Ballycrochan ................................................. T. Johnston .............................. First Donaghadee ................................................. S. Faloon.................................. Strean, Newtownards ................................................. A. Briggs ................................. St. Andrew’s, Bangor 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 BELFAST, 2015 Daily Minutes 3 C.G. Harris .............................. J.F. Sandford ............................ Ahorey -do- .......................................... N.H. Cully ............................... Clare Dr. J.S. Carson ........................ ................................................. Theological Principal A.D. Davidson ........................ I. Stevenson ............................. First Armagh ................................................. I. Connor.................................. Armagh Road, Portadown R.I.A. Allely ............................ ................................................. Craigavon; Vinecash T.A. McNeely .......................... O. Milligan .............................. Richhill E.P. Gamble ............................. T.H. Savage ............................. The Mall, Armagh D.J. Hutchinson ....................... D. Riddell ................................ Moy -do- .......................................... ................................................. Benburb N.J. McCullough ..................... K. Belshaw .............................. Hill Street, Lurgan S.D. Finlay .............................. ................................................. Druminnis -do- .......................................... ................................................. Redrock D.S. Henry .............................. Mrs. R. Spence ........................ First Lurgan P.L. McKelvey ........................ J. MacQueen ............................ Loughgall -do- .......................................... N. Cornett ................................ Tartaraghan B. Reid .................................... ................................................. Caledon -do- .......................................... ................................................. Minterburn I. Thompson ............................ ................................................. First Keady -do- .......................................... ................................................. Armaghbrague Dr. M. McClenahan ................. ................................................. Lislooney -do- .......................................... J. Rollston ................................ Knappagh L.W. Webster ........................... A. Simms ................................. Craigavon S.M. Hamilton ......................... W. Porter .................................. Cladymore -do- .......................................... Ms. M. McGuinness ................ Tassagh ................................................. D. Flannigan ............................ First Portadown _________________________________________________________________ 3. BALLYMENA PRESBYTERY Ministers Ruling Elders Congregations W.J.A. Armstrong .................... ................................................. Second Broughshane Dr. R.E.H. Uprichard .............. ................................................. Trinity, Ahoghill Dr. J.M. Finlay ........................ ................................................. Harryville, Ballymena D. Knowles ............................. ................................................. Grange with Craigmore J.J. Andrews ............................ J. Lamont ................................. Ballee W.F. Dickey ............................. A. McRobert ...........................