Presbyterian Herald June 2025

JUNE 2025

Entering a new chapter

CARING IN GOD’S WORLD

Amelie Gray wins the Moderator’s art competition

GO MAKE DISCIPLES…

FAILURES OR EXAMPLES?

Equipping young people for ministry Challenging our attitudes to poverty

rs: Speake Rick Hill t righ Chris W key Dai Han rry e Sam Alb

05-11 JULY 2025 At this year’s Keswick at Portstewart we are going to dive into the theme of being Sent. Join us as we marvel at Jesus, the One Sent for us, and the One who Sends us to make Him known.

CONTENTS | JUNE 2025

FEATURES 12 Reaching out in Londonderry Caring for Ukrainians

14 Looking to the future with hope Interview with PCI’s new Moderator

18 Introducing Chris Wright

Speaker at PCI’s creation care conference

20 Memoir of Operation Underhill, Gaza

A chaplain’s story of sharing Jesus

22 Revitalisation in Craigavon A reviving reconfiguration process

30 Helping churches in their life and witness Supporting the development of congregational life

Reaching out in Londonderry p12

34 A lasting legacy

Remembering the life of Dr William Rutherford

38 Being brave and kind

How to engage well with culture

40 Pioneering professor honoured

Blue Plaque celebrates Dame Louise McIlroy Revitalisation in Craigavon p22

REGULARS

4 5 6 7 8 9 24 33 37 42 44 47

CONTRIBUTORS

Letters Culture Watch News Life lessons In this month My story Mission articles Norman Hamilton Tommy Bruce Reviews Life in PCI Ruth Sanderson

Cover photo: Press Eye June 2025 No. 869 £2.20/€2.60 Published by: The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Assembly Buildings, Belfast BT1 6DW. T: +44 (0)28 9032 2284 E: herald@presbyterianireland.org W: www.presbyterianireland.org

Being brave and kind p38

Will Leitch is a journalist and broadcaster who spent 33 years with the BBC. He serves as an elder at Knock Presbyterian Church.

Rev James Burnett is the principal and CEO of Belfast School of Theology, part-time chaplain to HMS Hibernia, and a member of Orangefield Presbyterian.

Peter Lynas is UK director at the Evangelical Alliance and co-leads the Being Human project. He’s a former barrister who is married to Rose and has two daughters.

Mark Smith is PCI’s press and media officer. Married to Debbie, they have one teenage daughter and worship at Bloomfield Presbyterian.

Editor: Sarah Harding

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 Subscriptions and Advertising: 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 Edward Connolly; Hazel Gilliland does not imply endorsement of the goods or services. Advertising will not be Design and Layout: included if the product or service is deemed to be in conflict with the Church’s Edward Connolly official views, or if it is inappropriate for a church magazine. It is not Herald policy Printing: to include any editorial content along with adverts. The editor reserves the right W & G Baird Ltd 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.

FSC LOGO

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

Herald June 2025

3

EDITORIAL

LETTERS General Assembly 2025

Quiet revival

Quite often, when editing the Herald, a theme emerges that has been quite unintentional – a good reminder that God is the one weaving the tapestry of stories together, just as he is with our lives.

This month, one such theme is the medical profession.

We hear about the work of three Presbyterian doctors, who, driven by their faith, have made a valuable and lasting contribution in their fields. In caring for others, medics have a deep impact on those they serve, and when this comes from a place of faith, the impact is spiritually powered.

Of course, we all have the opportunity to deeply impact those around us, no matter where God has placed us. James Burnett, a Royal Naval Reserve chaplain, shares his incredibly inspiring experience of ministering to personnel on board a ship to Gaza last summer. His stories resonate strongly and encourage us that God is at work in our world, stirring hearts and minds.

This truth is backed up by a recent study by the Bible Society, called ‘The Quiet Revival’, which marks a second unintentional theme in this edition. Several contributors have referenced this study as a significant piece of work for our society at this time.

In Culture Watch, Andy Lamberton observes that there is a fresh openness to the gospel, particularly among young people. And this openness is not just for something superficial – it is for a deep understanding of the Christian faith. Andy says, “Are we ready to meet this stirring curiosity with more than a welcoming atmosphere, but with the solid food of the gospel…?”

Peter Lynas also discusses this theme, concurring that people are open and searching. He advises that we need to be ready to speak with courage, but also with kindness. He says the hot-button topics in our culture should not be avoided as these conversations can be the frontlines of mission.

Dr Trevor Gribben’s theme for his upcoming moderatorial year aptly speaks into a society that is searching – ‘Hope and a Future in Jesus’. Trevor tells interviewer Will Leitch that the message behind this theme is that ultimately there is “real hope and a secure future...in Jesus.”

Where those around us may be confused, searching and seeking for truth, it is our privilege to point them to Jesus, the only one who can offer meaning, purpose and understanding to life.

4

Herald June 2025

Dear Editor Since the establishment of our PCI 185 years ago, so much has changed in church life and society itself. Much has also changed in relation to the General Assembly. Last year saw some significant changes, which have been well received and will be repeated this year.

Our current Moderator, Dr Murray, will formally constitute the Assembly a little earlier this month.

Please note that this will take place on Tuesday 10 June at 10am during a service of worship when he will preach. As in past years, all are welcome to attend the public gallery.

Dr Murray will then chair the Assembly until Wednesday afternoon, when he will lead the service of installation of his successor as Moderator, Rev Dr Trevor Gribben. This will take place in front of invited civic guests and members of the public at 4.30pm. Dr Gribben will give his address and then chair the rest of the General Assembly, which will close on Thursday 12 June at 12.30pm, with the Assembly Communion service. All who love the Lord Jesus are welcome at his table.

In a significant change this year, rather than having an ‘evening celebration’ there will be two additional ‘reflective worship’ times led by the Moderator during Assembly business. These are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. If you are unable to be with us in the public gallery, log on to the livestream at www.presbyterianireland.org Finally, as preparations continue at pace, please keep in your prayers all those involved in making this

important meeting happen, and for its deliberations.

And if you are travelling by public transport, the General Assembly will be easier to get to this year, now the Belfast Grand Central terminus is open for bus and rail services.

Rev Roy Mackay Convener, General Assembly Business committee

The Chosen Dear Editor I was disappointed that in the coverage given to The Chosen in the May Herald, there was not provided a brief explanatory note outlining our denomination’s historic understanding on this matter.

The Holy Spirit reveals the full beauty, dignity and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ in the writings that he has inspired, and the perfect work of the Holy Spirit requires no augmentation.

These writings are the means through which the Holy Spirit saves sinners and builds up God’s people in their faith.

Any attempt to supplement the perfect, even if motivated by “good intent” (Larger Catechism, no. 109), is to detract from that which God, through his Spirit, has supplied to give glory to his Son. Rev Alastair Rosborough Ballyarnett and Knowhead Presbyterian Churches

Andy Lamberton reflects on what’s been in the news recently….

R

TE’s Gogglebox, which allows you to watch other people watching TV – yes, you read that right – gives a surprising insight into ordinary people’s conversations. On it, Tracie and Anita from Dublin are watching a biblical documentary and talking about Jesus. Anita asks, “How did Jesus die?” Tracie responds, “He rose from the cross”. Anita then asks, “And what happened to him after that?” Neither know. They phone their ‘mam’, who informs them that Jesus died on the cross, walked up a hill and turned into a ghost. Humorous, but this exchange prompts a question: how many others are pondering similar questions, and where are they seeking answers? Is there a growing spiritual curiosity in Ireland, north and south?

Research by the Bible Society, entitled ‘The Quiet Revival’, suggests that beneath the surface, there is a surprising openness to Jesus, the church, and the Bible. While this study focused on England and Wales, its findings offer a hopeful perspective for the spiritual landscape in Ireland as well. The report states: “Where once we saw apathy or even hostility to Christianity and the Bible, we now see increased openness, particularly among the young. You may have heard the rumblings and rumours emerging over the past few years, but this data shows, that it is real. This is the Quiet Revival.”

For context, this survey is from a cross section of the population of England and Wales (19,101 people in 2018 and 13,146 people in 2024), yielding a 99% confidence level of catching the attitudes of the whole population.

Here are some highlights: • Church attendance increased from 8% in 2018 to 12% in 2024.

• Among 18–24-year-olds, this increase was even more significant, rising from 4% to 16%.

• More men than women attend church, with 13% of men and 10% of women claiming to attend.

• A third of all churchgoers are now 18–34.

• One-fifth are from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Co-author of the report, Dr Rhiannon McAleer, says, “These striking findings completely reverse the widely held assumption that the church in England and Wales is in terminal decline.”

Can this be happening when recent headlines tell us of the continued decline of Christianity in the UK and Ireland?

The key difference lies in this survey’s focus on Christian practice rather than Christian identity. The proportion of the population identifying as Christian continues to decline. The Bible Society’s own question on religious identity found that

just 39% identified as Christian, an even lower proportion than the 2021 census.

Among 18–34-year-olds, this drops further, to 29%. But the number of people practising faith is increasing.

Peter Lynas, UK director of the Evangelical Alliance, reporting on this survey, highlighted that 31% of the general population are open to an invitation to attend church. Rising to 34% among 18–24-year-olds. It looks like it’s time to extend invitations to church once again.

The story from England and Wales does gives us good reason to hope. Are we seeing the beginnings of something similar here?

Here’s what I see. I see good things happening in youth ministries – there are few things as powerful in God’s hands as a young person unembarrassed about following Jesus. And I have heard of more men coming to faith this past year than I have in the last 10 years combined.

A friend, who serves in a Presbyterian church, has had the privilege of witnessing four men and two women come to faith over the past year, through running ‘Christianity Explored’.

They’ve run things like this before, but there’s been a ‘vibe shift’. He brought one of these men to a Christian bookshop to pick a daily devotional. The shopkeeper, on hearing he was a new believer, said, “OK, let me find you something basic.” And our new brother in Christ stopped him and said, “I don’t want basic… it would need to be deep.”

It makes me think of the Jews at Berea who were “more noble” and “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).

If spiritual curiosity is rising, and more people are seeking than we imagine. Are we ready to meet this stirring curiosity with more than a welcoming atmosphere, but with the solid food of the gospel and an invitation into a relationship with Jesus?

Andy Lamberton is the director of Legacy, a ministry for fathers from Exodus. He is also a member of Fahan Presbyterian Church and author of Letters for Exiles: Faithful living in a faithless world.

Herald June 2025

5

NEWS | IN THE ROUND Myanmar earthquake On 28 March, a devastating 7.7 earthquake hit Myanmar, its epicentre in Sagaing, near Mandalay in the centre of the country.

Over 5,000 lives were lost, while more than 10,000 people lost their homes. Basic infrastructure was destroyed and a country already in the grip of civil war found itself facing further instability.

PCI’s partner, the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar (PCM), although mainly based only around 200 miles from Sagaing, was largely unaffected by the earthquake and its aftershocks. PCM sprang into action as soon as it was able, providing shelter, water and hygiene facilities to those who had lost homes in Mandalay. Many are afraid to go back to damaged homes as aftershocks continue to shake the area.

PCM has one church centre in Mandalay, which was left with some minor cracks. The church complex has been used to shelter displaced people, along with providing for their basic needs. They urgently need to dig a deep well to deal with the problem of the disrupted water supply.

PCI has sent £20,000 to PCM to assist their response to people who have lost homes and livelihoods.

We continue to pray with the Church in Myanmar as they are on this long road to recovery.

Giving thanks for VE Day 80 years on Then Moderator Dr Richard Murray joined the King and Queen, members of the Royal Family, politicians from across the UK, and church leaders, on 8 May for a special service at Westminster Abbey to mark, celebrate and give thanks to God for the 80th anniversary of VE Day – Victory in Europe.

Speaking ahead of the service, Dr Murray said, “It is an honour to…represent Irish Presbyterians at today’s service. Many in our church family volunteered from Northern Ireland, and what was then Éire, which was officially neutral, paying the ultimate price for our freedoms in these islands – and I believe that should not be forgotten…

“It was a great deliverance, and a liberation from the evil that had descended across Europe, and it is right and proper that 80 years on, we give thanks to God for such a victory, and celebrate as it preserved the civil and religious liberties that we enjoy today, and returned freedom to many elsewhere.”

Global Bible survey A new survey has revealed a far more complex and nuanced global religious landscape than commonly assumed.

As part of The Patmos Initiative, the ‘World Bible Attitudes Survey’ sought the views of 91,000 people across 85 countries and territories.

It found that even in secular Western contexts, 62% of respondents believe in God or a higher power and that 240 million non-Christians worldwide express interest in learning more about the Bible.

Young non-Christians (18–25) in secular contexts show a higher interest in the Bible than older demographics do.

In parts of Asia, 56% of people have never heard of the Bible, and 70% of all respondents, including many non-Christians, agree it is good for children to know Bible stories. A surprisingly high number of Christians do not use the Bible regularly.

“The data challenges many prevailing narratives about the decline of religion globally,” says Richard Powney, project lead for The Patmos Initiative.

“In five of the seven global contexts we studied, the majority of people still consider religion an important part of their daily lives.”

The Patmos Initiative is a partnership between the Bible Society in England and Wales and United Bible Societies.

Death of Pope Francis and election of Pope Leo XIV Moderator Dr Richard Murray wrote privately to Archbishop Eamon Martin (Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland) on the death of Pope Francis.

Dr Trevor Gribben, PCI Clerk at the time, said, “In offering the condolences of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to Archbishop Eamon, we want to acknowledge the grief felt by many people on the island of Ireland who will be greatly saddened at this particular time, especially our Roman Catholic friends and neighbours, who mourn the death of Pope Francis.”

6

Herald June 2025

Following the election of Pope Leo XIV, PCI then released this statement: “We recognise the excitement felt by our Roman Catholic friends and neighbours on the election of Cardinal Prevost as Pope Leo XIV. We appreciate that having mourned the death of the late Pope Francis; the election of Cardinal Prevost will bring joy to many. We trust that his election will be an encouragement to Archbishop Eamon Martin, and our many Roman Catholic neighbours and friends across our island.”

Brand refresh for Bible Society NI Bible Society Northern Ireland has announced a comprehensive brand refresh, reflecting its commitment to sharing the Bible in a way that is accessible to all.

The new brand identity includes a new logo, updated visual elements and a more engaging online presence.

“We are thrilled to unveil our new brand identity, which reflects our unwavering commitment to sharing the Bible with everyone. Our vision and mission remain at the heart of everything we do, and this refresh will help us reach more people and make a greater impact,” says Wilson Beare, CEO of Bible Society Northern Ireland.

Christian Endeavour Convention The 110th Irish National Christian Endeavour Convention will be held on Saturday 20 September, at 7.30pm, in Ballygawley Presbyterian Church.

The church’s minister, Rev Jonathan Boyd, will speak on the theme, ‘Saved to serve’.

PERSONAL VIEW

Life lessons Moyna Bill

Clerk of session in Lowe Memorial.

I was brought up in Templepatrick, where my father was a GP, and attended post-primary school in Belfast, followed by university and then my first year as a doctor was in Edinburgh. After that I came back to Belfast ostensibly for one year before starting training in anaesthesia back in Edinburgh. One year in surgical jobs was followed by anaesthetic training in Northern Ireland. I then spent almost 30 years as a consultant in cardiac anaesthesia and intensive care in the Royal Victoria Hospital and had the privilege of national responsibilities towards the end of my working career.

Now, in retirement, I seem to be busier than ever in several varied roles.

I grew up in Templepatrick Presbyterian Church, with a connection to the youth group in Antrim, then became a member of Holyrood Abbey Church of Scotland when a student. I was very thankful for Rev James Philip’s preaching while in Edinburgh, setting good foundations in Scripture for me. When I returned to Belfast for the year, I went to Lowe Memorial as I knew a few people there and have continued to worship there for the last 43 years.

I came to faith as a child at Portballintrae CSSM. God used various ‘instruments’ in my early days to help me grow as a Christian, including a youth fellowship in Antrim, Scripture Union, school Christian Union (CU) and Edinburgh CU and in each of these I was not only taught well but learnt through serving and leadership. Most importantly, I have been extremely thankful for the influence of two godly, praying women in my life. One was instrumental in my coming to faith and the second in the church I attended as a student. She prayed for generations of students, many of whom went into various full-time Christian ministries.

There have only been a few times when I have felt absolutely sure about what God wanted me to do. I stepped off the usual anaesthetic career path and worked for one year with Christian medical students under the auspices of UCCF/CMF. Then about 30 minutes before my first consultant interview, I experienced a real sense of peace that God was in control, no matter what the result was. I was successful but headed to The Netherlands for a year for extra anaesthetic experience, another unusual step for me. Finally, when I was asked to be an elder and then a couple of years ago, Session clerk, I did not immediately agree to it but try as I might, it would not go away, until I realised that I was being led to take on the responsibility. In all these decisionmaking situations, I became convinced that I had to follow the paths I took because God was calling me to do so.

Injustice makes me angry, especially when people take advantage of others who are in a less strong position.

Having visited central Africa on many occasions, the comparison of what people here see as a problem and what others in the world have to cope with saddens me. I get frustrated with people who can only see their side of an issue or who cannot recognise their own hypocrisy.

I have been very privileged to be able to visit many parts of the world, often after attending an anaesthetic conference.

There have been many beautiful places I have visited, but my favourite holiday must be the one where I visited family and friends in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong.

Spending time with people that I don’t get to see often is particularly special.

God has used the most challenging situations in my life to develop me, more than the ‘easy’ times. In them he has taught me more about myself and his ability to strengthen me and sustain me through them. Later in life I developed a love for central Africa. God has been using that to challenge me in so many ways, not least in my values and focus.

Herald June 2025

7

IN THIS MONTH...

June 1992

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

First word Robert Cobain

As we celebrate the 350th anniversary of the formation of the first presbytery in Ireland at Carrickfergus…we are in the midst of the season of synods, assemblies and conferences. As far as the mainstream Protestant Churches are concerned they are meeting for their annual legislative ‘spring-cleaning’…

The General Assembly is our pattern of human relationships through which we get things done and increasingly now we are making room for times of reflection, meditation and prayer so that the General Assembly is less of a business meeting and more a time when we combine business with periods of spiritual renewal.

As we begin to see the life of the Church in this less institutional way, we will begin to see our life as not merely the getting together of congregations in different places for worship or meeting once a year for an annual overhaul.

The Presbyterian Church is made up of families and friends, all bound together in a larger network of ministry.

We must never become so obsessed with the Code mentality, living life by rules and regulations, that we squeeze the life out of the Church we love. We must not kill all spontaneity. We must not stagger under the weight of a vast array of legislation or structural machinery.

We have the kind of leadership and the quality of membership who know well that the spirit needs the body. They will see to it that the need for life expressing itself through an appropriate and adequate structure will be catered for. They will keep things in balance and check any extremes…

Presbyterians must not lose the right to be themselves, the right to obey the Spirit, the right to think their own thoughts, the right to do, under Christ, what they will with their lives as the Word of God directs them.

We Presbyterians acknowledge Christ as King and head of the church. Let’s not relegate the Lord of the church to our hymn-singing where all responsibility towards Christ can be comfortably discharged in a glow of pleasant religious emotion. Let us love him in deed.

High figure

Jumping for joy is Irish Presbyterian World Development committee convener Rev Dr Dick Gordon after he presented £145,000 cheques to Tear Fund’s Barbara McMullen and Christian Aid’s Georgina Hoey. Picture courtesy of Belfast News Letter.

Also from June ’92 8

Herald June 2025

Margaret Thatcher takes her place in the House of Lords

Controversial book, Diana: Her true story, is published

Treatment of displaced persons in Sudan

Over two million South Sudanese are living in camps in the North in the Khartoum area, Kosti and Gedaref. …the Khartoum City authorities, deeming these persons to be squatters, bulldozed their temporary dwellings and moved over 400,000 men, women and children to sites up to 40 miles from Khartoum, where there is no water, no sanitary facilities and no shelter.

In view of this denial of the basic human rights…the [Overseas] Board…is requesting the governments of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland to take up this matter…with the Sudanese government.

Irish Council of Churches

The Irish Council of Churches’ new General Secretary will be Dr David Stevens, a Presbyterian elder and member of the Corrymeela Community, who has been an Associate Secretary of the Council since 1980…

Erasure top the UK charts with Abba-esque

MY STORY...

One of the Gamble Library’s book conservation volunteers, Peter Jordan, shares his experiences of preservation and discovery, as he and other volunteers conserve rare books for future generations.

Conserving the Gamble Library’s collection

W

hat are we going to come across today? materials used to conserve were funded by the Ulster-Scots Maybe a book of sermons in Latin, a Romans Agency. The age of the books ranges from the 1540s to the commentary, a refutation of some heresy in ye relatively modern 1840s. The books are from the Magee Olde English, a Hebrew lexicon, pocket-sized and Assembly’s Colleges’ collections with many originally catechism, prayerbook in French, or a 900-page tome from donated by Presbyterian ministers, college professors and one of the early reformers. These, and many more, are the others. Some have been catalogued, but many have not, book discoveries that the conservation volunteers have been hence the sense of anticipation that the next book might be making over the last 15 months as they extraordinary in some way, or contain …we are affording clean and conserve the rare books in the a long-forgotten letter, bookmark or Gamble Library of Union College. banknote! All the books are given the respect to not just the To date, 18 volunteers have been same care and attention, even if our book, but to the trained, and over 3,000 books have been third-form Latin isn’t good enough for conserved, in a project to bring thousands authors… us to really know what the book is about. of rare books, back into the literary light The library staff are always on hand where they can be accessed for research purposes by library to offer support, advice and even a Latin dictionary, when members and the wider academic community. needed.

The volunteers are an eclectic bunch with a common love Although all the books are valuable and of interest, some of of books. Most are Gamble Library life-members whose the more fascinating volumes found so far are: initial connection with the library was during their bachelor’s, • The History of the Presbyterians by Peter Heylyn that has a master’s or doctorate degrees at Union and some, to bring handwritten, signed letter by Jonathan Swift bound into generational balance, are current students who kindly donate the opening pages; some of their precious spare time.

• A 1543 Erasmus New Testament; While removing hundreds of years of dust, inspecting • The Preacher’s Assistant that lists all the Church of England pages, recording information and rejuvenating covers, the sermons preached from 1660 to 1753 by biblical text and volunteers have become a community as they chat, and preacher; compare books. All the volunteers give whatever time they • An ancient travel-log complete with hand-drawn maps of can, whether that is a couple of hours a month, or a day a local sites like the Giant’s Causeway; week. We find it very rewarding as we can see the difference • Books signed by notable Presbyterians such as Rev Prof that it makes to the books. In a way, we feel that we are James Glasgow, Rev Prof Henry Cooke and Rev Prof affording respect to not just the book, but to the authors who James Seaton Reid. probably spent many long hours, hand-writing the original We are not an exclusive club. If you have a love of rare text with pens and ink, bent over a wooden desk illuminated books, a passion for removing dust with a steady hand and only by candlelight. Respect too for the ancient printers who a sharp eye, and some spare time during the day, then please have produced quality type, that remains clear and precise consider getting in touch with Joy Conkey, librarian of the hundreds of years later.

Gamble Library. Who knows what you might discover?

The work takes place in the Conservation Room next Carpe diem (seize the day), or as we like to say, carpe liber to the library, with five well-equipped workstations. The (seize the book)!

Herald June 2025

9

NEWS | PCI

News Welcoming event held The recent ‘Welcoming the Stranger’ event in Donegal aimed to support congregations in PCI to think about their welcome and witness to newcomers.

It gathered over 50 people from congregations along the north west of the island, from Derry and Donegal down to Sligo.

The importance of this work was explained from the Bible by Rev Colin Dickson and stories of practice were shared from several congregations as an encouragement to others.

Gathering for ministers A two-day gathering of PCI’s Home Mission ministers took place at the end of April in Newbridge.

Rev Darran McCorriston was the speaker for the event, which was attended by ministers from across the island.

Presbyterian Women conference Assembly Buildings, Belfast was packed out for the annual Presbyterian Women conference.

‘God ever present’ was the theme of this year’s event, which had Siân Wyn Rees, head of the Bible Society in Wales, as guest speaker.

Honorary doctorate presented The Clerk of the General Assembly and Moderator-Designate, Dr Trevor Gribben, has been honoured with the conferment of the degree of Doctor of Divinity by the Presbyterian Theological Faculty, Ireland (PTFI). Rev Michael McClenahan (principal of Union Theological College) made the presentation.

Commissioning service Louise Davidson was recently inducted as a deaconess for South Belfast Friendship House, with a service of induction held on Sunday 11 May in South Kirk Presbyterian Church.

10

Herald June 2025

Find out more on www.presbyterianireland.org

Resources Prayer calendar ‘Blaze the Bee’ aims to help children and families across the Presbyterian Church in Ireland explore how God is at work in the world.

Through the prayer calendar, every month there is an opportunity to pray for different countries in which PCI has partners and friends in ministry and mission. This month we are praying for Nepal.

Devotional PCI’s daily devotional, ‘Tides’ aims to help God’s people discover afresh what regular engagement with God and his Word can mean for their lives.

Each weekday morning, Tides provides a section of God’s Word to read, a short reflection and a simple way to respond.

To sign up, visit www.presbyterianireland.org/tides

General Assembly 10–12 June 2025 Timetable TUESDAY 10 JUNE 10am

Opening of the General Assembly

10.45am

Reception of visiting delegates

11.45am

Business committee Presbytery reports

12pm

Council for Social Witness

2pm

General Council section 1 General Assembly Trustees

4.30pm

General Council section 2

7.30pm

Council for Public Affairs

WEDNESDAY 11 JUNE 10am

Memorials transmitted Councils and Commissions not presenting verbally

(Linkage Commission/Council for Congregational Life and Witness/Council for Global Mission)

2pm 3pm

Events All-day leaders’ conference Lowe Memorial, Belfast will host this year’s ‘Emerge’ event on Saturday 14 June, from 10.30am until 7pm.

The all-day event will feature roundtable discussions, workshops and panel sessions, with the aim of encouraging and equipping emerging young adult leaders to lead well where God has placed them.

Leading where you are now, how to grow leaders and the leader’s toolbox are among the topics to be considered.

To book, scan the QR code or visit bit.ly/emerge_2025

The Review Following the success of ‘The Review’ last year – a resume of key decisions taken at this year’s General Assembly, plus news and photos from the annual event – the 2025 edition will be available week commencing 29 June.

It can be downloaded by scanning the QR code, or by logging onto www.presbyterianireland.org/ga25review.

Full coverage of this year’s General Assembly will be in September’s Herald as usual.

General Council section 3

Listening to the Global Church Reconfiguration of ministry

(Linkage Commission reports)

4.30pm

Installation of the new Moderator

7.30pm

Council for Mission in Ireland

THURSDAY 12 JUNE 10am

Private session Judicial Commission Council for Training in Ministry Public session Council for Training in Ministry General Council section 4 Lapsed business (if any) Business committee (final report)

Worship Opening meeting – Tuesday 10 June at 10am Reflective worship – Tuesday 10 June at 5.30pm and Wednesday 11 June at 12.30pm Installation of the new Moderator – Wednesday 11 June at 4.30pm Communion service – Thursday 12 June at 12.30pm ————————————————— Belfast Grand Central Station Last year travelling to the General Assembly by public transport was made difficult by the closure of Great Victoria Street train station.

This year will be easier, with bus and rail services operating from the new Belfast Grand Central terminus, a short walk from Assembly Buildings. For timetables, see www.translink.co.uk

Herald June 2025

11

CONGREGATIONAL STORY

Reaching out in

Londonderry Billy McIlwaine, clerk of session in Waterside Presbyterian, explains how the Londonderry church has welcomed Ukrainians fleeing their homeland.

T

he mission statement of Waterside Presbyterian Church is: “Waterside Presbyterian Church exists to communicate the good news of the love of God shown to us in Christ Jesus; to bring individuals to a personal faith in him; to encourage and build up believers in their faith; to care for and support one another and to reach out in the love of Christ to a world in need by the enabling of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of God.” Little did we know that we would be reaching out to refugees from Ukraine.

In July 2022, one of our members was contacted by Alister Torrens, a native from Garvagh, now working as principal lecturer in a theological college in Ukraine. Alister invited us to sponsor one and possibly two families who were fleeing from their homeland.

Some had spent the previous six

12

Herald June 2025

As a vacant congregation we don’t know what the future holds for us and our Ukrainian friends are in a similar position… months in underground shelters in Mariupol after their homes had been destroyed.

We responded immediately to the request and after waiting for all paperwork to be completed, we welcomed the families in September.

One couple in our church who had recently inherited their father’s bungalow, refurbished it and gave it to one family while another couple rented suitable accommodation for the other family.

All their basic needs were met, including filling oil tanks and providing

groceries etc. Two and a half years later, we are now supporting 50 Ukrainians, ranging from three-month-old Mark to two grandmothers, living in 11 homes.

One of our members ensured that all of the children and young people gained places in local primary and post-primary schools and arranged places with GPs and dentists, while another retired teacher invites some of the ladies to her home for language classes. Some adults have found employment locally.

The families, for the most part, come from the Evangelical Reformed Church of God’s Covenant whose pastor was trained in a Presbyterian theological college. They have become fully involved in the life of our church and have refreshed our members in so many wonderful ways. They help in the Boys’ Brigade and their boys have joined the company.

As the language barrier still exists

A banner erected to attract new Ukrainian families living in Londonderry

The ladies of the Thursday morning club who knitted blankets for Ukraine

The ‘meet and greet’ evening with over 100 present from the church and their Ukrainian friends

They have become fully involved in the life of our church and have refreshed our members in so many wonderful ways.

Vacancy convener, Rev Colin Jones, recently baptised Mark Bilyi, born in Altnagelvin Hospital, and whose parents are Yevhen Bilyi and Tetiana Bila

for some, the church committee purchased headphone sets and employed an interpreter, who is given the hymns, Bible readings and sermon notes for each week in advance to translate, so that everyone has a better understanding of our worship. A few of the ladies teach in Sunday school on a rota basis and others have become active members in our PW group.

The kirk session gave the families use of our lecture hall on Saturday evenings so that they could spend an hour in Bible study and prayer in their own language and then have recreational and fellowship time together for the rest of the evening, with pool and table tennis proving to be very popular with all age groups.

Our members and our Ukrainian brothers and sisters have enjoyed a ‘meet and greet’ dinner and fun night, 10 pin bowling together, a chocolate making day and a trip to watch the Belfast Giants. During Christmas 2023, June, Tanya, Andrii and others

organised an evening depicting worship in Ukraine at the festive season. At our ‘Carols by Candlelight’ service, one of our readings was in the Ukrainian language and on Christmas morning, a group of their young people provided a mime ‘Light into darkness’ for us all.

During the last year, the families have been reaching out to other Ukrainians in the North West and on Palm Sunday evening our church was full. We had their pastor, Herman Panko, taking the service during his five-day stay in Londonderry. It was a wonderful experience with locals singing in English, together with others singing in Ukrainian, to the songs Amazing Grace and Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour.

During last autumn, the organisation ‘Friends of Ukraine’ folded due to lack of funding and we decided that the next step in our outreach to all Ukrainians in the city area was to offer our premises for three language classes each Saturday morning, providing a

The 40-foot lorry filled with emergency supplies

crèche for their children while they studied. The ladies in our Thursday club knitted blankets and in November, under the leadership of Peter Jennings, the congregation and our friends sent a 40-foot trailer full of emergency supplies to Ukraine.

As a vacant congregation, we don’t know what the future holds for us and our Ukrainian friends are in a similar position, but together, we shall continue to worship our God, reach out to others and trust our Sovereign Lord to guide us along his chosen path for us all.

Herald June 2025

13

Looking to the future with hope Will Leitch talks to Moderator-Designate, Dr Trevor Gribben.

T

here’s barely a hum from the Belfast traffic outside the window of the Clerk’s office at Assembly Buildings.

There’s a large desk covered with orderly piles of papers and reports.

There’s a conference table with a few chairs. We settle down on the soft seats near the door. From an outer office there’s the soft chatter of staff and colleagues who are there to help.

It’s like the office of a hundred chief executives I have met and put in front of a microphone or a camera over the years.

But the man opposite me is Rev Dr Trevor Gribben, and he’s not a chief

14

Herald June 2025

Trevor’s theme for the moderatorial year is ‘Hope and a Future in Jesus’.

executive. When we meet, he’s still Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and will be its next Moderator. He’s the eighth Clerk in the denomination’s history to have been elected to the position.

Like many Presbyterians, Trevor and I already know a bit about each other. We have friends and associates in common. Trevor has family in my own church. But there’s also been a professional relationship. I have interviewed him for the BBC. We

have worked together on PCI business. Trevor tends to know who is who, in Irish

Presbyterianism.

I know he’s spent nearly 20 years in congregational ministry, and almost as long working as Deputy Clerk and then, Clerk of the General Assembly.

That makes me wonder how much of a benefit his experience in Assembly Buildings will bring to his year as Moderator.

“Actually, although I knew what was coming, to have to do it myself was

Photography Jamie Trimble

We have struggled over recent years, maybe decades, to understand how we respect difference.

a wee bit of a shock to the system,” admits Trevor ruefully.

He has worked with at least 10 Moderators and has rung most of them to tell them they’ve been elected.

“I’ve met them on the Wednesday morning in this room in absolute shock – rabbits in the headlights,” he smiles.

There’s no doubt that with all the years of experience at the centre of Irish Presbyterianism, he has a head start. He already knows many of the issues and people a Moderator has to learn about very quickly. He also knows that the new role is quite different from the ones he has had.

“When the General Assembly sets and agrees a policy, the role of the Clerk of Assembly and General Secretary of the Church and indeed all officers of the Assembly is to support that policy,” he explains.

“The Moderator likewise has the same role, but the Moderator does it in a less direct way. I’ll be loyally supporting the positions and policies of the General Assembly.”

That makes me curious about when Presbyterians cannot agree about an issue, be it church membership for same-sex partners, or supporting women in the ministry.

“Our Church has difference within it,” says Trevor.

“We have struggled over recent years, maybe decades, to understand how we respect difference. And we’ve been trying to work through how we differ well.”

I ask if we would ever want to be a big happy family in PCI, sharing one view on absolutely everything.

“Well, I hope we’re a happy family,” says Trevor.

“But we’ve a diversity of views, and the mark of us as a Church, and the holding together for us as a denomination will be how we handle those differences.”

I point out that society often simply doesn’t understand a Christian viewpoint, or how Presbyterians respond to difficult and emotive issues. Trevor thinks for a moment.

“I am not saying that we should change our biblical standards or change our policies. But we have to find ways of communicating to people that they are loved and cared for, and we also have to listen when they are hurt. I want to enter into that kind of dialogue and discussion without compromise.”

Trevor’s theme for the moderatorial year is ‘Hope and a Future in Jesus’.

“I think there’s a bit of a need for hope in civic society,” he explains.

“I generally want to affirm people who are not coming from a Christian perspective, but are working for the good of society. People who are seeking to give hope and a future to people. Of course, I’ll want to say that ultimately

Herald June 2025

15

real hope and a secure future is in Jesus.”

Trevor Gribben was born the youngest of three children and grew up in Tandragee, attending a Baptist church. He came to faith through the Child Evangelism Fellowship when he was nine or 10 and started attending the Presbyterian church in his late teens, being baptised as an adult.

He studied Maths and Computer Science at Queen’s University until

16

Herald June 2025

I went from studying Mathematics and Computer Science to studying Theology!

1983 and worked for a year in industry during his final-year placement. Close friends went to NASA or IBM headquarters in Germany. Trevor worked at Mayfair Manufacturing in Portadown, just five miles from his home.

He had begun to lead Bible studies and preach occasionally, but the call to Presbyterian ministry came during four intense days.

At Queen’s Christian Union on a Thursday, the speaker preached on Romans 10: “How shall they hear without a preacher?”

That Sunday in Tandragee, Rev Douglas Hamilton preached the same sermon, and Trevor admits to feeling uncomfortable.

“So I got an early train back to Belfast that afternoon,” he recalls.

“I wandered down from student halls to Windsor Baptist Church where a man I dearly respected, pastor Roy McMullan, was preaching on Romans

10: ‘How shall they hear without a preacher?’

“Having heard it three times – Thursday and twice on Sunday – I just put my hands up and said, ‘OK Lord’.

I went from studying Mathematics and Computer Science to studying Theology!”

Trevor was ordained as assistant at Duncairn and St Enoch’s Presbyterian Churches in 1988, before being called as minister to Leckpatrick Presbyterian near Strabane, in 1990, and later to Whiteabbey Presbyterian in 1996. He was appointed PCI’s Deputy Clerk in 2008, and has served as Clerk for more than 10 years.

His time in congregational ministry was to completely change his thinking about reconciliation on our island.

While at Duncairn and St Enoch’s he was doing youth work in the lower Shankill on a Saturday night with nominal Protestants. He was also doing youth work on a Friday night at the 174 Trust with nominal Catholics.

Trevor was called to show leadership during the Covid pandemic…“I This learning continued at found those days pretty Leckpatrick where horrific…” he buried victims

“There were people being shot and murdered,” reflects Trevor.

“There were bombs going off. And yet God taught me something amazing about what real reconciliation is, and he pushed me about what I really believed. I saw two sets of young people telling the same jokes about each other, who had more in common with each other than they had with the middle-class Protestants and Catholics up the Antrim Road. I realised that lots of our Troubles were inner-city troubles, with our sectarianism as the icing on the proverbial cake.”

Trevor, pictured with elders of Whiteabbey, receiving a gift from the congregation for his moderatorial year

of IRA violence, and yet saw communities reach out to each other, and try to work together.

He knows that those small steps may seem like very little to people looking back now.

“In today’s very profound world of reconciliation and cross-community work, with all the sophistication in that industry now, it sounds as if it was nothing.”

But he is adamant.

“Reconciliation will come in the small steps when ordinary people throughout Northern Ireland, indeed throughout this island of Ireland, begin to say, ‘Well, what can I do to make a difference?’”

Trevor was called to show leadership during the Covid pandemic when as Clerk, he worked closely with other Churches and government.

He reflects sadly on the toll taken on him and his colleagues as they made hard decisions on restrictions on worship, delayed funerals, or the impact on residential homes.

“That wasn’t in my Practical Theology notes anywhere. So I found those days pretty horrific. But you kept going through them.”

Although he now lives in Carrickfergus, Trevor has returned to Whiteabbey Presbyterian as a member.

He relaxes with friends watching football, supporting Linfield and Arsenal, and being a member at

Waringstown Cricket Club. He’s hoping the coming year will bring him a chance to watch a GAA match or two as well.

While Trevor is Moderator, Rev Dr David Allen will become Acting Clerk of the General Assembly and PCI’s Acting General Secretary, and Rev Peter Gamble will become Deputy Clerk and Deputy General Secretary.

But will Trevor return to leading the staff team at Assembly Buildings, at the end of his year as Moderator?

“I’ll come back into the role in September 2026 and I imagine I will do another 12 months or so, but that’s still to be finalised,” he says.

There will be a period after the June 2026 Assembly when a new Clerk Designate will need to learn the job and Trevor knows he can help with that.

“Yes,” he smiles in answer to my question, as I take a last look around his office.

“I will be back.”

Will Leitch is a journalist and broadcaster who spent 33 years with the BBC, and now co-presents The Commission Files Christian podcast. He serves as an elder at Knock Presbyterian Church.

HOPE A FUTURE AND

JESUS

IN

Herald June 2025

17

Introducing

Chris Wright Allen Sleith chats to Chris Wright, ahead of PCI’s September conference on Christian creational responsibility, where Chris will be the keynote speaker.

D

r Chris Wright has worked for the Langham Partnership since 2001 and is currently its international ambassador.

He grew up in Belfast, the youngest son of missionary parents, Joe and Maimie Wright. He went to Methodist College, where he enjoyed rowing and playing rugby. He says, “I still support Ireland in the Six Nations”. Chris also has Presbyterian connections as his family belonged to Berry Street Presbyterian, where he and wife Liz met and married. He says he counts it “an incredible blessing” to have sat under the Bible teaching ministry of Ivor Lewis, Glyn Owen and Eifion Evans during that time.

Chris will be the keynote speaker at ‘God’s World: Our responsibility?’, PCI’s creation conference in September where he will be presenting a theological rationale and motivation for Christians to engage with creation as an aspect of discipleship.

18

Herald June 2025

Tell us about your faith journey and any key leaders or events that were formational in your coming to faith and following Christ.

I gave my life to Jesus at the age of about six, led to do so by my older brother Paul. The three people with the greatest influence on my journey of faith would be: my father (who modelled deep love for Jesus and the Bible and a willingness to sacrifice and suffer for the gospel in missionary obedience); Glyn Owen (who blessed us with solid Bible exposition week after week, instilling a passion for biblical faithfulness and clarity that has been my lifelong goal); and John Stott (whom I was privileged to know as a gracious friend and mentor since 1978, and whose Langham ministries he entrusted to my leadership in 2001 when he himself turned 80).

We will not be saved out of creation, but along with creation.

Most of your working life has been in theological education and missiology.

Tell us about your different roles.

My earliest teaching efforts (apart from at Grosvenor High School for a few years) were at Belfast Bible College after I graduated from Cambridge in 1969. The then principal, Victor Reid, invited me to teach an evening class on Christian Ethics. That led me to do PhD level research at Cambridge in the ethics of the Old Testament. And from then on, my passion has been to combine explaining the muchneglected riches of the Old Testament with showing their relevance to all kinds of issues in the world today that the church ought to address, in our Christ-centred and gospel-centred holistic mission.

I was ordained in the Church of England in 1977 since we had found a home in the evangelical Anglican tradition. After five years in parish ministry in Tonbridge, Kent, we went as a family to India, where I was

Professor of Old Testament at the Union Biblical Seminary in Pune, a challenging and enriching experience.

We returned in 1988 and spent the next 13 years at All Nations Christian College – a mission training college in Hertfordshire, with a very diverse international student body. Once again, teaching the Bible with a missional focus, addressing questions that global mission throws up all over the world, was a mind-stretching challenge.

In 2001 we left All Nations, in response to John Stott’s invitation to take on the leadership of the ministries he had founded (ministries that are now combined in the Langham Partnership), with the vision of strengthening the growing churches in the majority world (the global south) – through funding seminary teachers to get doctoral level qualifications, through providing and creating evangelical literature for students and pastors, and through training in biblical preaching. Langham works alongside churches through these three programmes in more than 100 countries, largely now under indigenous national leadership.

The last 24 years, during which I was initially the international director, and now international ambassador, have seen God’s amazing blessing in the growth of these ministries. It is also a joy that Langham enjoys substantial loving financial support from friends in my homeland, Ireland.

The Mission of God (IVP, 2006) is perhaps your best-known book. How would you summarise its focus?

That book was developed from the teaching I’d been doing at All Nations.

The subtitle explains it as Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative. That is, the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, tells the overarching story of the mission of God to reconcile all creation (broken by sin and evil) to himself, including redeemed people from all nations. And we need to see that whatever mission God has for us as his people (in both Old and New Testaments), flows from God’s own great plan and purpose.

It’s a big book! It gets used as a textbook, and a second edition will be coming out in October 2025. But I have written other shorter books on mission, including The Mission of God’s People (Zondervan) and The Great Story and the Great Commission (Baker). For useful links to my work in this field see www.understandingmission.org and www.christopherjhwright.com As keynote speaker at ‘God’s World: Our responsibility?’, can you tell us what you will be speaking about?

It is easy for us to have a version of ‘the gospel’ that starts with Genesis 3 (the fall and our sin problem) and so fears Revelation 20 (the final judgment), but thank God we have Jesus and the cross to deal with that problem and remove that fear. Hallelujah! Wonderfully

I hope people will come along and join the discussion…with open Bibles and open minds.

true! But the Bible doesn’t start or end there; it starts with creation in Genesis 1–2, and ends with the new creation (Revelation 21–22), and in between tells the story of God’s plan to redeem, liberate and reconcile the whole creation to himself (according to Paul in Romans 8, Ephesians 1:9–10, and Colossians 1:15–20), and all creation rejoices in anticipation of God “putting things right” (Psalm 96:10–13). We will not be saved out of creation, but along with creation. That’s the cosmic scope of the biblical gospel of the cross and resurrection of Christ.

Jesus began the ‘Great Commission’ asserting that he is Lord of “heaven and earth” (i.e. God of all creation) – so all our discipleship and disciplemaking is grounded in that creationwide sovereignty and inclusion.

Of course, people will have different views of the practical implications of this biblical theology of creation and what should be the nature and the limits of our responsibility for it, both as humans and as Christians, and whether and where creation care fits into our understanding of the gospel and gospel-centred mission.

That’s what we will wrestle with in September, and I hope people will come along and join the discussion then, with open Bibles and open minds.

Rev Dr Allen Sleith is minister of Hillsborough Presbyterian Church and a member of the conference planning task group.

For more information and to book in for ‘God’s World: Our responsibility?’, please scan the QR code:

Herald June 2025

19

Memoir of Operation Underhill, Gaza

Through his role as a Royal Naval Reserve chaplain, James Burnett shares some exciting stories of how God is at work in the navy.

M

y first visit to HMS Raleigh, Plymouth felt like coming home.

I grew up with the sea but left sailing with a second place ranking in the Under 21 Irish Championships because the regatta circuit clashed with regular church attendance. At 18 years old, I had just encountered Jesus.

He walked in alone and one hour later walked out with Christ.

20

Herald June 2025

As a Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) chaplain (and part of ‘Trained Strength’), I was going back on the water – nothing is ever wasted with God. Last summer (2024), a request was raised asking for chaplains to join the British-American humanitarian aid mission, ‘Operation Underhill’, to the war in Gaza. While I cannot go into operational details, I can talk about my work as a chaplain.

I initiated a weekly devotional (Bible study and prayer) on Tuesday nights and a Philosophy Club on Thursday

nights, when members of the ship could ask any question about life, God and the universe. There was also a short Sunday morning service.

At the devotional on Tuesdays, a young sailor took a free Bible I had packed from Belfast. He started reading. He read Matthew the first night, Mark the second night, Luke the third night, and then he came to my room, swung open the door, and said, “I need to be baptised”. The sense of God was palpable. We chatted the gospel over and a few days later, under a red sun, I baptised him on the ship’s bow, out at sea.

On Sunday morning, after my first service, an attendee asked to see me. He was from an elite force. Ten months before, he had stood on a bridge ready to end his life. It was pitch dark; then he noticed a light. “Where is that coming from?” he said, peering at the singular reference point on an otherwise bleak, concrete horizon.

The serviceman jumped down from the railing and investigated. The light came from a church hosting an Alpha course. He walked in alone and one hour later walked out with Christ. I was aboard the ship to encourage him on his new journey with Jesus.

Philosophy Club was the most popular initiative. Attending was the roughest Glaswegian I have ever met, as well as Oxford graduates, medics and intelligence officers. What a motley crew! Philosophy Club became a safe space. Several recovering alcoholics appeared, deck hands in possession of very hard lives. One was homeless; James with the young man he baptised

he would work for four months on ships and return to the UK to live in homeless shelters. The man was trying to understand and relate to God. Perhaps the profoundest moment occurred, however, on the night before disembarking. I had become good friends with members of Command; we socialised together and met daily.

At this moment, the presence of God just fell (as in biblical narratives and revival stories)…

On a final ‘run ashore’, I was having dinner with one of them, waiting for the others to arrive. Hitherto, he had shown sparing interest in chaplaincy events and I thought him a bit nervous around me. Then he told me his story: “Bish [a navy term for chaplains, short for ‘bishop’], I grew up in a single parent home. I don’t attend church let alone belong to one; but when I was a boy, it’s hard to describe: I knew God’s presence in my life. (Pause) And now it’s gone, and well, I miss him.”

“How we live our lives affects the measure of God’s presence – we can grieve him,” I explained. I then said

to him, “You need to ask Jesus into your life again – or for the first time.”

He said, “I know”.

At this moment, the presence of God just fell (as in biblical narratives and revival stories), where we sat amidst the music and waiters and thronged tables full of banter, and we both knew Who had arrived. We sat on in silence, amazed!

The next day was my third Sunday and final day onboard. Church attendance had doubled. My ‘band of brothers and sisters’ were all there.

When I got home, I sent them lots of books. Four months later, in a text conversation, one group member quoted a sentence from the last sermon I preached onboard: “God is with you and God is for you!”

“That has kept me going, Bish.”

The person was undertaking extreme training and their message brought me to my knees in prayer.

My sense of calling to the Royal Navy is as strong as any call I have ever known. Church people often ask why secular people do not attend church, while secular people often wonder why they do not know more Christians.

As a military chaplain, my job is to walk the line between this huge and unnecessary gap.

Rev James Burnett is a ‘minister without charge’ in PCI, the principal and CEO of Belfast School of Theology, Stranmillis and part-time chaplain to HMS Hibernia. He and his wife are members of Orangefield Presbyterian Church.

Herald June 2025

21

Revitalisation in Craigavon David Allen continues his series on PCI’s reconfiguration of ministry by looking at how the congregation of Craigavon was revitalised through a reconfiguration process 12 years ago.

“R

econfiguration? What about the churches we already have?” someone might be tempted to ask. “It’s alright talking about linking congregations, planting new ones, merging others, but for the majority, maybe the vast majority, nothing like this is going to happen soon. So, what about them? Do we ignore them and leave them to get on with it, undisturbed, but unsupported and unencouraged by the wider denomination?”

Unsurprisingly, the answer is no.

The Assembly, and the Linkage Commission, recognise that most of our congregations won’t be reconfigured in these ways. But there’s an awareness that for every congregation, this is a great time to examine what we’re doing in the name of the Lord in ministry and mission – a great time to refocus and recommit ourselves to be more effective in what we are and do, under him, in the power, and by the guidance, of the Holy Spirit.

This is sometimes described as ‘revitalisation’ – the desire, the prayer and the burden that the Lord would

22

Herald June 2025

breathe new life into his church. As with all spiritual life, we can’t do this ourselves. Rather, it’s the Sovereign Lord, by the working of his Holy Spirit, who does this, as the Lord Jesus says in John 3:8: “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Having said that, as in all of our following of the Lord, we aren’t inactive, rather, we strenuously contend with all of the energy Christ so powerfully works in us (Colossians 1:29). This is something that applies personally to us as individual followers of Jesus, but also in our congregations – how we order them and how we prioritise what we do – and in the way we order our denomination as well, encouraging one another to pray, together seeking the kingdom of God, refusing to be distracted by lesser things.

Reconfiguration in PCI is aimed at revitalising our congregations…

Reconfiguration in PCI is aimed at revitalising our congregations in this way. One way of seeing that, is to look at an example of where this is happening. We do this, to gain insight and understanding, but also as an encouragement to us that the Lord can and does work, and to challenge ourselves to thanksgiving and renewed faith.

A good example of this is the congregation of Craigavon.

Thirteen years ago, the congregation was small, and it was linked with Vinecash. Craigavon congregation is urban, set in the midst of housing areas where many of the properties are Housing Executive homes. Vinecash, while not far away, is very different in context – a rural area and community.

The link between the two provided little missional benefit, but allowed the denomination to maintain two congregations, served by one minister, where neither was able to stand alone.

Back in 2013, a strategic decision was taken by the kirk session, Armagh Presbytery and the Linkage Commission, to break the link between the two congregations; for Craigavon

…‘revitalisation’ – the desire, the prayer and the burden that the Lord would breathe new life into his church. to enter the Home Mission scheme (part of the Council for Mission in Ireland); and to prayerfully seek the Lord’s blessing that he would use the congregation to re-engage with the community around the church premises, trusting that he would bring people to faith, and build his church.

Now, looking back on those 12 years, we can give thanks that the Lord is doing that. The congregation is engaging with the local community – speaking the gospel of Christ, showing his love, with an appropriate expression of ministry, and a heart for reaching local people for Jesus.

Rev Lachlan Webster became minister of the congregation in 2014.

When asked about some of the key things that have happened as part of PCI’s burden for revitalisation there, interestingly, he mentions a number of things that he says “don’t sound overly spiritual”, which might be the same category we’re tempted to put reconfiguration into!

What follows are Lachlan’s words: Reviewable tenure: While the thought of this for many might be one of insecurity, in a revitalisation setting

it is very helpful to keep minister and Session focused on moving forward, carrot and stick.

CMI Urban Mission status: Without this, Craigavon could not have stood on its own feet and stopped relying on being linked to another congregation. Coming under CMI meant the congregation recognising its need for help, and signing over the buildings to CMI showed the commitment to taking a step of faith moving forward. The mindset was not ‘let’s keep things ticking over to see out our day’.

Appointment of minister: While many vacant congregations ‘sell’ or ‘promote’ themselves, focusing on the positives and ignoring the challenges in the profiles they write, under CMI a ‘warts and all’ profile is made, giving candidates an accurate picture of the congregation. Therefore, the process is one that is less about attractively selling the church, and more about giving a realistic picture.

Doing fewer things better: Pruning organisations and ministries can be painful and feels like a backward step.

However, in revitalisation it is often

essential. Stripping things back gives capacity to invest in core aspects of ministry and to do them better. Sunday morning worship is the best place to start.

Along with these things, there was and is fervent prayer, clear and faithful preaching of God’s Word, and believing people who are burdened for their friends and neighbours and who live out their faith in their everyday lives.

In this final article on reconfiguration, it’s a joy to end on this note, to be able to give thanks to God for what he is doing in his Church, and to encourage readers, as I encourage myself, to renewed prayer, to acknowledge our absolute dependence on God, and to remember that work of the Lord Jesus is finished and complete. As such, he is building his church. May he be gracious and merciful to us, by choosing to do that, at least in part, through the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

Dr David Allen is PCI’s Acting Clerk of the General Assembly.

Herald June 2025

23

PARTNER CHURCH

A community of solidarity Pip Florit

Mission support officer for PCI

Those who were already vulnerable have found themselves more in need of support.

T

he Hungarian Reformed Church has seen many changes since its formation in 1881. In June 1920, the Treaty of Trianon was signed, contributing to the end of the First World War, specifically the war between Hungary and most of the Allied Powers. As a result of the Treaty, two thirds of Hungary’s territories became part of its surrounding countries – Romania, Ukraine, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and even into Italy. The number of Reformed people in Hungary dropped by almost one million.

Despite this dramatic change, the Church continued throughout Hungary and its surrounding countries.

Though separated by borders, the Church remained united. The Reformed Church in Hungary (RCH) refers to a network of 1,200 congregations in 27 presbyteries and four church districts within the current borders of Hungary.

The Hungarian Reformed Church (HRC) encompasses a communion of Hungarian-speaking Reformed churches within the Carpathian Basin. While the churches are autonomous, they remain unified and supportive of one another.

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has a longstanding relationship with the HRC. Previous and current global mission workers have served within the districts, ministering in many contexts, including with Roma people, in church planting and in student ministry. Partnership visits have also taken place both to and from Hungary, allowing the deepening of understanding of our Churches. PCI has been enriched by receiving HRC ministers, a number who are now serving in PCI congregations, others for periods of sabbatical, as well as students who have Linda Beattie and Ellen Hillen outside the Diaconal Coordination Office

24

Herald June 2025

spent time studying at Union Theological College.

In March 2022, following the onset of the war in Ukraine, the Moderator launched an appeal, which raised more money than any previous PCI global mission appeal, with a final total of £1,574,284.

One third of the total funds went to Hungarian Reformed Church Aid, the relief and development wing of the Bakery Hungarian Reformed Church, for their work with Ukrainian refugees in Hungary and those who were internally displaced to the Transcarpathian District, in western Ukraine.

Transcarpathia sits nestled in the far west of Ukraine, in the Carpathian Mountains on the border of Hungary. 20% of the population of Transcarpathia considers itself to be Hungarian, with 97% of these considering Hungarian to be their native language. The Hungarian Reformed Church is the oldest Protestant Church in Ukraine.

As the war intensified in eastern Ukraine, many people fled to the west of the country and Transcarpathia saw an influx of internally displaced people. Some were in transit, on their way to other countries in Europe, while some stayed, setting up their lives in the west. As they arrived, the Church opened its doors and its members opened their arms to welcome and support those who most needed it.

Transcarpathia has not experienced the levels of destruction seen by the east of the country, but the area has not escaped from the effects of the war. The economic crisis that has resulted from the war has caused people to leave, many seeking a better life for their families. Poverty is increasing, jobs are becoming scarcer and farmers are struggling to produce crops.

Those who were already vulnerable have found themselves more in need of support. The elderly, disabled and orphaned have often been unable to leave the

Women of the Transcarpathia Reformed Church

country, while many who worked in care settings have travelled to other countries, leaving a part of society even more vulnerable. In addition, compulsory military conscription for men over the age of 25, which has forced many men to fight or go into hiding, has left families without husbands and fathers. It seems that there is a new hurdle around every corner.

The Hungarian Reformed Church is working right in the midst of these difficulties, serving the society outside the walls of its church buildings. People who have fled from the warzone, arriving in Transcarpathia have been sheltered in church buildings, church members’ homes and other church properties.

The Church’s outreach has gone far beyond this; as needs have grown, so has the Church’s response. It has donated generators to large families to mitigate the effect of frequent power cuts. It has sent fire-fighting equipment to the frontline. It has set up elderly care homes along with crisis homes for displaced mothers with young children, whose husbands have often had to remain in the warzone to fight. It runs soup kitchens, which feed over 1000 people every week. It runs a complex rehabilitation centre in Beregszász and is working on creating a multi-generational rehabilitation centre with co-funding from the Ukrainian government. This centre will provide specialised care for orphaned and disabled children, the elderly and people with mobility challenges, including wounded soldiers.

Earlier this year, Rev Uel Marrs (Global Mission Secretary), Ellen Hillen (PW president) and Linda Beattie (PW overseas vice president) travelled to Hungary and Ukraine to meet with the leadership of the Hungarian Reformed Church and see firsthand the work that is HRCA worker and women working in the social kitchen

PW and HRC Transcarpathian Women’s Organisation leadership

going on in both Hungary and Ukraine. (The purpose of this visit was to explore projects for PW to support. Read more about the visit in the autumn edition of Inspire.)

They visited the Diaconal Centre in Transcarpathia, where there is an elderly care home, dementia care centre and crisis centre, along with a bakery that supplies bread to those who need it. Those who travelled were struck by the forward thinking of the Church, with its courage to take on new initiatives in faith. It has had to be reactive, quickly responding to growing and changing needs around it.

After three years of war, the Church is weary, but continues to serve and reach out, relying on its love for God and its hope in him.

The Church is strongly aware that physical needs are not the only ones to be met and that the Church community is uniquely placed to meet spiritual needs. The HRC often speaks about the importance and value of standing in Christian solidarity, particularly in challenging times. A recent update from the Bishop of the Transcarpathian District, Bishop Sándor Zán Fábián said, “There is a great need for church communities where people can receive spiritual and psychological support and feel part of a community of solidarity.”

The Hungarian Reformed Church community is far reaching, both in where it is and what it does. PCI is privileged to partner with them and has much to learn from them. We continue to stand in solidarity with them as they continue in their “hope that God will take care of us despite the difficulties” (Bishop Sándor).

Please pray: • For the work in the refuge centre in Budapest, helping young people overcome the trauma of displacement.

• For the work in the Diaconal Centre in Beregszász, particularly for provision of resources to continue to support the elderly and the displaced.

• For the families that are separated because of the war, for those conscripted to fight and for the ones left behind.

Herald June 2025

25

DEACONESS

Reaching out Tracey Nicholl

St James’, Ballymoney

She told me, for the first time in her life, she had peace.

O

ver the last nearly 12 years as a deaconess, it has been a privilege to visit those within our congregation in many different pastoral situations. Some may be on the mountain top and some may be in the valley and many are in between. Things change in every season of our lives and these changes can be hard to cope with. We all need help and support sometimes, whether that be practical or prayerful support or both.

Over the years, there have been times when people, who may be a member of the church, but who do not attend, reach out. They may get married, or have their children baptised in church, but have had no other connection. The context of them reaching out has been because of a sickness or terminal illness and they request someone to visit them.

Going out to visit, not knowing what to expect, you find them in the midst of their situation, not knowing where to turn and bewildered as their troubles came suddenly and unexpectedly. They had been living their lives one minute and the next they have been told they have a serious illness or are facing their own mortality. They don’t know what to do or where God is in it all. They are confused and look to you to help them understand.

One such woman who reached out, had a very hard life and it had been touched by tragedy on more than one occasion. She had been told her illness was life-limiting and nothing could be done to help her, apart from the offer of palliative care. I find people with a life-limiting illness aren’t really interested in small talk and get down to the business of asking whatever it is they want to know. I don’t have all the answers and mostly I don’t have any answers, but I do know that God is love and he is gracious and he wishes that none should perish. Over the course of the next four months, we had many discussions about the Lord and what he was like. If we don’t know God, sometimes we can equate our circumstances with God’s love and decide he mustn’t love us, otherwise whatever is happening to us, wouldn’t be happening.

26

Herald June 2025

One day she was transferred from home to the palliative care unit and when I visited her, she was totally changed.

She looked so much better and I put it down to the fact that she was getting better care in hospital than at home. However, the next time I visited her she told me that she had come to faith in Jesus Christ just before my previous visit and hadn’t told me. The transformation in her countenance and her outlook was remarkable and tangible. She told me, for the first time in her life, she had peace.

As we reach out to others or they reach out to us, we see the love and the graciousness of God. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Please pray: • That as the gospel is preached in our congregation, the Lord will open hearts to receive it with gladness.

• For people in our congregation to grow in their faith and have a deeper relationship with Jesus.

• For people in our community to experience the love of God through us as a congregation.

HOME MISSION

Discovering opportunities Rev Daryl Edwards

Drum, Cootehill and Kilmount Presbyterian Churches

It has been encouraging to see many children from the community attending…

W

e’ve just held a special week of Easter services under the heading ‘Cross foreshadowed’ during which accredited preacher Graeme Clarke masterfully took us through Easter in Leviticus. It was such an encouragement and challenge to look at the cross through what was for most, an unfamiliar part of God’s Word.

We were also blessed by members of the congregations sharing how God had been at work in their own lives and what the cross means to them. The special services concluded with an Easter dawn service, this year held at Drum Lake, which has become part of our annual calendar and attended by many from the local area.

We might all be on a high from Easter, but time does not stand still, and we are looking forward to, praying for, and planning the Discovery Club (a holiday Bible club for 4–12-year-olds) at the beginning of August. This year we are heading to the ‘restoration station’, where the children will be introduced to Jesus as a restorer, using stories from John’s gospel. This work has developed over the years and is now held in a local national school for more space and the accessibility of the outdoor pitches. It has been encouraging to see many children from the community attending and our own leaders, and apprentice leaders from the youth fellowship, flourishing in their roles.

This past year has also seen the commencement of a monthly community drop-in lunch called ‘Chat and chew’ followed by an epilogue from the ‘Hymns we love’ series. It is now well established, but we hope to develop the dropin side of things in the coming year – both for passers-by

to drop in, and for those attending to bring their friends or neighbours.

We are grateful to local Faith Mission workers Brian and Hazel Parker for their partnership in this venture, as well as their organisation of a fortnightly children’s club during the winter months, assisted by members of the congregations.

This too has been very encouraging in terms of drawing many in under the sound of God’s Word. Their season ended with a successful parents’ night in which the children took part, and the parents heard about all they had been learning this past year. In conjunction with the club there are seasonal Saturday morning Lego kids’ clubs at Christmas and Easter which always attract a good number of children and provide opportunity to share the good news of Jesus.

Another highlight of the last year has been using PCI’s ‘Finding our voice in prayer’ material and we hope that the fruit of that will be a reinvigoration in the prayer life of our congregations. Many have been encouraged and challenged as we worked through the material, which so far seems to have done what it says on the tin.

Please pray: • Praise God for this focused time together before Easter and pray that he will continue to use the message that was shared to touch hearts and lives.

• For the upcoming Discovery Club and for those involved in preparing in the coming weeks.

• For the continued development of ‘Chat and chew’ in the year ahead as a means of outreach.

Herald June 2025

27

HOME MISSION

Down to the river to pray Rev David Curran

Wexford Church Development

Many times, I have prayed that as the Slaney flows through the county, so God would flood Wexford with his love, mercy and grace.

M

y name is Rev David Curran and along with my wife Patricia and youngest son Joshua, we moved to Wexford in 2024 to oversee the Wexford Church Development project. Since moving to Wexford, we have been overwhelmed by the interest in the project by so many within our Church and it has been a tremendous source of encouragement.

When most people think of Wexford, they think of the 75 miles of golden beaches, the world-renowned Wexford Opera Festival, or the delicious strawberries and potatoes, that can be bought from the side of the road during the summer months. However, we have a vision that Wexford would be known for something else.

We believe that it is part of God’s plan for the town and county to have a Christ-centred, Bible-believing, Spiritfilled, worshipping community in the heart of Wexford town, that will love and serve both God and all the people who call Wexford home.

Perhaps you think Ireland is becoming more and more indifferent to church, Bible and all things Christian and that we would be better to invest our resources somewhere else. Being honest, before we arrived, we wondered that too. However, we found that God is working in the southeast corner of Ireland and it didn’t take us long to discover a genuine hunger and seeking after truth. We realise that what people long for the most – love, peace, joy and hope – cannot be found in what society offers, but can only

be found in a living relationship with Christ, as revealed through the gospel.

Something that we have been asked many times is how we plan on planting a Presbyterian church in Wexford town. The plan is very simple – step one is simply to pray, step two to evangelise, step three to disciple and step four to plant.

Prayer is a huge part of who we are and what we do. We have begun to take the first steps to evangelise, with the reaction mixed, but overall encouraging. We have a small house group that meets faithfully every Thursday to study God’s Word and pray. On Good Friday we held the first service in over two years in the church building. We have a long way to go, but God has been so, so good to us.

If you ever visit Wexford, one of the first things you will notice is the River Slaney flowing into the sea at Wexford harbour. There have been many times over the years that the river has burst its banks and flooded the streets of Wexford. Many times, I have prayed that as the Slaney flows through the county, so God would flood Wexford with his love, mercy and grace.

Please pray: • For opportunities to share about the work and most importantly about Jesus.

• For good connections and conversations.

• That we would know the Spirit’s leading as we plan for the months ahead.

28

Herald June 2025

COMMUNITY OUTREACH WORKER

Showing a need for Jesus Jack McQuillan

Tullycarnet and Christ Church, Dundonald

…we’ve been encouraged to see Sunday attendance grow, particularly with more young people coming along.

I

remember being asked to write my last article about a year and a half ago, not having a clue what to say about Tullycarnet and Christ Church as I was only six weeks into the role. However, since that last article, I’ve really started to feel at home in both congregations.

I’ve found my church family, and since God has been working in both communities, I’m excited to see what he has planned for both churches. We’ve seen our ministry team come together as Myles Tyrell has come on board as assistant minister, working between the two churches and many opportunities have been presented to us to reach out.

Firstly, in Christ Church we’ve seen continued growth of our Friday night youth club. It has been a joy to build relationships with young people and share with them the good news of the gospel. There are also new housing developments such as Millmount Village and for Christ Church, this presents exciting opportunities for outreach.

However, the majority of my work has been within Tullycarnet. I remember when I started, my arrival had been something of a surprise to the community, given the rumours that our church was closing. Therefore, the priority was to demonstrate to the Tullycarnet community that this wasn’t the case and that Tullycarnet Presbyterian was still a vibrant, growing, gospel-centred church. I’m convinced that by God’s hand those rumours of our church closing have largely disappeared.

Through different outreach initiatives, events and organisations we’ve been able to demonstrate the need for Jesus within the estate. We launched ‘Open House’ which was a Friday afternoon

community drop-in, and besides this, developed a new youth ministry called ‘Campfire’, simply due to the amount of young people who were coming with their parents and grandparents on Fridays. Knock, Orangefield and Bloomfield have all provided invaluable assistance, enabling both of these ministries to grow over the last year.

Last summer, we were able to run a very successful kids’ club and family fun day, leading on to a ‘back to school’ service. We are thankful that on Easter Sunday six people became new communicant members and we’ve been encouraged to see Sunday attendance grow, particularly with more young people coming along.

Beyond the two congregations, I’ve been able to continue my role as a strength and conditioning coach for Tullycarnet Boxing Club, where I’ve been able to become the official club chaplain. God has enabled many relationships to have been developed and many exciting gospel conversations to be had.

Both congregations have a lot to be thankful for over the past year and we are eagerly anticipating what God will do next in Tullycarnet Presbyterian and Christ Church Presbyterian.

Please pray: • That we will see each individual in both congregations continue to become more like Jesus each and every day.

• As we look to share the gospel more and more in Millmount Village.

• For the future of Tullycarnet, as questions are asked of what is the next step in the revitalisation plan.

Herald June 2025

29

P Helping churches in their

life & witness David Thompson highlights how staff in PCI’s Council for Congregational Life and Witness (CCLW) can facilitate help to churches in a range of ways.

…the fresh eyes and voice of an outside facilitator is often what brings focus, clarity and a sense of energy and purpose.

CI’s Council for Congregational Life and Witness (CCLW) exists to support the development of a whole range of aspects of regular church life. Most church members will know of the work it does in running events and programmes, and producing resources. While this work is the most prominent, it is not necessarily what makes the greatest difference. Often work done by a staff member with an individual congregation is where the rubber really hits the road. The bringing together of a congregation’s insider knowledge of its needs and the areas to which it particularly needs to give attention, with the fresh eyes and voice of an outside facilitator is often what brings focus, clarity and a sense of energy and purpose. Time and time again, congregations who have engaged Council staff to work with them in this way bear testimony to the difference it has made.

Get in touch If you would like to get in touch with any of the CLW staff and avail of their help in your congregation, please contact the CLW office.

Tel: +44 (0)28 9032 2284 Email: clw@presbyterianireland.org

30

Herald June 2025

Comments from congregations on how they have benefited from CCLW help “Our congregation ran a Session conference to sharpen its thinking on ministry and mission in a rapidly changing society. Using the model of how, as a congregation, we are present to God in worship, present to each other in fellowship, and present to our wider community as good neighbours, Council staff provided us with a superbly simple, theologically grounded way of understanding our context, balancing encouragement and challenge.

Session came away enthusiastic about prioritising goals and developing strategies to achieve them.”

“Our leadership team had spent time doing background work to help us think about planning for outreach. With that information gathered, we asked Council staff to help us explore our findings and our responses to them and to identify a way to move forward. Thoughtful input, drawing on Scripture, enabled our leadership team to engage with challenging conversations about the changes in the community and gave us the impetus to begin to take small but significant and focused steps towards responding.”

Ministry among young people Graeme Thompson

Developing congregational witness Jonny McClune

Graeme’s work shows the value that informal conversations on the phone or in a coffee shop have in encouraging or giving confidence to leaders, especially in helping smaller congregations with only a few young people to work together.

Graeme says: “Increasingly we are finding opportunities to provide a little bit of support that can make a difference to a congregation’s youth ministry, in the form of an email conversation, a phone call or a face-to-face meeting. This might be around choosing a suitable resource, how to start a new programme, or ways forward when things have changed or a group has become much smaller than it was before. The key is often to help identify what is most important at this time and find small achievable steps that give confidence and hope. Any enquiry is welcome, however small, as often we all just need a bit of encouragement and a chance to see a way forward.”

Jonny describes a particular piece of work he has been doing with four churches in North Down on Sunday nights, called ‘Confident to Share’: “In the rhythms of church life, it can be of real value to break from our usual patterns to focus on a particular area of our life and witness. This is what four churches in Bangor came together to do this spring when they committed to gathering on alternate Sunday nights for worship and to consider how they could take confidence in sharing their faith. Over three nights, Council staff provided input and facilitated discussion on how we can share, and take confidence from, the gospel story, our personal stories of transformation and our church as a witnessing community. A final night on Palm Sunday involved an intentionally accessible service to which members of all the churches were encouraged to bring a friend.”

“Over the last 18 months, our kirk session has held two away days facilitated by CCLW staff, helping us think about how we are discipling believers and how we can develop our outreach into our community. Our elders benefited greatly from discussing, praying and planning together. As a result, we have recently run ‘The Bible Course’ to build up believers and made a number of tweaks to Sunday morning services to make them more accessible to newcomers. We are planning another away day with CCLW to further our plans for outreach.”

“We recognised the opportunities and challenges we faced in children’s ministry and asked for some training for our leaders in teaching the Bible and managing behaviour positively. We widened the invitation to congregations across our presbytery. Eight congregations sent leaders.

We were wonderfully encouraged and equipped in our children’s work by CCLW staff and are keen to run similar training together in the future.”

Herald June 2025

31

We were wonderfully encouraged and equipped in our children’s work by CCLW staff…

Training leaders in children’s ministry Ruth Bromley Ruth offers some examples of training for leaders in children’s ministry, referencing the possibility of doing this as a group of neighbouring churches: “An evening of training is a great way to encourage those who deliver children’s ministry and build your team, their skills and confidence. Training can be specifically tailored to your congregation’s needs. Some areas frequently requested include helping children engage with the Bible, preparing a session, leading from the front, telling a story, working with children in small groups and strategies to manage challenging behaviour. It has been great to see how groups of neighbouring churches have come together for an evening for training and to swap ideas about how they go about their children’s ministry.”

“Our congregation has been developing our structures and models of pastoral care. CCLW staff provided a great sounding board and wise counsel as we began that process, especially in the steps we take in navigating change. They then provided a really good, interactive pastoral care training evening for elders and others in our pastoral care teams, that we have continued to go back to and build on. Following that, we invited them to lead us in a kirk session away day, as we helpfully reflected on our calling as elders. We found it a very refreshing time.”

32

Herald June 2025

Deepening discipleship Andrew Dickson Andrew highlights the training Council staff have been taking this year to hone their facilitation skills: “‘Enabling Skills for Ministry and Mission’ is a one-year, parttime online course that equips church leaders with the practical skills needed to confidently and clearly guide congregations through change. Through a helpful mix of interactive learning and theological reflection, this course has affirmed the immense value of listening well, asking meaningful questions, fostering open discussion, and facilitating decision making in a supportive and empowering way. As congregations across PCI seek to adapt to this present moment while remaining focused on their ministry and mission, participating in this course is strengthening our ability as a Council staff team to support churches as they navigate change together, ensuring every voice is heard and decisions are made with shared understanding and purpose.”

The work of the Council for Congregational Life and Witness in facilitating congregations to develop and flourish, both as a church family together and in reaching out to others, is one aspect of the ministry and mission of PCI supported by the United Appeal.

TALKING POINTS

Identity crisis

Norman Hamilton continues his thoughts from last month and discusses what true Christian male identity is.

L

ast month, I sought to start a discussion on how we there was rarely any Bible teaching and support, for example, can counter the prevailing culture amongst many for men who work on construction sites or the shop floor; young men. I included some comments from Sir or who run a business, or have tricky responsibilities in the Gareth Southgate who quoted from the report ‘The workplace with many staff to supervise. And what if you Lost Boys’ published in March 2025 by the Centre for Social are unemployed or on minimum wage or your own family Justice (which has a very strong Christian influence in it). situation is difficult or distressing? Are you, in practice, rather Several sentences bear repeating: “2.5 million children alone? in the UK have no father figure at home… boys are more The Scriptures do have to be mined carefully for the likely now to own a smartphone than to live with their dad. guidance needed in such situations. Doing so requires great They spend more time online searching for direction and are diligence and great wisdom from the Spirit of God. For falling into unhealthy alternatives like gaming, gambling and example, guidance for working on a construction site does pornography.” not immediately jump out of the pages of Scripture. But it is This ‘searching’ can be described as an ‘identity crisis’. And there! the ‘crisis’ for the young man is caused by great uncertainty And questions about identity inevitably ask what real as to what values he should hold; what fellowship for Christian men of all ages …Jesus shows a Christian actually looks like. My own experience principles are important in day-to-day living; who can count on his loyalty; who (for what it’s worth) is that men really identity for men that is he follows as a guide and example; and don’t want many church-based meetings. marked by sacrifice, other factors such as race.

But they do respond well to food and When he – or indeed anyone – is person-to-person chat. For example, humility and love. uncertain about these, then they look to I am aware of one men’s group which someone who offers clarity about what recently had a ‘curry night’. Fifty-eight to accept and believe; status from associating themselves men came and thoroughly enjoyed both the food and the with fame, and an example to follow. Thus – the cult of the conversation. celebrity whose values may be seriously unhealthy. Inevitably, Thankfully, Jesus shows a Christian identity for men that we have politicians thriving on identity politics, and social is marked by sacrifice, humility and love. It’s not bound media influencers wreaking havoc. by cultural and highly toxic assumptions of what a man is Evangelical Alliance recently highlighted that many expected to be. It sees each young man as an individual image young men, like Jamie in the Netflix crime drama series bearer of the Lord himself, created on purpose by God to Adolescence, are drawn to male influencers who show power honour God in his life. It is a really urgent task to develop and aggression, and who promote ideas similar to those held men who are confident in Christ, and who are not – and will by the Roman culture in which Jesus lived – sex as a tool not – be derailed or allured by the pagan gods of money, selffor control, men as aggressors, and the belief that men are advancement, success, fame or porn. inherently superior to women.

I end with a few simple questions. Who are the God So, what can we do as Christian people in these dark times? honouring men who set really good examples? What is I find this an extremely difficult question to answer. But we it that is so attractive? And if you are a man reading this, must start somewhere… can you take the words of Hebrews 13 to your own heart?

A first (and strong!) suggestion is to read the full report “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. by the Centre for Social Justice for yourself. It is extremely Consider the outcome of their way of life sobering and challenging, but almost essential if we want and imitate their faith.” With the Lord’s to begin grappling with the complexities of the issues in help, is your life worthy of being imitated our congregations, and in our own homes and families. It is by other men – young and old? available (free) on their website.

Norman Hamilton Secondly, let’s start some real discussions as to what men think the church can do to grow a new generation of healthy Very Rev Dr Norman Hamilton is a former Christian young men. A friend commented to me recently Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in that church life was often ‘floppy’. By this he meant that Ireland.

Herald June 2025

33

The Rutherford family leaving India in 1967

A lasting legacy

Suzanne Hamilton looks at the life of Dr William Rutherford, and the legacy he has left in Gujarat, India. The recognition of his work was recently celebrated there, providing a trip down memory lane for his family.

T

he contribution of an Irish Presbyterian to the Indian community of Gujarat has been recognised with the opening of a prayer hall in his memory.

The fact that Anand Girls’ High School decided to bestow the honour on Dr William Rutherford nearly 60 years after he returned to Ireland shows the long-lasting impact he had on the area.

The son of a Presbyterian minister, William Rutherford was born in

34

Herald June 2025

Warrenpoint, but moved to Dun Laoghaire with his family at the age of six. He attended boarding school in Belfast before going on to study medicine at Trinity College, Dublin.

While working in Belfast, William became drawn to serve as a missionary doctor and in 1947, on hearing that a

William counted it as an honour and privilege to help people…

hospital in India was due to close as its surgeon was retiring, he and his wife Ethne went to Anand in Gujarat – just months before Indian independence.

Despite the turbulent times that followed in the country, the Rutherfords stayed, and for the next 20 years, William worked in Anand Hospital as a general surgeon and hospital administrator. This meant he did everything from obstetrics to neurosurgery, as well as having responsibility for the day-to-day

James Rutherford (right), son of William Rutherford, with his sons William and Andrew and grandson Roddy

Those who served with him in India viewed him as a man with a big heart, a man of God. running of the hospital.

The Rutherfords returned to Ireland in 1967, following the closure of the hospital. A minute of appreciation recorded by PCI on William’s return said his “wide medical knowledge and fine surgical skill were matched by a searching, probing mind, restless intellectual energy, and a deep unwavering faith.”

The minute continues: “Dr Rutherford built up the work in the Anand Hospital, served as Chief Medical Superintendent and on church and mission boards and committees, including the Board of Ludhiana, and welcomed opportunities to engage Hindu scholars in discussion, dialogue and debate.”

Rev Uel Marrs, Secretary of the Council for Global Mission, says William counted it as an honour and privilege to help people, and thought little, if called in the night, of travelling 100 miles or more by train to save a life.

“He performed with very limited

William Rutherford carrying out an operation

resources what was referred to as miracle surgery…Those who served with him in India viewed him as a man with a big heart, a man of God,” he adds.

William is still remembered in the area, and in recognition of the outworking of his faith, Anand School recently opened the Dr Rutherford Prayer Hall. Poignantly, his descendants were there to witness the honour, with his son James, grandsons Will and Andrew, and 13-year-old great

grandson Roddy all making the trip.

“It was such a special moment to be there with the boys while remembering dad. Roddy cut the ribbon to open it,” says James.

For James, the entire trip meant so much. He explains, “I was born there and some of my happiest memories are from that my time. My sister and I were cared for by Lakshmi. We had a cook, Chagan, and Suleiman who worked around the house and also looked after us. We felt as though we were part of Herald June 2025

35

William Rutherford (centre) with other doctors and the matron in 1961

their families. The compound housed the hospital staff. There was a wonderful sense of love and belonging in that close knit Christian family.”

The sense of homecoming was added to with some familiar faces taking care of the family during the trip. “One evening Umang (grandson of the Rutherford’s cook) brought us for our meal, stopping en route at a friend’s place. The friend had an enormous iguana which Roddy took in his arms.

The meal was with 12 of my childhood friends and their children,” says James.

More friends were visited in Vadodara, and on a trip to the hill station of Mount Abu, James was able to stay in an old mission house he remembered from childhood, but is now beautifully renovated as a heritage hotel.

Other trips saw the group tour the Irish Presbyterian Mission (IPM) compound in the nearby town of Borsad. A small hospital is still running there, along with a nursing college, teacher training college and a school, all operated by the IPM Trust.

The trip also presented opportunities to see India’s wildlife, with the group

Roddy and William cut the ribbon to the ‘Dr Rutherford Prayer Hall’

It was such a special moment to be there with the boys while remembering dad… encountering a black bear during a walk around Naki Lake to Honeymoon Point. A guided jungle trek afforded beautiful views and evidence of leopards.

In another instance, James recalls, “Umang volunteers with a charity that rescues wild animals and birds. He stopped by the river in the city centre.

In minutes we had watched seven crocodiles swimming past. We then did sightseeing at the palace and park.

Later we visited the animal charity where a large croc had just been rescued from someone’s house and was in a cage awaiting release in the river. There were also injured birds and animals and even snakes being cared for.”

While the sights were spectacular, what made the trip special for James was the thoughtfulness of friends, reminding him of his first trip back with wife Sandra.

James says, “The kindness of our friends had made our trip a very special time.” One friend and his wife had even fasted and prayed for the previous four Fridays, that they would have a safe visit.

For the youngest member of the family travelling, the trip was particularly special. Roddy had always wanted to see where his grandfather was born and his great grandparents had served. Now he is talking of going again to visit his new friends.

With family and friends, Christmas 1954

William Rutherford’s work back in Northern Ireland Although the prayer hall was in tribute to the 20 years he spent in India, William Rutherford also made an impact in medicine locally.

On returning to Ireland from his missionary role in 1967, he was not accepted for a surgical post despite all the experience gained in India.

He went instead to work in casualty, thereafter becoming one of the first consultants appointed to Accident and Emergency in the United Kingdom.

In this role at the Royal Victoria Hospital, he developed emergency medicine in what was considered an unglamorous role. Then in 1969, Northern Ireland’s Troubles began and he found himself with 40 and 50 patients at a

36

Herald June 2025

time, something no one was used to or prepared for.

In this context, he successfully devised disaster plans for the rapid mobilisation of staff, plans that then became a blueprint for many hospitals in the UK. He wrote the first textbook of A&E medicine, and saw the importance of research, writing many papers, especially on accident prevention. His study on seatbelts led to some of the UK’s current legislation.

William was awarded an OBE in recognition of services rendered during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He was a member of Fitzroy Presbyterian Church, the Clonard/Fitzroy Fellowship and the Corrymeela Community where he made a great contribution.

REFLECTIONS

A radical life Tommy Bruce Studies in Mark 2:13–22

“Y

ou attend that church that teaches the in attending church if invited by a friend or a family Bible?” This was a question posed to one of member. Sadly, maybe we are more like the Pharisees than our church’s elders a few years ago. One of the new convert Levi, expecting people to conform before his work colleagues had been at our church they can be transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit. for an event and was struck by the fact that in the 21st In Mark 2:18–22 we see a discussion on fasting. For century, there would be people who still consider the Bible the religious in Jesus’ day, fasting was a sign of religious to have something to say into their lives. devotion. The public knew that this was a practice that John’s Of course, there is a danger that the radical nature of Jesus’ disciples were doing as well as the Pharisees. They believed teaching is forgotten by people who have grown up in the that this was a mark, a sign, that someone was serious church too. The principles that are taught – of loving the about following God. Yet Jesus’ disciples did not follow this Lord with everything and your neighbour as yourself – may spiritual discipline. Jesus’ response does not say that fasting be acknowledged and even practised, as is no longer required but rather that long as it’s not too demanding or too those who followed him would fast at …maybe we are more radical. Yet as we read the gospels, we see appropriate times. No longer would that Christ stood out as being radically like the Pharisees… fasting be a ceremonial ritual, like on the different from the religious people day of atonement in the Old Testament, expecting people to around him. but for believers it was a discipline to Looking at Mark 2:13–17, we see the conform before they can perform when it was appropriate. We see radical nature of Jesus in the people he this in the book of Acts as the church be transformed… associated with. Jesus again identifies and seeks the will of the Lord. Fasting was calls a disciple, but this time, instead of a salt of the earth not to be a religious activity to impress others or a sacrifice hard-working fisherman, or a passionate religious zealot, it to appease God. was an educated liberal that he chose. Jesus chose someone The new relationship between humankind and God is not who enjoyed having a comfortable lifestyle by collaborating based on religious activities but on a relationship with Jesus. with the Roman authorities, rather than suffering for the The religious system established in the Old Testament has cause. been fulfilled and transformed through Jesus Christ. To try Sitting at the tax collecting booth, Levi was considered and limit the radical grace and transforming love that we by the great and the good to be a traitor in every way – receive through the gospel is to make living for Jesus a list of religiously, morally and racially. He was someone who would tasks to complete. What Jesus offers is not a ‘to-do’ list, but never be invited to join the inner circle of a Rabbi, yet that rather an opportunity to go on a journey of radically living in is exactly what happened. When Jesus called him to “come faith as we follow him. follow me”, Levi’s life was changed forever, leaving the taxes uncollected, and beginning an adventure of faith. What Rev Tommy Bruce is minister of Trinity, Letterkenny and Trenta follows is sadly all too familiar – instead of rejoicing and Presbyterian Churches in Donegal. welcoming a person who has been converted and is looking to introduce others to God, Levi’s efforts instead become the object of cynicism. Why would this holy man associate with sinners?

I wonder how many young Christians have been discouraged by the questioning frowns, or the ‘I am not sure they are our type of people’ comments, as they invite their unchurched friends to share in worship. Interestedly, in the recent report ‘The Quiet Revival’ by the Bible Society, it was stated that a third of unchurched people would be interested Herald June 2025

37

Being brave...

...and kind

Peter Lynas discusses how engaging with culture and speaking into the public square involves both bravery and kindness.

A

s I travel across Northern Ireland and the wider UK, spending time with different church communities, I’m struck by a recurring theme. Whether I’m speaking with church leaders or everyday believers, I keep hearing the same deep concern: how do we speak truth and hope into a culture that often feels post-truth and increasingly devoid of real hope? Many Christians are wrestling with how to be salt and light in conversations that are deeply contested and emotionally charged.

Let’s be honest – there’s no denying that we’re living in the midst of a powerful secular tide. Our culture is facing significant challenges. We see a generation shaped more by what they see than what they hear, more influenced by feelings than by truth.

Personal experience has become the ultimate authority, and many are being encouraged to look inward for identity rather than upward to the One who made them.

38

Herald June 2025

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be good news people in a bad news world. In a time when confusion seems to reign and truth is often seen as relative, the church must not lose its voice or its courage. Too often, there’s a temptation to reshape Scripture to fit the culture, but our calling is the opposite – to change our culture with the transforming truth of the Word of God. This moment in history demands both courage and compassion. We need to be braver in standing for truth, and kinder in how we live it out. The world is watching – not just what we say, but how we say it. In a generation hungry for meaning, our authenticity and love will open doors that arguments alone cannot.

We need to be braver in standing for truth, and kinder in how we live it out.

A missional moment But it’s not all challenge. As I travel, I’m also hearing remarkable stories of renewal. More and more people – especially young men – are making the life-changing decision to follow Jesus.

And this isn’t just anecdotal. Recent research from the Bible Society makes for extraordinary reading.

Its 2024 update to polling first conducted in 2018 shows a 50% increase in the number of people in England and Wales who identify as Christian and attend church at least once a month. The most dramatic growth is among 18–24-year-olds, where numbers have jumped from just 4% to 16%. The increase is even more pronounced among men and those from ethnic minority backgrounds.

The data paints a hopeful picture: the church in the UK is getting younger, more diverse, and more male. Bible engagement is also on the rise – Bible sales have surged by 85% over the past five years, with the Good News Bible

Youth Edition leading that growth. The narrative of decline, often repeated, is no longer the whole story.

The Bible Society called its research ‘The Quiet Revival’ – and that title feels prophetic. Underneath the noise of secularism, something new and Spiritled is stirring.

A new openness to faith Justin Brierley has written about what he calls a “surprising rebirth of belief in God”. While not everyone is becoming a Christian, there’s clearly a growing openness – a cultural willingness to take faith seriously again. Spiritual conversations are no longer confined to church walls; they’re happening on podcasts, in public debates, and across social media platforms.

“We are witnessing public figures explore faith in a profoundly visible way.”

Figures like Jordan Peterson, known for his psychological and cultural commentary, are leading millions into deep reflection on the Bible and its wisdom. Ayaan Hirsi Ali – once a vocal atheist touring with Richard Dawkins – has embraced Christianity, along with her husband, historian Sir Niall Ferguson. Feminist author Louise Perry was drawn to Christianity as she critiqued the failures of the sexual revolution. Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty and even the often-troubled comedian Russell Brand have spoken openly about rediscovering the spiritual dimension of life.

One of the most significant apologetics moments of our generation may have gone largely unnoticed in the church. A few months ago, Joe Rogan – host of the world’s most popular podcast – spent over three hours with Canadian apologist Wes Huff discussing the Dead Sea Scrolls and the historical evidence for Jesus.

“Forget Billy Graham – this might be the biggest apologetic moment of our generation.”

Though Huff is not widely known, the conversation reached millions through Rogan’s YouTube and Spotify channels. Huff asks Rogan directly who he thinks Jesus is. “An exceptional

Conversations about sexuality, gender, abortion, free speech… are not distractions from the gospel – they are the frontlines of mission. human being… a person that died for our sins as the Son of God,” Rogan responds. He continues, “But you have to submit to this concept that this guy was the child of God who came down to earth, let himself be crucified, came back from the dead, explained a bunch of stuff for people, and then said, all right, see you when I come back.”

It was thoughtful, respectful, and spiritually serious. This is the new frontier of faith conversations – digital, public, and massive in scale.

A cultural vibe shift Culturally, we are seeing signs of a ‘vibe shift’. Many are beginning to see that the progressive agenda has not delivered on its promises. The sexual revolution has left relational wreckage in its wake. Conversations once taboo – about biological sex, marriage, meaning, and identity – are now being re-examined. People are recognising that reality and truth still matter.

Secular liberal materialism has worn thin. Instead, there’s a fresh hunger for risk, purpose, and even transcendence.

This doesn’t mean we’re witnessing a revival in the classic sense. There is still confusion. Some of the cultural interest in Christianity is pragmatic – viewing it as a framework to rebuild the West, a tool rather than a treasure.

Others are drawn to faith as part of broader trends: a renewed interest in masculinity, tradition, or community.

Yet amidst the noise, many are genuinely exploring faith in Jesus, often in real time, and often on very public platforms. It’s messy. It’s unpolished.

But it’s happening.

At the heart of it, our culture still lives off the fruit of the Christian story.

For decades, we have enjoyed those fruits – human rights, dignity, justice,

compassion – while slowly cutting down the very tree that produced them. But some are now realising that Christianity is the operating system behind so much of what our society assumes to be true. Without it the apps do not work.

Hot-button gospel moments Conversations about sexuality, gender, abortion, free speech, and assisted suicide are not distractions from the gospel – they are the frontlines of mission. They provoke deep questions about human life, identity, freedom, and truth. Everyone has an opinion.

But few can explain why they hold it.

These hot-button issues are not detours. They are divine opportunities for gospel conversations.

The debate around assisted suicide creates space for conversations about the value of human life, choice, coercion, control and life after death.

The trans conversation is shifting daily with significant concerns around fairness, sport and women’s safety being aired. Everyone has a view on when human life begins – conception, heartbeat, 24 weeks, or birth. Everyone is prepared to limit free speech at some point – hurt, hatred, harm or incitement.

We must step into these conversations with courage and compassion. Our friends are wrestling with them too. They’re not just debating ideas – they’re searching for something solid to stand on.

Be brave. Be kind. Be ready.

Now is not the time to retreat. It’s time to re-engage. God is moving – in the quiet conversations, in the noisy podcasts, in the unexpected places. Our calling is to be faithful, courageous, and loving – ready to meet a questioning culture with the hope of the gospel.

The story of decline isn’t the whole story. A quiet revival is underway. Are you ready for what God is doing?

Peter Lynas is UK director of Evangelical Alliance.

Herald June 2025

39

Pioneering professor

honoured

Mark Smith looks at the life of Dame Louise McIlroy – a Presbyterian who defied social expectations and excelled in the field of medicine.

C

ounty Antrim-born Dame Louise McIlroy – the first female professor of medicine in Britain and Ireland – has been honoured with a commemorative Ulster History Circle Blue Plaque.

Born in 1874 in Knockahollet, she worshipped with her family in Kilraughts Presbyterian Church near Ballymoney. She moved to Ballycastle when her doctor father was appointed medical officer to the district, which included Rathlin Island, the local workhouse, fever hospital and any passing ships. Together with her sisters, Dame Louise spent time at the intermediate school, held in Ballycastle Presbyterian’s church hall.

Uniquely for her time, she followed in her father’s footsteps, graduating in 1898 from Glasgow University as one

Uniquely for her time, she followed in her father’s footsteps…

40

Herald June 2025

of the first female graduates. Dame Louise went on to make history when in 1901 she became the first woman to earn a doctorate in Medicine (an additional qualification). According to the university’s ‘Roll of Honour’, after further postgraduate work throughout Europe, she specialised in gynaecology, obstetrics and midwifery, and was appointed Gynaecological Surgeon at the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow, a post she held from 1906 to 1910.

At the outbreak of the First World War when she was 40, along with other women medical graduates, she offered her services to the government, but was turned down. Together with her colleagues they were, however, accepted by the French government and set up the Scottish Women’s Hospital for Foreign Service.

During that time, Dame Louise commanded a mobile unit of the hospital in three different theatres of war: France, Serbia, and Salonika, finishing the war as a surgeon at a

…in 1901 she became the first woman to earn a doctorate in Medicine…

Very Rev Dr Godfrey Brown

hospital in Constantinople, Turkey, run by the Royal Army Medical Corps.

For her contributions to the war effort, and to medicine, she was awarded an OBE by King George V, the Croix de Guerre with palm leaves by the French government, along with other foreign honours.

At the end of the war, Dame Louise returned to Glasgow, but in 1921 moved to London, where she had been appointed Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the London School of Medicine for Women (now the Royal Free Hospital Medical School) – the first woman to be appointed a medical professor in the United Kingdom.

Before retiring in 1934, the King appointed her a Dame Commander of the British Empire for services to midwifery in 1929. Two years later, she became an Honorary Doctor of Science, awarded by Queen’s University, Belfast. With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, she came out of retirement to organise maternity services in Buckinghamshire, before returning to Scotland to live with her sister in Ayrshire. She died in Turnberry in February 1968, aged 94.

Her dying wish, however, was to be buried in the family grave at Ballycastle Presbyterian Church. Dr Godfrey Brown was minister of the County

Antrim church at the time and he was also present at the unveiling of the Blue Plaque.

Recounting the story of her coming back to Ballycastle nearly 60 years ago, the former PCI Moderator said, “I was a young minister of 28 at the time of Dame Louise’s death, but had never met her. Her solicitor in Scotland got in touch to let me know that she had requested that her ashes be interred in the family grave at the church, alongside her father and mother. This was beside the front door of the church and close to the church hall, where she received her final education in preparation for her entry to university.

“So, when the time came, he brought over Dame Louise’s, and her sister Janie’s ashes in two little caskets, and I conducted the service at their interment. On 24 May 1968, as she had wished, her ashes were laid to rest with her family in the grave.”

He concluded by saying, “Dame Louise’s career was unique at a time when women were not afforded the opportunity to exercise such singular influence in the profession. She was a pioneer, and really defied the social expectations of her time to become

one of the most respected figures in medicine.”

Chris Spurr, chairman of the Ulster History Circle, emphasised Dame Louise’s unique contributions, noting her pivotal role in advancing obstetrics, gynaecology, and child welfare, saying, “Dame Louise McIlroy was a pioneering doctor from County Antrim who devoted her career to advancing the areas of obstetrics, gynaecology and child welfare. “…the Ulster History Circle is delighted to commemorate the first female Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Britain and Ireland with a Blue Plaque. The Circle is grateful to the Ulster-Scots Agency for their financial support towards the plaque, and to Ballycastle Presbyterian Church for their kind assistance.”

The plaque was placed on the old caretaker’s house (now a private property) adjacent to Ballycastle Presbyterian Church in the town’s Castle Street, Ballycastle, which is close to the grave of Dame Louise McIlroy.

Mark Smith is PCI’s press and media officer.

Ian Williamson, principal of Ballycastle High School; Lavinia Tilson, Ulster-Scots Agency; Rev Gary Glasgow, vacancy convener Ballycastle Presbyterian; Colonel Neil Salisbury, His Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenant for County Antrim; Very Rev Dr Godfrey Brown, Paul Hayes, property convener Ballycastle Presbyterian; Chris Spurr, chairman Ulster History Circle; and Derek Reaney, Ulster-Scots Agency

Herald June 2025

41

REVIEWS

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

Holy Ghost Stories Hazelfire Studios PODCAST

««««« This podcast, narrated by Justin Gerhardt, is described as: “An episodic, immersive telling of the stories of the Old Testament with a focus on character and craft.” It is exactly that.

Gerhardt is a gifted storyteller and through embellishment, that is careful not to contradict the biblical narrative, he tells stories of the Old Testament that manage to place us as listeners right into the heart of the story itself.

His skillful telling gives a greater understanding of the characters, helping us empathise with their situations. Where many stories in the Old Testament can seem strange and obscure, he makes them relatable, drawing us in, to the humanity of the individuals involved but also closer to the character of God. He spent 20 years as a minister before feeling called to explore new ways to share sacred stories with an irreligious world. The podcast began in 2021 and so now there are 76 episodes to choose from. It has a devoted listenership spanning more than 65 countries and with 600,000+ downloads. Gerhardt also does inperson expressions which bring God’s Word to life in a live show format.

Although from the States, he and his family lived in Ireland for a time and he recently brought the live show to both Ireland and Northern Ireland earlier this year.

This is a great podcast to share with your non-Christian friends, but it is also perfect for anyone wanting to engage more fully with the stories of the Old Testament.

SH

42

Herald June 2025

2084 and the AI Revolution John C. Lennox ZONDERVAN

£18.99

«««««

Stimulating, challenging and affirming, but also concerning, worrying and even frightening, 2084 delves into the AI powered revolution.

A book dealing with the ethical implications of AI will necessarily focus mostly on the potential harms, but Lennox does celebrate its widespread helpfulness.

AI is explained through narrow AI (better machines) to AGI (artificial general intelligence). Along with benefits, AI can adversely shape the future of work, enable autonomous weapons and, through wide scale data collection, empower covert surveillance. AGI is the drive to create fully intelligent autonomous machines.

If ultimately instructed by despots, the implications for freedom are truly threatening.

The big question is what makes us human? Could some super intelligent being arise from a merger of humanity and technology? The transhumanists promote a god man Homo Deus.

Is a human brain simply a meat, rather than a silicon computer? A machine might appear to demonstrate intelligence, but it is not conscious. Can machines make moral choices other than from the ethics of their programmers?

The author demonstrates that, for Christians, we already have the true Homo Deus in Jesus Christ. Our future is secure with him and his promised return. Without discussing the disputed end times timeline views, the last chapters of the book examine the interface of an AI world with the prophecies in Revelation.

This highly recommended study provides a framework for meeting the ethical challenges of AI, but affirmation that ultimately the Lamb wins.

JE

Loved Indeed Dan Cruver

UNION PUBLISHING

£7.99

«««««

My experiences of Cruver’s previous writings have been via articles on a blog titled ‘Desiring God’. These are such helpful writings for so many, both in a professional and pastoral capacity.

His personal experiences, where he presents tragedies in an openly vulnerable way, have brought comfort to many. This short book is very similar, especially as he begins by sharing his own testimony of how the book was birthed.

Throughout Loved Indeed, Cruver remains completely gospel-centred as he discusses the Christian life as a perpetual battle and that sometimes, because of the difficulties we face, we can experience feeling far from God. However, as he goes on to illustrate using the promises of Ephesians, there is nothing we can do to earn our standing with Christ and that we are given full armour – each piece strategically offered to us by God to live out our Christian life.

The collectiveness of knowing that we do not journey alone in sometimes doubting if God really loves us is at the core of this very special book.

We learn that if we can stop looking inside ourselves at our own subjective evaluation of whether the Father delights in us and instead, look outside of ourselves, to the objective love of the Father, then our doubting is replaced by assurance and comfort.

A little aside – please do not ignore the appendix at the back of the book which contains a beautiful tribute to Cruver’s earthly father who has recently gone to glory.

CS

REVIEWERS

SEH – Suzanne Hamilton is an administrative assistant for the Herald CS – Clare Smith worships at St Andrew’s, Bangor

The Art of Disagreeing Gavin Ortlund THE GOOD BOOK COMPANY

£7.99

««««« «««« «

With society becoming ever more divided, this latest offering from Gavin Ortlund is particularly timely.

At 94 pages, this is a short, but useful book in considering how to deal with conflict in a Christ honouring way.

Ortlund contends that disagreement itself is not necessarily bad – in fact, it can be productive and deepen relationships – and adds, “The problem is that today, both in the broader culture and in the church, we are not handling disagreement well.”

He says the need to learn to disagree well is an especially poignant challenge for Christians “because failure in this area often discredits our witness to the gospel”.

For healthy disagreement, Ortlund commends kindness and advises wishing the other person well in your heart, offering prayer and encouraging words.

However, he warns that this must be balanced with courage – a commitment to the truth. “Both are needed: kindness without courage is too flimsy; courage without kindness is too brash,” he says.

The book also outlines strategies on how to move difficult conversations forward. These include listening, with Ortlund pointing out that many times, upset is caused not by the difference of opinion but by not feeling heard.

While listening is the receptive aspect of conversation, persuasion is proactive.

Ortlund says those skilled in this can find ways to make progress in seemingly intractable disagreements.

The discussion questions at the end of each chapter are helpful in thinking through the points made, and could be used in a small-group setting or for personal reflection.

SEH

RB – Ruth Bromley is PCI’s children’s development officer RD – Ruth Dalzell is coordinator of youth ministry and congregational discipleship in Second Comber SH – Sarah Harding is editor of the Herald JE – Jeremy Eves is a member of West Church, Bangor

New Irish Arts: Live from the Belfast Waterfront Hall The New Irish Choir and Orchestra AVAILABLE FROM STREAMING SERVICES

««««« Many of us will be familiar with music from New Irish Arts, founded by Keith Getty in 1994, which aims to encourage people to worship God. This can be in equipping and giving opportunity to musicians or leading congregations and audiences in praise to our God. To celebrate their

Jesus Moments: Esther Alison Mitchell THE GOOD BOOK COMPANY

£6.99

«««««

I love the story of Esther. I love the twists and turns, but also the outcome of the truth overcoming injustice. The retelling of the story by Alison Mitchell is simplified from the biblical text, but doesn’t pull any punches as to the jeopardy that existed for God’s people but also the knowledge that God is ultimately in control and not the evil of Haman.

30th anniversary, they recorded music from two birthday concerts, held in the Waterfront Hall in September 2024.

The album showcases the amazing talent found in the New Irish Choir, New Irish Orchestra and the New Irish Youth Choir. Initially, a new track was released one week at a time and now the whole album is available.

There are so many brilliant songs to enjoy, with a mix of old favourites and newer music too. You will also hear wonderful solos from Sylvia Burnside, Steph Devlin, Ryan Garnham, David Gibson, Rachael Heater, Laura Story and Katy Trehane.

Some of my favourite tracks are the medleys Festival of Hymns and A Spiritual Rhapsody, which was commissioned for the 30th birthday concert. I also love Total Praise based on the words of Psalm 121, and the recording of the words from John 14 and Revelation 5 and 21.

This is a truly uplifting album and one worth listening to.

RD

The other aspect to this book, which is so helpful for leaders or parents trying to hide the Word of God in children’s hearts, is that it does not simply tell the story and leave it at that. As in the other books in this particular series from The Good Book Company, the story highlights hidden moments which show that how the character acts or speaks is a bit like Jesus.

There are hidden clues – four in this story – dotted throughout for children to find as they read it. Then at the end, those parts of the story are retold in light of who Jesus is and show how the person acted a little, though imperfectly, like Jesus.

This is the third book in this ‘Jesus Moments’ series, following David and Moses, and I think it is so important for children to read these stories of rescue in the Old Testament and see that they point to Jesus, the greatest rescuer of all.

This particular book is recommended for children aged between four and seven years.

RB

Herald June 2025

43

LIFE IN PCI

Retirements in Ardstraw A presentation was recently made to Mervyn and Sharon Smyth to mark their retirement as Sunday school and Bible class leaders in Ardstraw Presbyterian Church, after over 50 years’ combined service. They are pictured with Sam Stevenson (Sunday school superintendent in the County Tyrone church) and Rev David Reid.

Presentation in Bushvale Rev Kenneth Crowe is pictured presenting a gift to Elaine Wilson in recognition of her 17 years as honorary treasurer in Bushvale congregation and 20 years producing the newsletter for the County Antrim church. Also included is John Chestnutt (clerk of session).

New elder in First Newry

Elder installed in Ryans

The ordination and installation of Andrew Dalzell as an elder in First Newry (Sandys Street) took place recently. He is pictured with members of the kirk session. Front row: Ronnie Dalzell, Mr Dalzell and Evelyn Chambers. Back row: Brian Morrow, Rev Bryan Kee, Stanley Bond and Allan Morrow.

At a recent service in Ryans Presbyterian Church, Jonathan Jackson was ordained and installed as a ruling elder. Mr Jackson is in the front row with his wife Diane and sons Will, George and Boyd. Back row: Rev Brian Colvin (minister of the County Down church), Uel Wright (clerk of session) and William Mitchell (elder).

New minister in Ballywillan Rev Gordy McCracken has been installed as the new minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church. Pictured in the front row are: Rev Stuart Morrow (convener), Rev Gary Aitchieson (moderator of presbytery), Mr McCracken, Robert Wilson MBE (clerk of session) and Dr Trevor McCormick (clerk of presbytery). Back row: D. Turbitt, J.R. Loughrey and D. Dale (representative elders), Rev Jonny McKane, Rev Brian Smith, Rev Ivan Hunter and Lorraine Simpson (representative elder). Photograph courtesy of Coleraine Chronicle.

44

Herald June 2025

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

Presentation in Armagh First Presbyterian Church, Armagh presented its longest serving Sunday school teacher, Harry McKennell, with a Bible to mark his retirement after 58 years of faithful service. Pictured are: Sarah MacDonald (Sunday school superintendent), Rev Thomas Moore, Mr McKennell and Ian Kyle (clerk of session).

New elders in Ballyblack A commission of the Presbytery of Ards recently held a service of ordination and installation for three new elders in Ballyblack Presbyterian Church. The new elders are pictured with members of the kirk session.

Front row: Betty Glenn with the new elders – James Martin, Valerie Robinson and David Tennis. Back row: Alex Warden, Elizabeth Warden, Rev Andras Gilicze, David Blevings and David McCracken (clerk of session). Missing from the photo is Robert Bole who was unable to attend.

New elder in Ahorey Ian Newell has been ordained and installed as an elder in Ahorey Presbyterian Church by a commission of Armagh Presbytery. Pictured are: Fred Sandford, Mark Elder, Rev Alan Marsh (convener), Mr Newell, Wendy Newell, Rev Joanne Smith (moderator of presbytery), Rev Philip McClelland (clerk of presbytery and minister of Ahorey) and Dr Christopher Holland.

New elders in Magheramorne Nigel Graham, Lorna Swann and Gary Bissett (pictured seated) have been ordained and installed as ruling elders in Magheramorne Presbyterian Church by a commission of Carrickfergus Presbytery. They are pictured with the members of commission – Rev Andrew Watson (vacancy convener), Robert Logan, Jack Smith, Rev Jonathan Moxen (moderator of presbytery), Ken McKinley, Dr Colin McClure (clerk of presbytery), Niall McConkey and Rev Peter Bovill.

Anniversary celebrated in Redrock The 60th anniversary of Redrock Presbyterian Church’s PW was marked recently. Members of the County Armagh PW are pictured, with Joy Hawthorne and Norah Kelly cutting the cake.

Herald June 2025

45

LIFE IN PCI

King’s Badges in Bloomfield

BB display in Kilmakee

Joshua, Noah and Daniel from 24th Belfast Boys’ Brigade in Bloomfield Presbyterian recently received their King’s Badge. They were each presented with their awards by their mums.

Nine-year-old Alexander Steele and Jack Steele, aged seven, are pictured with the awards they received at the recent Boys’ Brigade display in Kilmakee Presbyterian Church, Dunmurry.

CROSSWORD Puzzle no 299 1

2

solution on page 50 3

4

8

5

6

7

9 10

11

12

13 14

15

16

17

18

19 20 21 22

25

23

24

26

compiled by Harry Douglas

46

Herald June 2025

ACROSS 1 The proclamation of God’s Word (9) 6 Super shot (3) 8 Scottish dances (5) 9 Passenger ship (5) 10 Short sleeved shirt (3) 11 Female sheep (3) 12 Old English negative (3) 13 Fertile place in a desert (5) 14 Initials of a world boxing organisation (3) 15 Type of pasta (5) 17 Brazilian dance (5) 19 Observe (3) 20 Walks unsteadily (8) 22 Jesus took on this role (7) 24 Occurrence (5) 25 Irish province (7) 26 Inclined surface (5)

DOWN 1 Great with carrots (8) 2 All people (8) 3 Dearest (9) 4 Small landmass off south coast of England (4,2,5) 5 First OT book (7) 6 Land measurements (5) 7 Paul wrote to these believers (9) 16 Spooky (5) 18 Reaching a destination (7) 20 What Jesus does (5) 21 Break off (4) 22 Total (3) 23 Refers to name before marriage (3)

REFLECTIONS

Cosplay

Ruth Sanderson

I

was once walking in a gloriously beautiful woodland just about as a lute player played (yet another) rendition of outside Bristol. It was the height of summer and the Greensleeves. bright green canopy was gently swishing above me in the It was great fun to be immersed in another time, another warm breeze. As I walked along, two men approached in life. It made me smile how all these ‘Tudors’ would simply the distance and walked in my direction. As they got closer, go back to their normal lives once the weekend was over.

I noticed something odd about them – one had a tunic on The lord of the manor would go back to his desk job in IT, and other chainmail trousers with an olde-worlde-looking the milkmaid back to her admin role, the lute player back cheesecloth shirt. Both were wearing helmets and looked to… well, who knows… because while it was a sincere and very pink in the face. It took my brain a second to calibrate genuine reenactment, they weren’t actually real Tudors. what I was seeing – had I slid into another time? How I was talking to someone the other week who used this would I get back to the present day? analogy when talking about people within the church.

I saw one take a swig from a can of His area of academic research is into lemon Fanta, which I decided probably why people stay in religion and faith We have been called to wasn’t available back in medieval times, communities when they have no clothe ourselves, not in personal belief themselves, or have lost and so, breathed a sigh of relief.

As they clanked past me, more people faith. He described it as ‘Christian the ritual and practices of their – men, women and children – came Cosplay’ – dressing up and immersing the church, but rather to oneself in the garbs and ephemera into view, all dressed in the same type of clothing. Some of them had set of something, which is where the clothe ourselves in the up tented encampments, some were experience ends. It’s not real and it’s not wonder of the cross. practising sword fighting, some were personal. doing archery, some baking bread and It all seemed very familiar, especially in others whittling bits of wood into who knows what. our part of the world where religion is so intertwined with Some had very modern looking tents and fold-up patio cultural identity. How often do people dive headlong into furniture and some were texting. church life but have no inner spiritual life? Are we all guilty I had unwittingly wandered into the Saturday afternoon of it to some extent? Putting on the appearance without gathering of a historical reenactment group. enough care over the substance?

You have very likely seen one of these groups somewhere, We have been called to clothe ourselves, not in the ritual painstakingly enacting life as it was in yonder year. People and practices of the church, but rather to clothe ourselves in who love to immerse themselves in whole worlds, whether the wonder of the cross.

Viking, wartime, Roman – you name it. Going into Isaiah 61 says: “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul meticulous detail to decide how many stripes should be on rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of badges, which buttons are appropriate for a Jacobean jacket, salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness.” or the correct arrangement of headgear for a Tudor courtier.

How marvellous to be able to live it for real, not as an It’s not just the clothes – it’s maintaining life, for a short empty enactment but the real thing, in and out. time, as though one was living in it.

One summer, my husband took us to a stately home where he worked as a student and every year the house hosted a ‘Tudor weekend’. The kitchens were full of the smell of fresh bread, cloves and smoked fish; the dairy was occupied with some milkmaids churning milk into butter. The seated family had their Tudor finery on and sat with delicate embroidery on their laps. Somewhere on the lawn, a peacock strutted

Herald June 2025

47

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.

BALLINA SPECIAL MINISTRY MR RICK HILL: c/o Mission Department, Assembly Buildings, 2–10 Fisherwick Place, Belfast, BT1 6DW.

BALLYRONEY and DRUMLEE: REV LIAM RUTHERFORD: (Ballyroney) Mr David Peters, 30 Seafin Road, Ballyroney, Banbridge, BT32 5ER. (Drumlee) Mr Graham Truesdale, 128 Lackan Road, Ballyward, Castlewellan, BT31 9RX.

BLOOMFIELD: REV GRAEME KENNEDY: Mr Andrew Shott, 7 The Walled Garden, Belfast, BT4 2WG.

DROMORE and DRUMQUIN: REV E.T. FRAZER: (Dromore) Mr Lynden Keys, 25 New Park Road, Dromore, Omagh, BT78 3JU. (Drumquin) Dr Paul Booth, 54 Bradan Road, Drumquin, Omagh, BT78 4QQ.

BUSHMILLS: (Reviewable Tenure – 5 years) VERY REV DR D.I.J. McNIE: Rev Martin Gracey, 6 Bush Crescent, Bushmills, BT57 8AJ.

GORTNESSY: REV DR SETH WRIGHT: Mr Ross Hyndman, 32 Temple Road, Strathfoyle, Londonderry, BT47 6UB.

DONEGAL TOWN and STRANORLAR: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years) REV ROBERT ORR: (Donegal Town) Mr Oswald Perry, Drumenagh, Donegal Town, F94 N7P8. (Stranorlar) Mrs Audrey Chambers, Magheracorran, Convoy, Co Donegal.

HILLTOWN and CLONDUFF: 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.

DUNFANAGHY and CARRIGART: (Home Mission) 50% Congregational Ministry, 50% CMI Mission Project REV T.J. BRUCE: (Dunfanaghy) Mr John Sterritt, Moss Road, Cashelshanaghan, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, F92 TV21. (Carrigart) Mrs Joy Buchanan, Figart, Carrigart, Co Donegal, F92 N2WO. KELLS: REV M.J.R. NEILLY: Mr B. Turtle, 6 Appletee Lane, Kellswater, Ballymena, BT42 2LS. LISBURN, FIRST: (Reviewable Tenure – 5 years) VERY REV DR D. BRUCE: Miss Margaret Thompson, 2 Springhill Mews, Lisburn, BT28 3QG. LUCAN: REV A. CARROLL: Mr Ian Scott, 22 Willsbrook Avenue, Lucan, Co Dublin, K78 AP57.

MOIRA: REV DR M. COWAN: Mr Richard Brown, c/o Moira Presbyterian Church, 14–18 Meeting Street, Moira, BT67 0NR.

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

OMAGH, TRINITY and GILLYGOOLEY: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years) REV JANE NELSON: (Trinity) Mrs Claire McElhinney, 112 Clanabogan Road, Omagh, BT78 1SN. (Gillygooley) Mr Raymond Smyth, 82 Gillygooley Road, Omagh, BT78 5PX.

ANAGHLONE and GARVAGHY: REV D. CONKEY: (Anaghlone) Mr John Logan, 4 Bluehill Road, Katesbridge, Banbridge, BT32 5LU. (Garvaghy) Mr James Smyth, 35 Tullyglush Road, Banbridge, BT32 3TN.

RATHGAR – CHRIST CHURCH: REV LORRAINE KENNEDY-RITCHIE: Mr Paul Fry, 44 Monolea Wood, Firhouse, Dublin 24, D24 A2V3.

ARMAGH ROAD, PORTADOWN: REV P. McCLELLAND: Dr David Lowry, 5 Ridgeway Park South, Portadown, BT62 3DG.

RALOO and MAGHERAMORNE: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years) REV ANDREW WATSON: (Raloo) Mr Geoff McBride, 72 Raloo Road, Larne, BT40 3DU. (Magheramorne) Mr Morris Gardner, 89 Ballypollard Road, Magheramorne, Larne, BT40 3JG.

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

RASHARKIN & DUNLOY: REV R.J. WATT: (Rasharkin) Mr Samuel Kirkpatrick, 71 Mullan Road, Ballymoney, BT53 7ED. (Dunloy) Mr Jonathan Gault, 9 Drumnagee Road, Dunseverick, Bushmills, BT57 8TE. 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. STRAND: (Reviewable Tenure – 7 years) REV M. BURNSIDE: Mr John Johnston, 7 Helgor Park, Belfast, BT4 2GG. TRINITY, AHOGHILL and GRANGE WITH CRAIGMORE: REV N.G. MULHOLLAND: (Trinity, Ahoghill) Mr G. Knowles, 67 Tuppenny Road, Gracehill, Ballymena, BT42 2NW. (Grange with Craigmore) Mr Jamie Harris, 32 Portglenone Road, Randalstown, BT41 3BE.

48

2 LEAVE TO CALL DEFERRED

Herald June 2025

BALLINA and KILLALA: (Home Mission) REV DARYL EDWARDS: Mr Geoffrey Shannon, Robin Hill, Carraun, Corballa, Ballina, Co Mayo, F26 A070.

BALLYCAIRN: REV MORRIS GAULT: Mrs Lucy Mulholland, 32 Blenheim Park, Carryduff, BT8 8NN. BALLYCASTLE: REV G.W.M. GLASGOW: Pat Shirley, 22 Dunamallaght Rd, Ballycastle BT54 6PB. BALLYKEEL: REV R.A. MORRISON: Mr T. Simpson, 163 Crebilly Road, Ballymena, BT42 4DP. 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 DR MARK GOUDY: Mr Ivan J. Montgomery, 66 Teenaght Road, Claudy, BT47 4DD.

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 BANBRIDGE ROAD, DROMORE: REV R.A. LIDDLE: Mr Alan Robinson, 25 Beresford Green, Dromore, BT25 1HF. BELLAGHY and KNOCKLOUGHRIM: REV TREVOR BOYD: (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. BOARDMILLS, TRINITY: REV GRANT CONNOR: Mr Adrian Patterson, 41 Cabra Road, Legacurry, BT26 6NB. CASTLEDAWSON & CURRAN: REV STEWART GLENDINNING: (Castledawson) Mr Grainger Stewart, 46 Killyneease Road, Castledawson, BT45 8DS. (Curran) Mr Robin Boyce, 48 Lurganagoose Road, Knockloughrim, BT45 8QY.

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.

GLASCAR and DONAGHMORE: REV R.M. MOODY: (Glascar) Mr Alan Little, 38 Loughbrickland Road, Rathfriland, Newry, BT34 5HF. (Donaghmore) Mr David Shilliday, 21 Cargabane Road, Donaghmore, Newry, BT34 1SB. HELEN’S BAY: REV ANNE TOLLAND: Mr David McAuley, 9 Church View Cottages, Bangor, BT20 3EJ. HYDEPARK and LYLEHILL: REV ALAN MOORE: (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.

KILREA, SECOND: REV BRIAN SMYTH: Mr John McIlrath, 9 Moyagoney Road, Kilrea, BT51 5SX.

CASTLEDERG, SECOND AND URNEY: REV ROBERT McFAUL: (Second Castlederg) Mr Bert Huey, Tossa, 8 Listymore Road, Castlederg, BT81 7JG. (Urney) Mr Norman McMullan, 80 Orchard Road, Strabane, BT82 9QT.

LOUGHBRICKLAND and SCARVA: REV DR MARK GRAY: (Loughbrickland) Mr Fred Cairns, 20 Scarva Street, Loughbrickland, Co Down. (Scarva) Mr Robert Jordan, 3 Station Rd, Scarva, Co Armagh, BT63 6JY.

CAVANALECK & AUGHENTAINE: REV RODNEY BEACOM: (Cavanaleck) Dr Charles McKibbin, 9 Tattenabuddagh Lane, Fivemiletown, BT75 0NW. (Aughentaine) Mr John McCrory, Screeby Road, Fivemiletown, BT75 0TP.

LURGAN, FIRST: REV L.W. WEBSTER: Mr Norman McCleery, 12 McCormack Gardens, Lurgan, BT66 8LE.

CRUMLIN: REV STEPHEN McNIE: Mr James Livingstone, “Edin”, 56 Largy Road, Crumlin, BT29 4RW. CUMBER and UPPER CUMBER: REV J.R. KERNOHAN: (Cumber) Mr Cecil Pollock, 248 Tamnaherin Road, Londonderry, BT47 3LY. (Upper Cumber) Mr Jack McFarland, 12 Cregg Road, Claudy, Londonderry, BT47 4HX. DONEGORE, SECOND: REV E. McDOWELL: Mr Samuel Gawn, 120 Parkgate Road, Kells.

DROMARA, FIRST: REV M. DAVIDSON: Mr I. McCullagh, 10 Mullaghdrin Road, Dromara, BT25 2AF. DROMARA, SECOND: REV DR A. SLEITH: Mr Richard Kernaghan, 89 Rathfriland Road, Dromara, BT25 2EB. DRUMGOOLAND and KILKINAMURRY: REV ANDY DOWNEY: (Drumgooland) Dr Alastair Chestnutt, 22 Fruitvalley Road, Ballyward, Castlewellan, Co Down, BT31 9RE. (Kilkinamurry) Mr Mervyn Copes, 43 Carnpark Road, Dromara, Dromore, Co Down, BT25 2HD. DUNDROD: REV R.C. KERR: Mrs Alison McClure, 20 Thorndale Road, Dundrod, BT29 4UD. DUNGANNON: REV JAMES O’NEILL: Mr David Miller, 1 Bushvale, Dungannon, BT71 6QA. DUNMURRY & KILMAKEE: REV S. STOCKMAN: (Dunmurry) Rev Gilbert Young, 39 Saintfield Road, Lisburn, BT27 5BH. (Kilmakee) Mr Alastair White, 94 Greenburn Way, Lambeg, Lisburn, BT27 4LU. ESKYLANE: REV W.J.C. BROGAN: Mr S. McKee, 14 Eskylane Road, Antrim, BT41 2LL. FAHAN: REV PHILIP POOTS: Mr James Lamberton, 1 Deanfield, Limavady Road, Londonderry, BT47 6HY. FAUGHANVALE: REV P. LINKENS: Mr Donald Montgomery, 25 Carnmoney Road, Eglinton, BT47 3JJ. GARRYDUFF: REV NOEL McCLEAN: Mr Stanley Lee, 12 Cambourne Park, Ballymoney, BT53 7PG.

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. NEWTOWNSTEWART and GORTIN: REV JONATHAN BOYD: (Newtownstewart) Mr David Dunbar, 32 Main Street, Newtownstewart, BT78 4AA. (Gortin) Mr Adrian Adams, 32 Lisnaharney Road, Lislap, Omagh, BT79 7UE. PORTAVOGIE: REV G.J. SIMPSON: RANDALSTOWN, O.C.: REV CHRIS WILSON: Mr Alun Coulter, 48 Portglenone Road, Randalstown, BT41 3DB. RAPHOE and BALLINDRAIT: REV R. EDGAR: Mrs Sylvia Cole, The Common, Raphoe, Donegal.

RATHCOOLE: REV A. CARSON: Mr Norman Creaney, 7 Coolshannagh Park, Newtownabbey, BT37 9LA. RAY & NEWTOWNCUNNINGHAM: REV GRAHAM ORR: Mr Derek Roulston, Moyle Hill, Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal.

SLIGO: REV DANIEL REYES-MARTIN: Mr Albert Higgins, Carraroe, Sligo.

TAUGHMONAGH (Church Extension) REV K.H. VINER: TOWNHILL: REV J.D. McGAUGHEY: Mr R. Dickey, 23 Grange Cottages, Toomebridge, BT41 3GR. TULLYCARNET: REV R.S.J. McILHATTON: VINECASH: REV PRINCIPAL MICHAEL McCLENAHAN: Mr Thomas Graham, 38 Richmount, Portadown, BT62 4JQ. WARRENPOINT and ROSTREVOR: REV J.S. MAGUIRE: (Warrenpoint) Mrs Heather Gray, 25 Donaghaguy Road, Warrenpoint, BT34 3RZ. (Rostrevor) Mrs Doreen Henderson, 14 Greenpark Road, Rostrevor, BT34 3EY. continued on page 50

Herald June 2025

49

CHURCH RECORD continued from page 49 WATERSIDE: REV COLIN JONES: Mr William McIlwaine, 19 Glenaden Hill, Altnagelvin Park, Londonderry, BT47 2LJ. WOODBURN & LOUGHMORNE: REV JOHN STANBRIDGE: (Woodburn) Mr James Stewart, 25 Dairyland Road, Straid, Ballyclare, BT39 9QN. (Loughmorne) Mr Trevor Heron, 92 Cairn Road, Carrickfergus, BT38 9AP.

TEMPORARY STATED SUPPLY ARRANGEMENT BELLVILLE: REV J.T. GRAHAM: Mr Mervyn King, 29 Ardmore Road, Derryadd, Lurgan, BT66 6QP. SPA and MAGHERAHAMLET: REV DAVID BINGHAM: (Spa) Mr Stephen McBride, 28 Ballynahinch Road, Castlewellan, BT31 9PA. (Magherahamlet) Mr David Whan, 74 Castlewellan Road, Dromara, BT25 2JN. WHITEHEAD: REV P. BOVILL: Mr Warren Heggan, 44 Middle Road, Islandmagee, Larne, BT40 3SL.

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.

Accommodation PORTRUSH: Cosy 3-bedroom holiday house in Portrush, short walking distance from town centre, beaches and golf course. Can accommodate 4 adults and 2 children. Ofch, WiFi and downstairs toilet.

Min 2 night stay. Reasonable rates. Tel 07735 928901.

PORTSTEWART: A modern 3-bedroom semi-detached house presented to a high standard, with off-street parking and a fully enclosed rear garden. Near local amenities. Available high and low season.

No smoking and no pets allowed. Contact Paula: 07840 123518 or 028 79632163.

PORTSTEWART: Excellent 4-bedroom cottage bungalow available June– September. Call 07513 826551; Email pabloguy50@gmail.com; Facebook @campbellandcorentalproperties P O R T S T E WA R T H O L I D AY L E T : Townhouse, 3-bedroom, 2-minute walk to Promenade. WiFi. Full details tel: 07800 802662.

CASTLEROCK: Cosy holiday home available in Castlerock. Walk ing distance to the beach and short drive to Portrush/Portstewart. 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, modern amenities including a stove, WiFi and dog friendly with enclosed garden. Competitive rates and good summer availability. Contact 07955 054028.

WEST STRAND SEAVIEW: Escape to the coast to our ground floor, 2-bedroom seafront apartment – sleeps 5, ideal for families! Enjoy stunning sea views, direct beach access, and private parking. Your perfect beach getaway awaits! Contact: +447841 377618.

Instagram: @weststrandseaview Email: weststrandseaview@gmail.com

50

Herald June 2025

PORTSTEWART HOLIDAY RENTAL: 3-bedroom house in quiet location.

5-minute walk from the Promenade, shops and restaurants. Large enclosed garden.

Dog friendly. For more information www. porthouseportstewart.co.uk and booking email info@porthouseportstewart.com

Ross Morrow A.L.C.M., L.T.C.L.

Piano Tuning Services available throughout Ireland

Tel: +44 (0)28 9268 9468 Mobile: 07788 746992

CROSSWORD Solution to No 299

ACROSS 1 Preaching 6 Ace 8 Reels 9 Liner 10 Tee 11 Ewe 12 Nay 13 Oasis 14 IBF 15 Penne 17 Samba 19 See 20 Staggers 22 Servant 24 Event 25 Munster 26 Slope

DOWN 1 Parsnips 2 Everyone 3 Costliest 4 Isle of Wight 5 Genesis 6 Acres 7 Ephesians 16 Eerie 18 Arrival 20 Saves 21 Snap 22 Sum 23 Nee

THE MINISTRY Ordained and Installed: Mr Josh McCance, was ordained and installed as Associate Minister of Donabate, 26 January 2025 Resigned: Rev David Clarke, resigned as Minister of Sligo, 11 April 2025 Rev John Mullan, resigned as Minister of Castledawson & Curran, 11 April 2025 Rev David Kelly, resigned as Minister of Loughmorne & Woodburn, on 25 April 2025 Rev Neil Stewart, resigned as Minister of Trinity, Greyabbey, on 30 April 2025 Installed: Rev John Mullan, was installed as Minister of Greenwell Street, Newtownards, 11 April 2025 Rev David Kelly, was installed as Minister of Woodlands, 25 April 2025

THE ELDERSHIP Ordained and Installed: ABBEY (MONKSTOWN): Stephen Acheson, Sharon Allwell, Andrew Snoddy, David Stewart BALLYNAHATTY & CREEVAN: David Kerr, Robert McCrea DRUMLEGAGH: Warren Curran, Flora Magee, Kenneth McKeown FIRST AHOGHILL: David Dornan, Andrew Knox, Samuel McCallion, Paul McCullough FIRST PORTADOWN: Jon Hunter FIRST PORTGLENONE: Alan Bristow, James Fenton, David McDonald GLENGORMLEY: Peter McKinstry, Alison Orr IMMANUEL: Kevin Harvey ISLANDMAGEE: Hilary Marsden, Robert Smith KILMACRENNAN: Alan Stewart MOUNTJOY: Anne Beattie, Elaine Thompson STORMONT: Bryony Brennan, Thomas Brennan, Johanna Burr, Diana Byrne, Christopher Fenton, Brian Wilson Installed: FIRST AHOGHILL: Gareth McLaughlin FIRST PORTGLENONE: Alastair Gordon Retired: BALLYHENRY: Robert Doole ROSEMARY: Heather Semple WEST KIRK: Ken Davidson WHITEABBEY: Thomas Creighton WHITEHOUSE: Jackie Davison, Betty Morris WOODVALE: Margaret Wilson Died: ALEXANDRA: Wesley Lewis BALLYHENRY: William James (Jimmy) Johnston BELLASIS: Ruth Chambers CARNMONEY: Desmond Campbell, Dr Joseph Alan Preston, William (Bill) Dyer CLOUGH: Robert Cherry GLENGORMLEY: William Fleming NEWTOWNCROMMELIN: Rodger Crawford ROSEMARY: Wilbert Bennett WOODVALE: Margaret Wilson

Church AV Specialists

PA systems • Loop systems Projectors & screens • Installation & repairs alan@audiopromotions.co.uk www.audiopromotions.co.uk

07855 450887

Gather in Faith, Sit in ComFort.

Create a welcoming, comfortable space for your congregation or community.

Whether you’re preparing for Sunday worship, a choir rehearsal, or a large community event, our smart storage seating options make setup effortless and provide adaptable comfort for every occasion. Visit our showroom to view our full range of office furniture: Owen O’Cork Mill, 288 Beersbridge Rd, Belfast, BT5 5DX.

[deskwarehouse] T: 0800 9996055 deskwarehouse.co.uk

Bruce Gore Ireland Conference Thursday 19 – Sunday 22 June 2025 Conference Theme

“ ‘The Last Days’ According to Jesus – An Eschatology of Hope.”

For church leaders and members. All welcome

Programme Thursday 19 June from 7pm Welcome reception with Bruce and Kandyce Gore (Spokane Presbyterian Church, Washington) Invitations to be issued.

Friday 20 June starting at 8pm First Monaghan Presbyterian Church and Hall Chair: Rev Alan McQuade Saturday 21 June – 11am until 3pm (including lunch break) Second Ballybay Presbyterian Church and Hall Chair: Rev Dr Gerry Clinton Sunday Worship Services – June 22 11.30am Cavan Presbyterian Church – Rev Dr Jean Mackarel 7.30pm Cootehill Presbyterian Church and Hall – Rev Daryl Edwards

Study Programme Examining the meaning and context of Jesus’ words: 1. In the Prayer Petition, ‘Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as in heaven.’

2. In His (a) Mount Olivet Discourse (Mt 24; Mk 13; Lk 21) (b) and His Revelation to Apostle John.

3. In His Great Commission Preface, (Mt 28:18f ) All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go…

Please spread this information and invite

brucegoreirelandconferencejune2025.com Enquiries: cavanschooloftheology@gmail.com or Text: 00353 86 8079 165