The election for the Presbyterian Moderator, which took place last night, ended in a tied vote for the third time in nine years.
Rev Norman Hamilton, minister of Ballysillan, Belfast, and Rev Norman McAuley from Greenwell Street, Newtownards, both received five nominations from the 19 presbyteries that met to vote for a new Moderator.
The Presbyteries will be asked to vote again on just the two tied names at their meetings next month to find a successor to present Moderator Dr Stafford Carson who continues in office until the Presbyterian General Assembly meets in June.
