THE MODERATOR of the General Assembly, the Rt Rev Dr W Donald Patton, has sent a letter to all ministers asking them to inform, as widely as possible, members of congregations about developments in connection with the Presbyterian Mutual Society (PMS).
Much of his time has been spent latterly seeking to deal with the distress and anxiety felt by his fellow investors. He gratefully acknowledges the work of ministers and others who have dealt sympathetically and practically with the anxiety and personal difficulty of some because of the freezing of PMS’s assets.
Despite the issue of the report on the PMS by the administrator Arthur Forbes and a subsequent meeting with him, the ability to answer all questions on the future course of the mutual society remains difficult.
The church is meeting very acute needs out of benevolent funds accessed by ministers of the congregations, but major needs cannot be met meanwhile, if at all. A determinant may be a special meeting of the church’s general board.
Dr Patton has written to British prime minister Gordon Brown asking for a sympathetic consideration of the position of investors in the PMS. He has also proposed a face-to-face meeting.
He has met Northern MPs at Westminster asking for their help in advances to the British treasury, at the moment engaged in a review of a regulatory framework for financial mutuals in Northern Ireland.
Peter Robinson, First Minister in the North, is also seeking a meeting with the Mr Brown to discuss this matter.
A petition seeking similar governmental guarantees for United Kingdom mutual societies as for banks may be joined on-line at http://petitions.number 10.gov. uk/save-the-mutuals. This is only open to British residents.
The Presbyterian Church has received a grant of £1 million from the Northern Ireland Environmental Agency (NIEA) for restoration of Church House, its headquarters at the centre of Belfast. The work is expected to be finished in 2010.
Whether this heritage (grade A) would continue the church’s headquarters or whether a decision should be taken to relocate elsewhere was a subject at protracted recent general assemblies with a decision to relocate being taken.
In 2005 however, this was discounted, an action which together with this substantial grant continues to please a majority wishing to preserve the architectural heritage of Belfast, with Church House undoubtedly a significant part of it.
It is also appreciated that the restored building will adequately meet the administrative and other needs of the Church.
The proposal to build Church House, because other places for general assemblies seemed inadequate, was made by the Rt Rev Prof Todd Martin, then moderator in 1892.
The site was the square occupied by Fisherwick Church before it was removed to its present place on Malone Road. The building was completed at a cost of £80,000 and opened in June 1905 by the Duke of Argyll. The style is Gothic.
An oval main hall with galleries seats about 1,300. Interesting features are the splendid Cuthbert organ, while a 40ft clock tower houses Belfast’s only peal of 12 bells, which sadly continue to remain silent.
The General Assembly at its annual meeting in June last resolved to call membership to a “special focused” time of prayer described as “Awake 09 – Prayer stirring passion for mission”.
A diary inclusive of prayers, Bible readings for each day and a brief reflection is in preparation. “Awake 09” will run during the six weeks leading up to the celebration of Easter.
Diaries for each family in congregations are expected to be distributed during February.
The position of moderator of the General Assembly, the supreme ecclesiastical court of the Presbyterian Church, is held for one year.
Nominations for this honorary role are submitted by the 21 presbyteries in February each year.
Up for nomination by the several presbyteries are the Rev John Stafford Carson, BSc, MA, MAR, MTh, minister of First Portadown; the Rev Thomas Norman Hamilton, OBE, BA, BD, minister of Ballysillan, Belfast, and the Rev Derek John McKelvey BA, BD, minister of Fisherwick, Belfast.
The Rev David Moore, minister of Kilkenny, has been appointed moderator of the Dublin-Munster presbytery for 2009/10 and will be installed in May.
He is a graduate in arts and divinity of the University of Aberdeen.