Online installation for incoming Presbyterian moderator

The coronavirus social-distancing measures have prevented a traditional installation ceremony for Rev Dr David Bruce, however, the event will be livestreamed online from the PCI’s Assembly Buildings.

Rev Bruce is the 175th person to be elected moderator since the first in 1840.

The father-of-four lives in the Lisburn area with wife Zoe and worships at Elmwood Presbyterian on the outskirts of the city.

A former assistant minister at Wellington Street church in Ballymena, and more recently holding senior roles in the Scripture Union NI and the PCI Board of Mission in Ireland, he is the first moderator in 20 to come from a position outside of parish ministry.

Commenting on tonight’s unusual installation, Clerk of the General Assembly Rev Trevor Gribben said that only himself, the outgoing and incoming moderators – Rt Rev Dr William Henry and Rev Dr David Bruce – and the Deputy Clerk of the General Assembly, Rev Jim Stothers would be present.

He said: “Our General Assembly has been part of the rhythm of our Church life since 1840...and as far as I am aware a meeting has never been cancelled, only postponed, due to a different kind of national emergency in 1940.”

Mr Gribben continued: “Yet, unprecedented times often call for unprecedented responses, and like many organisations, we have found it necessary to find different ways of working to do what needs to be done, and this includes the installation of our new moderator.”