Presbyterian Church in Ireland 2026 General Assembly: Ministers not storytellers or influencers, says moderator
The leader of the Presbyterian Church has warned ministers they are not to be “storytellers, motivational speakers, influencers or politicians” – but to preach Christ as the church copes with investigations into major safeguarding failures.
Police are investigating 101 referrals after an internal review found “serious and significant failings” in central safeguarding functions for children and vulnerable adults from 2009 to 2022. The Charity Commission also opened a statutory inquiry.
Speaking to ministers and elders from the church’s 500-plus congregations at the 2026 general assembly at Assembly Buildings Belfast yesterday, Moderator Rev Dr Richard Murray said that the Apostle Paul told Timothy to “preach the word”.
He added: “But Timothy was not to fit in, nor was he this storyteller, or a motivational speaker, or heaven forbid, an influencer, wherever they are, or a pulpit politician. He was to be a man of substance, of doctrine of the sacred writings, a herald heralding the Lord Jesus Christ.”
When John Wesley was writing up his diary, he said, he famously wrote about his preaching “I offered them Christ”.
He added: “In the same vein make much of Christ in your ministries, brothers and sisters… so beware getting deflected into politics, current affairs, local responsibilities and even too many committees, councils and commissions in this place, or in your presbyteries.
“I’ve been hearing a lot about polity [church government] over the last seven months and polity has its place – but I haven’t heard anyone talking about spirituality.
“I’ve been hearing a lot about the [Presbyterian] Code – which has its place – but I’d love to hear a lot more about compassion. I’ve been hearing a lot about covenant – and covenant is important – but I’d love to hear a lot more about conversion.
“It seems to me we in PCI are sometimes in danger of missing where the word of God places the emphasis and surely that’s on spirituality, compassion and conversion than on these other things?”
Dr Murray also referenced the safeguarding crisis, describing it as a “torrid time”.
He added: “I know it’s been a tough seven or eight months for our denomination and many have been left disheartened and discouraged by our failures in safeguarding.
“The words of Jesus in Matthew 18:6 serve as a warning to all those that would harm others 'if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea'.
“And we are deeply saddened and sorry that people have been hurt and harmed by our failings,” he added.
At one point former moderator Rev Dr Frank Sellar addressed the assembly about an anonymous email being regularly sent to all ministers by ‘Troubled Presbyterians’, which he likened to the masks worn by protestors against a parade in Scarva on Saturday.
He said it was “sinister” when someone chooses to protest by hiding behind an anonymous email instead of raising their concerns “through the courts of our church or here on the floor of this house”. His comments were met with an extended applause by the assembly.