Presbyterian Church in Ireland General Assembly 2026 holds close vote on climate change
The 2026 Presbyterian General Assembly had its only counted vote yesterday – relating to whether Climate Change is man made.
The debate was chaired by new Moderator Rev Richard Kerr from Templepatrick in his first day in the new role. His theme for the year in office is God's love, based on the verse John 3:16
Representatives from over 500 congregations across the island came together for their annual General Assembly to debate and discuss plans for the year ahead.
A resolution was proposed that the assembly give thanks for a conference it ran in September entitled 'God's world –Our responsibility'.
However retired minister David Johnston from Bangor rose to object.
When it was first proposed two years ago, he raised a question on "human induced climate change" and asked if "a dissenting voice would be represented at the conference".
The planner of the conference, he said, assured him there would be. However, he attended the conference in person and said it was entirely one sided.
Another retired minister, Rev Alan Wilson from Ballykelly, endorsed his concerns.
Responding, Rev Uel Mars, Secretary to the Council for Global Mission, replied: "I am very sorry that David is deeply disappointed and disturbed".
He said there had been repeated meetings and correspondence with Rev Johnston on the matter and that the church had no position on the question, nor did the conference set out to provide one.
A seminar at the conference aimed "to alert people to commonly used distortion of scientific facts" he said.
A counted vote was necessary to discern whether the assembly would give thanks for the conference or not. In the end it did, 61 votes to 50.
Earlier, there had been a prolonged debate on the church's current approach to a root and branch review of the entire structures of the church by the General Assembly Structures and Resources Review Panel.
It was proposed that an interim report from the panel be circulated to Presbyteries and Church Councils for a response by 6 November this year, using a proforma designed by the panel.
However delegates were deeply concerned at what they saw as a superficial method being used to consult on such grave matters in such a short timespan.
The resolution was amended to require every church council to provide a vision of its work. These, along with the panel's full report, should be widely circulated by 1 February 2027. The panel's recommendations must then undergo theological and legal review, with an update given to the next assembly in June 2027.
One of the new moderator's chosen personal chaplains is Rev Dr Karen Campbell, who played a prominent role on the platform in his first 24 hours in office.
Offering the prayer just before the assembly's communion on Friday, she prayed in relation to the riots of recent days.
"We lament homes, shops, and cars being burnt... the black balaclavas that still menace for fragile peace that has been shattered," she prayed.
She added: "Keep the vulnerable and violated safe, thwart the plans of the violent, shelter those living in fear. God of justice raise up peacemakers, prophetic voices; perfect your Spirit's work in us and Jesus, take the scales from our eyes and rancor from our hearts, and Spirit, hover over our lands so that your eternal glory may rise."