General Assembly

The general assembly of the fellowship is held every six years, and in 2001 it took place in Belfast. Two years later, to mark the 30th anniversary of the agreement, it became the Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe

Presbyterians in communion with European churches

Letters to editor

Letter: The dangers in the euthanasia and hate law proposals

Composite lens image of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland's Assembly Buildings, where its annual General Assembly is held

'Asylum seekers are maybe one of the best opportunities our church has got'

The Assembly will discuss education, thanking those who serve on boards of governors, commending the work of special schools across Ireland

PCI prepares for General Assembly

In a significant change to this year’s General Assembly, it will not open on the evening prior to business commencing as it has done in previous years

Preparations for PCI assembly

The Rev Dr Sam Mawhinney has been continuing his moderatoral tour of Templepatrick presbytery in south Antrim, which brought back for him some fond personal memories

Templepatrick tour evokes memories for Presbyterian moderator

Above are the five ministers in the race to become the next moderator. Pictured, clockwise, from top left: Rev Mairisíne Stanfield; Rev Trevor Gribben; Rev Richard Kerr; Rev Gary McDowell; Rev Richard Murray

Five ministers hopeful of moderatorship

Last year, the General Assembly agreed significant reforms to proceedings

Presbyterian Church in Ireland makes changes to routine

First Armagh Presbyterian church. Picture: Billy Maxwell

Billy Kennedy's Churches: Theological differences over women in the pulpit

Larne were this season's Danske Bank Irish Premiership champions. Picture: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker.

Presbyterian Church welcomes rejection of Sunday football expansion in NI

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland needs to repent of its failure to fully accept into membership people with intellectual disabilities, a former moderator has said.

Presbyterians needs to repent on disability, says former moderator

Rev Trevor Gribben, Clerk of the General Assembly, told a press conference ahead of the General Assembly this week that the current number of 67 vacancies is a larger number than normal.

Why has Presbyterian Church vacancies for 67 ministers?

Right Rev Libby Lane pictured after she became first woman bishop in the Church of England. Ahead of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland's General Assembly, John Coulter, a member of the church, writes that the numerous women elders and ministers he's met all fulfilled their roles with professionalism and dedication

John Coulter: Women ministers are dedicated and caring, so why the problem?

Trinity Presbyterian church, Ballymoney Picture: Billy Maxwell

Billy Kennedy's Churches: Presbyterian Church prepares for its General Assembly

Screengrab from the April 2023 BBC documentary series The House of Paisley. This scene shows trouble in East Bridge Street, on the edge of the Markets. It seems to have been filmed after Rev Paisley marched past. Rev Foster says a riot in Cromac Square was under way before the marchers ever left Ravenhill Free Presbyterian Church

Rev Ivan Foster: I was at the 1966 Paisley march in Belfast, unlike our critic

News Letter editorial

It is pity that no US deal is in sight but it will be easier to rebuff pressure
The new prime minister has conceded that there is little prospect of an early trade deal with the US.
Editorial

A stained glass image of Christ on the cross

Northern Ireland’s biggest Protestant church voices concerns at Sunday football

The outgoing Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (left) Very Rev Dr David Bruce, shakes hands with his successor and Moderator of the all-Ireland denomination for 2022-2023, Right Reverend Dr John Kirkpatrick.

Presbyterians keep finances in good shape

Overseas partners with the Presbyterian Church in Ireland at the 2022 General Assembly in Belfast. Left to rigt Prof Zoltan Literaty a minister in the Hungarian Reformed, Percy Patrick of the Gujarat Diocese of the Church of North India, Amon Chanika, Director of Scripture Union in Malawi with Rev Edwin and Anne Kibathi of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa.

Presbyterians hear how £1.1m spent in Ukraine

Reverend John Kirkpatrick, Presbyterian Church Moderator

for 2022/23 at Assembly Buildings, Fisherwick Place, Belfast

Photography by Declan Roughan / Press Eye.

Incoming Presbyterian moderator’s theme for the year is 'grace'

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland's Clerk of the General Assembly and General Secretary, Rev Trevor Gribben, says the NI Protocol has unbalanced the Good Friday Agreement.

Church says Protocol has 'unbalanced delicate settlement' of GFA

Graeme Kennedy at Kirkpatrick Memorial Presbyterian Church

Presbyterian ministers: At your service ... and God's

The Rev Dr Samuel Hutchinson

Former Moderator ‘was a man of insight, determination and grace’

Letter to the editor

Lord Alderdice is in no place to lecture Presbyterians for adhering to doctrine

With the easing of some Covid regulations and the opening up of society in general, ministers and elders from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s (PCI) 500-plus congregations met in person in Belfast today for the all-Ireland denomination’s General Assembly. PCI’s Clerk of the General Assembly and General Secretary, Rev Trevor Gribben (left), and the Church’s Moderator, Right Reverend Dr David Bruce, are pictured with some of the ‘Blue Book’, which contain all the Reports, and upwards of 80 resolutions, that will be discussed and debated by members over the next three days.

Presbyterian moderator reflects on how 2020 caused ‘breaking of mould’ for churc...

With social distancing rules next week’s general assembly can accomodate 350 people on the ground floor and 100 in the gallery

Watch: preview of Presbyterian Church's General Assembly

Rev Trevor Gribben.

Presbyterian leaders to meet in person again
The leaders of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland will meet for their annual general assembly next month.
By The Newsroom

Presbyterian ministers take part in refresher initiative

Linzi Stewart from Moneyrea YFC is pictured five from left with her Rural Youth Europe colleagues at a rally in England in 2019

Rural Youth Europe top post for Moneyrea’s Linzi Stewart

PCI Moderator 2020-2021 Rt Rev Dr David Bruce

Presbyterian Church select committee makes significant decisions as General Asse...

Very Rev Professor Stafford Carson, Principal of Union Theological College, said both institutions "have their own distinct confessional identities within a broad Christian ethos".

Presbyterian college to go into partnership with Catholic university after split...

Rev Trevor Gribben

Church call: do not force liberalised laws upon NI

An image, taken from the Presbyterian Churchs Twitter feed, of attendees at the general assembly last week. The Assembly was told fewer than 60 were aged in their 20s or younger

Our Christian denomination urgently needs young blood to be involved in leadersh...

Central Church is a planted church from Carnmoney Presbyterian that has brought worship back to May Street Church which dates back to 1829

New Presbyterian church opens in urban heart of NI capital

Moderator Dr William Henry at the PCI General Assembly

Presbyterian Church ‘providing salt in rotting society’

The Reverend William Henry will be installed as moderator of the Presbyterian Church on Monday night

Billy Kennedy: Presbyterian Church to debate key issues at general assembly

Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash: Church of Scotland votes against destruction of M...

Rev Trevor Gribben.

Former Whiteabbey minister’s key role at General Assembly

Rev Colin Sinclair, who has been selected as the new moderator of the Church of Scotland's General Assembly. Pic by Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Church's new moderator was an extra in Monty Python movie

A rainbow flag, symbolising gay pride. Among the key decisions taken at the General Assembly were ones concerning homosexuality, including a decision to bar people in same-sex relationships from full membership

Christ asked his disciples: are you leaving too?

Letters

The 232 signatories should listen too

Billy Kennedy

Billy Kennedy: Liberal Presbyterians have question to answer over letter

The Presbyterian General Assembly voted to bar people in same-sex relationships from full membership and to refuse baptism to their children.

Elder calls for church to reverse policies on same-sex relationships

Letters to Editor

The Presbyterian stance on homosexual practice is the position of the vast major...

Presbyterian Moderator the Rev. Dr. Charles McMullen

Diluting our teaching can make it meaningless: Presbyterian Moderator

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has chosen the Reverend Charles McMullen as its next moderator following a vote on Tuesday evening. The 57-year-old, who was born in Omagh, County Tyrone, is currently minister of West Church in Bangor, County Down.
Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker.

Incoming moderator: Our eyes met across the room, it was almost love at first si...

YFCU president James Speers, outgoing RYE board member for group 1, Paddy Delaney and Geoff Thompson, board member for European youth policy advocacy at Rural Youth Europes General Assembly

YFCU attend Rural Youth Europe General Assembly

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland takes place this week.
Picture by Arthur Allison / Pacemaker.

Presbyterians outline pro-life stance, but compassion urged

Former Presbyterian Moderator Rob Craig

Church task group discusses same-sex attraction

Former Presbyterian Moderator, Rev Dr Norman Hamilton. Pic by Brian Little/Presseye.com

'˜Politicians are letting Northern Ireland down'

06-06-2017: This year's General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

'˜We desperately miss you over gay row' Church of Scotland tells Irish counterpa...

Pictured during the General Assembly Rev Fadi Elia Dagher Of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon.
Picture By Arthur Allison / Pacemaker.

Syrian man tells Belfast Presbyterians: I feel like one of you

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland stands by the clear teaching of scripture

Brian Kennaway: By backing gay marriage, Church of Scotland has given approval t...

The new Moira Presbyterian Church was officially opened and dedicated by the Rt Rev Dr Frank Sellar, moderator of the General Assembly

Hundreds attend dedication of new Co Down church

Rev Noble McNeely won 10 of the 19 votes to become the Presbyterian moderator-designate

New Presbyterian moderator backs traditional marriage