David Bruce elected as Presbyterian Moderator
1
David Bruce, the next Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The Presbyterian Church has elected the Reverend David Bruce as its next Moderator.
He won by a substantial majority, taking 14 of the 19 votes from Presbyteries across Ireland last night.
As an Order we have been closely aligned with Presbyterianism since our members turned to the Reformed faith under Sir James Sandilands and lent their swords to the cause of Knox. The Knights of Malta supported that great Reformation work in Scotland and joined with Knox as he cried “Give me Scotland Or I Die”.
It was no hollow prayer for John Knox and those brave Black Knights risked their very lives to see Protestantism prevail in Scotland. The Order then saw it take root in Ireland as it’s sword stood for the Settlers there as they faced the onslaught of the 1641 Irish Rebellion.
Since then our members have played an active role in the Presbyterian churches in Scotland Ireland and then when planted in America and carried across the globe. We have worked prayerfully and practically to advance the cause of Christ and have been a constant voice of Biblical reason and Godly tradition in those churches.
We have supported their work and opposed dangerous unscriptural innovation such as ecumenism and liberalism. This has at times led to our members leaving and becoming instrumental in the formation or furthering of other denominations like the Free Presbyterian Church.
It is in the light of such a relationship that we commend those Sir Knights present in the General Assembly with the task of choosing annually a new Moderator and we pray that their choice may be the right one.
Like many things in life it will only be seen in time and we will reserve our opinion until we see the actions of the Moderator. We can assure him of the Orders prayers and practical support as he does the will of God; we can equally assure him of our opposition if he deviates from Scripture.
It will as he notes be a challenging time since the Church like the Order is an all Ireland body and faces the challenges of BREXIT.
He will take up his post at the Opening Night of the General Assembly on June 1, when the current Moderator, the Rt Rev William Henry leaves office.
Rev Bruce, who is Secretary to the Church’s Council for Mission in Ireland was up against Rev Richard Murray, from Drumreagh and Dromore Presbyterian Churches who received three votes.
Rev Dr Trevor McCormick of First Kilrea, and Rev Mairisine Stanfield of First Bangor each received one vote.
Rev Stanfield polled two fewer votes than last year when she was also a candidate.
Rev Bruce, 62, is the Church’s 175th Moderator since it was established in 1840, and the first in 20 years to have come from outside a parish ministry.
He said last night: “With the UK having left the European Union last week and we enter a transition phase, a new set of political relationships will be formed, both on this island and beyond.
“As members of an all-Ireland Church, we will remain fully committed to our people and their witness on both sides of the border”
He added: “The formation of the Northern Ireland Executive at Stormont, and Ireland’s general election this week indicate the importance of careful conversations with politicians, something I will be keen to continue during my year of office.”
He said that while the Church continues to face an overall statistical decline “this is not the story everywhere in Ireland, just as it is not the story of the Church around the world. The Church constantly needs to imagine how it is heard and seen by people who are not members”.
Rev Bruce, educated at Campbell College, graduated from Queen’s University in 1979, and was ordained in 1984. He then served in Ballymena and Dublin.
You must be logged in to post a comment.