New moderator

The election of Reverend Norman Hamilton (pictured) as the next Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has been welcomed by the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland.

Cardinal Seán Brady congratulated Rev Norman Hamilton saying, “I know that Mr Hamiliton has worked extensively in the area of community relations, for which he received an OBE in 2007.  I look forward to working closely with him when he takes up office as Moderator in June.  I wish the next Moderator every blessing and success in this new ministry.”

Rev Hamilton, who is aged 63, is the minister of Ballysillan Presbyterian Church in north Belfast and has been there with the last 22 years.  He came into the public eye because of his involvement in mediation work in the Holy Cross dispute in north Belfast in 2001.

On hearing of his election, he said he wanted to bring a biblical perspective to a wide range of issues that are important to both church and society.

The minister is married with one daughter and considered as progressive.  He was among six nominated candidates and voting took place in the presbyteries that independently meet around Ireland from Dublin to Derry and elsewhere.

For the third time in nine years, the election for a Presbyterian Moderator ended in a tie.  Rev Hamilton and Reverend Norman McAuley, of Greenwell Street in Newtownards, each received five nominations. 

When it came to voting the other nine votes from 19 presbyteries were divided among three other candidates - Rev Derek McKelvey, Rev Ivan Patterson and Rev Roy Mackay.  The presbyteries voted again in this month. 

Rev Hamilton was chosen and will take up the post on June 7 and the present moderator, Dr Stafford Carson, will continue in office until then.

by Ann Marie Foley