Two locals in running for title of Moderator

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has announced a shortlist of four ministers, from which one will be selected by ministers and elders on February 1, to be the formal nominee to be the Church’s next Moderator.
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Two of the nominees are Rev Dr Trevor McCormick, minister of First Kilrea Presbyterian Church, and Rev John Kirkpatrick, minister of Portrush Presbyterian Church.

Dr McCormick was installed as minister of the Kilrea congregation in 1986 and with Boveedy Presbyterian as there stated supply minister in 2009.

Born in 1958, he was ordained as assistant minister of First Carrickfergus Presbyterian Church in 1984.

Rev Dr Trevor McCormick, who is the minister of First Kilrea Presbyterian and BoveedyRev Dr Trevor McCormick, who is the minister of First Kilrea Presbyterian and Boveedy
Rev Dr Trevor McCormick, who is the minister of First Kilrea Presbyterian and Boveedy

He was convener of the Presbyterian Residential Trust Committee and convened PCI’s Council for Social Witness. Dr McCormick is also Clerk of the Presbytery of Coleraine and Limavady.

John Kirkpatrick has been minister of Portrush Presbyterian Church since 1993.

Born in 1956, John was ordained assistant minister of Megain/Mersey St Presbyterian Churches, Belfast in 1985, before being installed as minister of Garryduff Presbyterian in 1987.

The process to find PCI’s Moderator - the all-Ireland denomination’s most senior office bearer and principal public representative - begins in the late autumn, when members of presbyteries begin to suggest the names of ministers who they would like to see considered.

Rev John Kirkpatrick, minister of Portrush Presbyterian ChurchRev John Kirkpatrick, minister of Portrush Presbyterian Church
Rev John Kirkpatrick, minister of Portrush Presbyterian Church

The Clerk of the General Assembly then approaches those on this ‘long list’ to see if they would be willing to have their names go forward to the next stage in February.

The name of the Moderator-Designate will be announced on February 1.

They will then be formally proposed to the General Assembly as Moderator for the year 2022-2023 when it meets on Wednesday, June 22, succeeding the current Moderator, Right Reverend Dr David Bruce.