At a meeting last night in Dungannon, Ireland, the Free Presbyterian Church, also know as the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, elected a new Moderator.  The Rev. Ron Johnston was elected the new Moderator, replacing the Rev. Dr. Ian Paisley who founded the denomination 57 years ago and served as its Moderator for much of that time.  Dr. Paisley’s involvement in both church leadership and civil political leadership had raised questions within the church and Dr. Paisley agreed to step down as Moderator in the fall as dissent grew.  (My September post on the developments.)

The Rev. Johnston has served as Deputy Moderator to Dr. Paisley and serves a parish in Armagh.  In the press conference following the meeting the Rev. Johnson made it clear that the Free Presbyterian Church would continue in doctrine and practice as it has in the past.  There is good coverage of the news conference on the Belfast News Letter web site.

It should be noted that the Free Presbyterian Church does not share many of the polity characteristics of other Presbyterian churches.  While it broke from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in 1951 and the new Moderator was elected by a meeting of elders, it has no published Book of Church Order and the Moderator position does not rotate as in other Presbyterian branches.