While the decision by Rev. Kirkpatrick to not run for another term as stated clerk was awaited news to US Presbyterians, an even more notable Presbyterian departure was announced over the weekend.

It was announced late last  Friday night in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that after a five hour presbytery meeting, the Rev. Dr. Ian Paisley decided he would not run for another term as Moderator of the  Ulster Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church.

This is  a significant event from both a secular political viewpoint as well as an ecclesiastical and polity perspective.

Politically, this is important because the 81 year old Rev. Paisley is also the First Minister of Northern Ireland and the political leader of the Protestant side of the government.  Up to this point, with his continuing religious involvement, there has been a certain overlap of church and state.  This overlap will continue to a degree because the Rev. Paisley will continue as pastor of Martyrs Memorial Church of Belfast, but not to the degree it had while he was moderator.

This religious overlap is due to the fact that not only is the Rev. Paisley the Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church, but he has been for every year but one since he essentially founded the denomination in 1951.  While the Free Presbyterian Church has taken a more international turn over the last decade or so there is still a recognition of its roots in Northern Ireland and Rev. Paisley’s role in its history.

As a good GA Junkie would recognize, there are some apparent differences here with Presbyterianism as we recognize it in most other circumstances.  In particular, most of the time a Moderator of a Presbytery or General Assembly only serves for one term honoring the Presbyterian value that power is vested with the body not with any individual and multiple terms in leadership would tend to enhance power.  As you might suspect, a significant power base has build up around Rev. Paisley because of his near-perpetual office.  But, it might not surprise you to know that the Free Presbyterian Church, at least in Ireland, does not have a written Book of Order, or equivalent so the use of the word “polity” here is a bit loose.

Because of the political implications there are numerous news stories out about this.  Here is one from the BBC.  It will be interesting to see if any of the church order repercussions make it into the news or blogosphere.