Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
Encyclopedia
The Free Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian denomination founded by the Rev. Ian Paisley in 1951. Most of its members live in Northern Ireland
. The church has congregations in Republic of Ireland
, Great Britain
and Australia
, with a sister denomination
in North America
that has congregations in Canada
and the United States
.
, County Down
, Northern Ireland
, and the Down Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
.
At a meeting on 8 January 1951, the Down Presbytery banned the elders of the local congregation from using the church hall for a Gospel mission, but the date when the Lissara elders were informed of this is disputed. The Presbytery met with the Lissara Session ninety minutes before the mission was due to begin on 3 February with an "Opening Witness March." When two elders refused to accept the Presbytery decision, they were immediately suspended. As a result of this disagreement with the Presbytery, five of the seven session members, all the Sunday School teachers, and sixty members of the congregation withdrew from the Down Presbytery and the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
.
College lecturers of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
have suggested that the above story, though often quoted, is incomplete. While the Gospel Mission was a reason for the breakaway church forming, the Presbytery objection was not to the Mission or to the Gospel, but to the invited preacher, The Rev. Ian Paisley
. The Lissara Mission went ahead with a different preacher and Lissara Presbyterian Church continued to exist (albeit with fewer members), and a number of dissenting members later returned. However Free Presbyterians from Crossgar dispute that there ever was such a mission.
The departing elders felt the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
denomination was inconsistent in allowing dances and parties to be held in the church halls while at the same time refusing a Gospel mission under the leadership of Ian Paisley. The Free Presbyterian Manifesto, which was published during the time leading up to the founding of the new church, also mentioned other reasons for the secession, such as the failure of the 1927 heresy trial in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
(PCI) to unseat Professor Davey for his controversial views, membership in the World Council of Churches
(which the PCI later left), and poll irregularities for the election of elders (Moore and Dick, 26–30). In that year, under the leadership of Paisley, four new congregations joined together to form the Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster.
Sydney Lince served as Moderator of the new church for a few months, but perceiving that Paisley was keen to take on the role, he stood down and asked Paisley to replace him. One of the inaugural elders of the new church, George Gibson, was expelled for his views on the doctrines of holiness and subsequently rejoined Lissara Presbyterian Church in 1958. He had been the first secretary of the new church, had served as the architect of the first church building in the new denomination, and his office had been used as the registered office of the denomination (Moore and Dick, 151–152).
, evangelical, and separatist. Baptism
and the Lord's Supper are recognised as sacraments of the Free Presbyterian Church. Members are allowed to determine the proper mode (dipping, pouring, sprinkling) and subjects (adult believers) that they prefer, but the church does not sanction Baptismal Regeneration
. The Lord's Supper is observed monthly, unless a local congregation prefers a more frequent observance. Alongside the Free Presbyterian Articles of Faith, the Westminster Standards
are considered doctrinal standards subordinate to the Bible. On account of their additional adherence to the Articles of Faith, and because of their baptismal views, some regard the church as only nominally Presbyterian, nearer to the Baptist Church, and more nearly allied to modern Fundamentalist Christianity
than to the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition.
For many outside the church, political and religious opposition to the Roman Catholic Church
, considered by the Free Presbyterians to be a Protestant Reformation
principle, represents the single most distinctive characteristic of this denomination, not least because this is a distinctive characteristic of Ian Paisley's own theological outlook.
Consequently, some have gone so far as to refer to the FPC as the "Presbyterian-Free Church." A number of former FPC pastors, members, and congregants have complained of being excommunicated (or otherwise involuntarily removed) from their respective congregations without a typical Presbyterian judicial process.
The polity of the FPC includes allowing a cleric such as Rev. Ian Paisley
to hold an apparently indefinite term of office as Moderator
. However, Dr. Paisley agreed to step down as Moderator in January 2008. He was succeeded by Rev. Ron Johnstone
. The North American branch of the denomination has elected its own moderator since 2005.
and a total of about 100 throughout the world, including England
, Scotland
, the Republic of Ireland
(chiefly in both County Donegal
and County Monaghan
), Canada
, the United States
and Australia
. According to the 2001 Northern Ireland census, the church has around 12,000 members in that region of the United Kingdom
. As of 2004, Missionaries were serving in India
, Jamaica
, Kenya
, the Republic of Ireland
, Spain
, the Philippines
, and Germany
.
The church currently operates the Whitefield College Of The Bible
in Banbridge
, County Down, and the Geneva Reformed Seminary
in Greenville, South Carolina
, USA.
The church in North America
has been independent of the Ulster Presbytery since 2005, and has its own Moderator. Dr. Frank McClelland was the first Moderator, and he was succeeded in 2006 by Rev. David Mook (a minister in Phoenix, Arizona). The two Presbyteries are in full communion with each other. The inaugural Free Presbyterian International Congress was held 19–23 June 2006 in Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church in Belfast
. This event saw Free Presbyterians from all over the world gather in Northern Ireland for a week of meetings. The intention is to hold the Congress biennially, alternating between Ulster
and the United States. A Congress is planned for 2008 in Greenville, South Carolina
.
Moderator: Rev. Ron Johnstone
Deputy Moderator: Dr. Lindsay Wilson
Clerk of the Presbytery: Rev. Ian Brown
Minute Secretary: Rev. Timothy Nelson
Treasurer; Mr. David Browne
. This contrasts with traditional Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches, which tend to be well-ornamented in design. The church states that this shows humility and allows the member to focus on worship.
Churches usually include the following:
The motto of the Free Presbyterian Church is the same as the Presbyterian Church in Ireland: "Ardens sed Virens" -- "burning but flourishing". It is incorporated in a scroll form on the logo, shown at right.
In all Free Presbyterian Churches, the pulpit fall bears the Motto and Logo of the Church, albeit in slightly different designs.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. The church has congregations in Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, with a sister denomination
Free Presbyterian Church of North America
The Free Presbyterian Church of North America or FPCNA is a Presbyterian denomination in the United States and Canada with mission works in Liberia, Jamaica, and Kenya...
in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
that has congregations in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Founding
The Free Presbyterian Church began on 17 March 1951 (St Patrick's Day) as the result of a conflict between some members of the local Lissara Presbyterian congregation in CrossgarCrossgar
Crossgar is a village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is about 15 miles south of Belfast – between Saintfield and Downpatrick. Crossgar had a population of 1,539 people in the 2001 Census.- History :...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, and the Down Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland , is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Ireland, and the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland...
.
At a meeting on 8 January 1951, the Down Presbytery banned the elders of the local congregation from using the church hall for a Gospel mission, but the date when the Lissara elders were informed of this is disputed. The Presbytery met with the Lissara Session ninety minutes before the mission was due to begin on 3 February with an "Opening Witness March." When two elders refused to accept the Presbytery decision, they were immediately suspended. As a result of this disagreement with the Presbytery, five of the seven session members, all the Sunday School teachers, and sixty members of the congregation withdrew from the Down Presbytery and the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland , is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Ireland, and the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland...
.
College lecturers of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland , is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Ireland, and the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland...
have suggested that the above story, though often quoted, is incomplete. While the Gospel Mission was a reason for the breakaway church forming, the Presbytery objection was not to the Mission or to the Gospel, but to the invited preacher, The Rev. Ian Paisley
Ian Paisley
Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , he and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were elected First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively on 8 May 2007.In addition to co-founding...
. The Lissara Mission went ahead with a different preacher and Lissara Presbyterian Church continued to exist (albeit with fewer members), and a number of dissenting members later returned. However Free Presbyterians from Crossgar dispute that there ever was such a mission.
The departing elders felt the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland , is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Ireland, and the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland...
denomination was inconsistent in allowing dances and parties to be held in the church halls while at the same time refusing a Gospel mission under the leadership of Ian Paisley. The Free Presbyterian Manifesto, which was published during the time leading up to the founding of the new church, also mentioned other reasons for the secession, such as the failure of the 1927 heresy trial in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland , is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Ireland, and the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland...
(PCI) to unseat Professor Davey for his controversial views, membership in the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
(which the PCI later left), and poll irregularities for the election of elders (Moore and Dick, 26–30). In that year, under the leadership of Paisley, four new congregations joined together to form the Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster.
Sydney Lince served as Moderator of the new church for a few months, but perceiving that Paisley was keen to take on the role, he stood down and asked Paisley to replace him. One of the inaugural elders of the new church, George Gibson, was expelled for his views on the doctrines of holiness and subsequently rejoined Lissara Presbyterian Church in 1958. He had been the first secretary of the new church, had served as the architect of the first church building in the new denomination, and his office had been used as the registered office of the denomination (Moore and Dick, 151–152).
Doctrine
Doctrinally, the church describes itself as fundamentalistFundamentalist Christianity
Christian fundamentalism, also known as Fundamentalist Christianity, or Fundamentalism, arose out of British and American Protestantism in the late 19th century and early 20th century among evangelical Christians...
, evangelical, and separatist. Baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
and the Lord's Supper are recognised as sacraments of the Free Presbyterian Church. Members are allowed to determine the proper mode (dipping, pouring, sprinkling) and subjects (adult believers) that they prefer, but the church does not sanction Baptismal Regeneration
Baptismal regeneration
Baptismal regeneration, the literal meaning of which is "being born again" "through baptism" , is the doctrine within some Christian denominations that holds that salvation is dependent upon the act of baptism; in other words, baptismal regenerationists believe that it is essential for one to be...
. The Lord's Supper is observed monthly, unless a local congregation prefers a more frequent observance. Alongside the Free Presbyterian Articles of Faith, the Westminster Standards
Westminster Standards
The Westminster Standards is a collective name for the documents drawn up by the Westminster Assembly. These include the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the Westminster Larger Catechism, the Directory of Public Worship, and the Form of Church Government, and...
are considered doctrinal standards subordinate to the Bible. On account of their additional adherence to the Articles of Faith, and because of their baptismal views, some regard the church as only nominally Presbyterian, nearer to the Baptist Church, and more nearly allied to modern Fundamentalist Christianity
Fundamentalist Christianity
Christian fundamentalism, also known as Fundamentalist Christianity, or Fundamentalism, arose out of British and American Protestantism in the late 19th century and early 20th century among evangelical Christians...
than to the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition.
For many outside the church, political and religious opposition to the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, considered by the Free Presbyterians to be a Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
principle, represents the single most distinctive characteristic of this denomination, not least because this is a distinctive characteristic of Ian Paisley's own theological outlook.
Ecclesiology
Unlike other Presbyterian churches, the FPC (in spite of its fifty-year existence) has never published a Book of Church Order in which its governmental policies and procedures are set forth publicly.Consequently, some have gone so far as to refer to the FPC as the "Presbyterian-Free Church." A number of former FPC pastors, members, and congregants have complained of being excommunicated (or otherwise involuntarily removed) from their respective congregations without a typical Presbyterian judicial process.
The polity of the FPC includes allowing a cleric such as Rev. Ian Paisley
Ian Paisley
Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , he and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were elected First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively on 8 May 2007.In addition to co-founding...
to hold an apparently indefinite term of office as Moderator
Moderator of the General Assembly
The Moderator of the General Assembly is the chairperson of a General Assembly, the highest court of a presbyterian or reformed church. Kirk Sessions and Presbyteries may also style the chairperson as moderator....
. However, Dr. Paisley agreed to step down as Moderator in January 2008. He was succeeded by Rev. Ron Johnstone
Ron Johnstone
Ron Johnstone is the Minister of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster in Newtownards and the Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster. He was elected to his post on 18 January 2008, succeeding Rev. Ian Paisley, who had held the post for more than 50 years...
. The North American branch of the denomination has elected its own moderator since 2005.
Churches worldwide
From four churches in 1951, the denomination has grown to about 60 congregations in Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and a total of about 100 throughout the world, including England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
(chiefly in both County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
and County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
), Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. According to the 2001 Northern Ireland census, the church has around 12,000 members in that region of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. As of 2004, Missionaries were serving in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The church currently operates the Whitefield College Of The Bible
Whitefield College of the Bible
Whitefield College of the Bible is an independent theological college in Banbridge, Northern Ireland. It is operated by the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster...
in Banbridge
Banbridge
Banbridge is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Bann and the A1 road. It was named after a bridge built over the Bann in 1712. The town grew as a coaching stop on the road from Belfast to Dublin and thrived from Irish linen manufacturing...
, County Down, and the Geneva Reformed Seminary
Geneva Reformed Seminary
Geneva Reformed Seminary is a small theological school in Greenville, South Carolina accredited by the federally unrecognized Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries and supported by the Free Presbyterian Church of North America. The seminary offers a B.D. and an M.Div...
in Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
, USA.
The church in North America
Free Presbyterian Church of North America
The Free Presbyterian Church of North America or FPCNA is a Presbyterian denomination in the United States and Canada with mission works in Liberia, Jamaica, and Kenya...
has been independent of the Ulster Presbytery since 2005, and has its own Moderator. Dr. Frank McClelland was the first Moderator, and he was succeeded in 2006 by Rev. David Mook (a minister in Phoenix, Arizona). The two Presbyteries are in full communion with each other. The inaugural Free Presbyterian International Congress was held 19–23 June 2006 in Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. This event saw Free Presbyterians from all over the world gather in Northern Ireland for a week of meetings. The intention is to hold the Congress biennially, alternating between Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
and the United States. A Congress is planned for 2008 in Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
.
Church leadership
As of 18 January 2008, the following men are currently in office in the Free Presbyterian Church (list incomplete).Moderator: Rev. Ron Johnstone
Ron Johnstone
Ron Johnstone is the Minister of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster in Newtownards and the Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster. He was elected to his post on 18 January 2008, succeeding Rev. Ian Paisley, who had held the post for more than 50 years...
Deputy Moderator: Dr. Lindsay Wilson
Lindsay Wilson (Clergyman)
Dr. Lindsay Wilson is a GP and minister of Castlederg Free Presbyterian Church in Northern Ireland. On 18 January 2008 he was elected by the Presbytery to succeed Rev. Ron Johnstone as Deputy Moderator of the denomination...
Clerk of the Presbytery: Rev. Ian Brown
Minute Secretary: Rev. Timothy Nelson
Treasurer; Mr. David Browne
Child Abuse
- In 1992 Ronald Chalmers was convicted of indecently assaulting an 11yr old boy whilst he was a student Free Presbyterian minister in Cooke Memorial Hall. Chalmers read the boy scripture and molested him on a makeshift bed next to the pulpit. He was jailed for 3 years.
- In 2006 a production team from BBC Northern IrelandBBC Northern IrelandBBC Northern Ireland is the main public service broadcaster in Northern Ireland.The organisation is one of the three national regions of the BBC, together with BBC Scotland and BBC Wales. Based at Broadcasting House, Belfast, it provides television, radio, online and interactive television content...
conducted an investigation into a child abuse scandal in Toronto Free Presbyterian Church. The resulting documentary, screened in June, asserted that the church had denounced a young woman for adultery, although she was 13 years old at the time of the first incident, while the male participant was 22 and married. Officers from the church appeared on the BBC programme arguing that the young girl was guilty of adultery and seduction. (BBC Northern IrelandBBC Northern IrelandBBC Northern Ireland is the main public service broadcaster in Northern Ireland.The organisation is one of the three national regions of the BBC, together with BBC Scotland and BBC Wales. Based at Broadcasting House, Belfast, it provides television, radio, online and interactive television content...
'Spotlight' 13 June 2006)
- James Doherty, a layman in the Free Presbyterian Church, was accused of raping and molesting two sisters over a period of eleven years. The court evidence included claims that Ian Paisley and other church officers knew of the accusations but ultimately took no action against Doherty.
Internal Strife
- The appointment of Dr. Paisley as First Minister of Northern Ireland in May 2007 led to a great deal of controversy in the Free Presbyterian Church. Many members of the church claimed that such an appointment put Rev. Paisley, as Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church, at odds with many of the core beliefs of his church. The church had declared some years previously that it would be unbiblical to have terrorists or ex-terrorists in the government of Northern Ireland. The church is also strongly opposed to homosexuality, yet the First Minister's office is responsible for protecting LGBTLGBTLGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
rights in Northern Ireland. One of Dr. Paisley's strongest critics is his erstwhile ally and former prison cellmate The Rev. Ivan FosterIvan FosterIvan Foster is a retired senior minister in the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster and a former Democratic Unionist Party politician. He is a lifelong friend and associate of the Democratic Unionist politician and Free Presbyterian Church leader Ian Paisley...
. A stormy meeting of the Presbytery of the church in September 2007 resolved the crisis for the time being by agreeing that Rev. Paisley would step down as Moderator in January 2008.The Presbytery met in DungannonDungannonDungannon is a medium-sized town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the third-largest town in the county and a population of 11,139 people was recorded in the 2001 Census. In August 2006, Dungannon won Ulster In Bloom's Best Kept Town Award for the fifth time...
on Friday 18 January 2008 to elect a new Moderator and selected Rev. Ron JohnstoneRon JohnstoneRon Johnstone is the Minister of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster in Newtownards and the Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster. He was elected to his post on 18 January 2008, succeeding Rev. Ian Paisley, who had held the post for more than 50 years...
, who had been Deputy Moderator. Dr. Paisley was therefore replaced as Moderator after more than 50 years in the post.
Homosexuality
- Following a number of high-profile comments made by Democratic Unionist PartyDemocratic Unionist PartyThe Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the...
(DUP) Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) Iris RobinsonIris RobinsonIris Robinson is a former Northern Ireland Unionist politician. She is married to Peter Robinson, who is currently the First Minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly....
, the Advertising Standards AuthorityAdvertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)The Advertising Standards Authority is the self-regulatory organisation of the advertising industry in the United Kingdom. The ASA is a non-statutory organisation and so cannot interpret or enforce legislation. However, its code of advertising practice broadly reflects legislation in many instances...
upheld a finding that an advertisement placed by the Kirk Session of the Sandown Free Presbyterian Church breached advertising codes. The church had taken out the 540-word advertisement in the News Letter on 1 August (one day before the annual Belfast Gay PrideGay prideLGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity...
event) describing "homosexuality as an abomination, defined homosexuals as perverts and called on religious followers to maintain a very public stance against the gay community." The decision was later overturned and the church cleared of all wrongdoing.
Church layout
Free Presbyterian Churches are usually of simple design, cohering with Protestant ideals, dating back to the ReformationProtestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
. This contrasts with traditional Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches, which tend to be well-ornamented in design. The church states that this shows humility and allows the member to focus on worship.
- Pulpit - Generally centre focal point, adorned with a pulpit fall.
- Communion Table - Sits in the centre of the church, at the front, usually in front of the pulpit (if the pulpit is in the middle).
- Pews - These differ in design and shape.
- Organ/Piano - Nearly all churches will have some sort of musical accompaniment. This is usually a piano, with larger churches owning an Organ.
- Verse of Scripture - A verse of the Bible is placed on the wall behind the pulpit, where it is most visible. This can be painted or letters which are affixed to the wall.
- Prayer Room/Creche - A Prayer Room is located via a different door to the main hall. Depending on the financial capabilities of the church, the Prayer Room and Creche may be together. The Creche is used for young children, and has a window whereby one can see the preacher, and perhaps a speaker system for audio.
- Once again, the facilities that a church can have depend on the size and finances of the church. Extra rooms such as Youth Fellowship rooms, Sunday School Rooms, and Kitchens (which can be found in many churches) are subject to these parameters.
Church motto and logo
- Main article : Burning BushBurning bushThe burning bush is an object described by the Book of Exodus as being located on Mount Sinai; according to the narrative, the bush was on fire, but was not consumed by the flames, hence the name...
In all Free Presbyterian Churches, the pulpit fall bears the Motto and Logo of the Church, albeit in slightly different designs.
Books
Glynn Moore and Sharon Dick, The History of Crossgar Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, A New Beginning ..(Crossgar, Co. Down: Crossgar Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, 2001) ISBN 1-84030-116-3See also
- Religion in the United KingdomReligion in the United KingdomReligion in the United Kingdom and the states that pre-dated the UK, was dominated by forms of Christianity for over 1,400 years. Although a majority of citizens still identify with Christianity in many surveys, regular church attendance has fallen dramatically since the middle of the 20th century,...
- Free Presbyterian Church (Australia)Free Presbyterian Church (Australia)The Free Presbyterian Church Of Australia is a denomination which currently consists of four congregations in fellowship with the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster. There are congregations in Port Lincoln, Perth, Lock and Tasmania.-History:...
- Free Presbyterian Church of ScotlandFree Presbyterian Church of ScotlandThe Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland was formed in 1893 and claims to be the spiritual descendant of the Scottish Reformation...
, a different denomination, begun in 1893 paragraph of comparison between the two is included on the page about the Scottish denomination).