At A meeting of the General Board, the most representative body of Irish Presbyterians but for the General Assembly, on April 2nd, the Acting Clerk of the Assembly, the Rev Derek Poots, expressed the extreme annoyance of many Presbyterians at the alleged PR tactics of the Northern government.
They appeared to expect public figures and church leaders to give unquestioning support. Strongly affirming the independence of the church, the board "told the Government not to assume that it can count on the political support of the Presbyterian church".
Mr Poots added that "it is normal practice for boards and committees of the Presbyterian Church to read documents carefully; seek briefings from a wide range of people; consult widely within our church and, taking into account our Christian convictions, to reach our own conclusions and speak accordingly."
The board also expressed the view that political parties having signed the Mitchell Principles are morally bound to actively support the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons, and encouraged representatives of political parties to seek a mutually acceptable political accommodation.
In anticipation of such emerging from the present talks the board affirmed that Presbyterians must "examine the matters before them carefully so that fears and anxieties are not exploited or permitted to exclude hope of a better future, and the rational evaluation of proposals which may be agreed by the political parties."
The church's statement On Presbyterian Principles and Christian Witness promulgated in 1993 was recalled and re-emphasised. It states that "It is not the church's task to fashion specific political policies. That belongs to government. But it is incumbent on the church to articulate guidelines of political ethics on the basis of biblical and ethical principles."
The Moderator of the General Assembly, the Rt Rev Dr Sam Hutchinson, has returned from visiting Germany and Israel where he met local church leaders and visited various projects.
The Irish Presbyterian Church established a mission in Hamburg circa 1850 to large numbers of Jewish people coming from Russia. This work progressed under the inspired leadership of the centenarian, the Rev Arnold Frank, and his successors.
The mission church, Jerusalem Kirche, is now in the charge of the Lutheran Church. Dr Hutchinson conveyed the greetings of the Irish General Assembly to the congregation.
The Moderator then travelled to Israel and visited Stella Carmel Retreat Centre at Haifa. Irish Presbyterians, Colin and Marjorie Dickson, are working here with the administrator, Fiona Smyth. The centre is used by the Messianic Jewish congregation and their leaders. The Irish Presbyterian Church has strong links with the church's ministry among Jews.
Dr Hutchinson made courtesy calls on the Irish and British ambassadors in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. He met with the Mayor of Jerusalem and presented a plaque, the gift of the Lord Mayor and people of Belfast to the people of Jerusalem.
Since his return the Moderator has been commending the General Board's nine-point plan for assessing any political accommodation arrived at by the political parties in the North.
Enchiriadis Treis, a 100-strong choir, under the direction of Prof Marion Doherty, will sing excerpts from The Creation by Haydn in the Howth Presbyterian Church on April 16th at 8 pm. All are welcome. The choir will sing the complete work with soloists Majella Cullagh (soprano), Declan Kelly (tenor) and Philip O'Reilly (bass) in the National Concert Hall on April 18th at 8 pm. Proceeds from tickets at £8, £10 and £12 will go to the Irish Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.