The Presbyterian Church in Ireland will tomorrow discuss at its annual General Assembly in Belfast the continued increase in numbers called to ministry.
Unlike most other Christian denominations in Ireland, the Presbyterian Church is experiencing an upturn in students studying to become ministers.
This year 12 students are available to be called to congregations, with a further 37 at various stages in the three-year training programme. In addition, 27 students are due to begin ministerial training next year. The annual demand for Presbyterian ministers is between 10 and 15.
The General Assembly will be asked tomorrow "to note with gratitude to God the continued increase in numbers of those making application for ordained ministry".
Some 1,200 delegates are expected to attend the assembly, which continues until Friday.
The Catholic primate, Archbishops Seán Brady, has not been invited to attend the installation in Belfast tonight of the new Moderator of the church, Rev Dr Harry Uprichard.
Last year his attendance at the installation of Rev Dr Ken Newell as Moderator was picketed by Rev Ian Paisley and some of his supporters.
It was the first time a Catholic primate attended such a ceremony. Archbishop Brady had been invited as a personal guest of Rev Dr Newell's.
Rev Dr Uprichard (63) was elected Moderator last February, winning the support of 12 of the 21 presbyteries around Ireland.
He has been minister of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Ahoghill, Co Antrim, for the past 34 years, and belongs to the more traditional wing of the church.
He has described his ministry as one of "teaching the scriptures in order to bring people to faith and to develop their witness."
Acknowledging differences within the church, he has said he is delighted that his election had widespread support across the whole church.
"That support has included those who perhaps would not share my own particular emphases. In that sense, it is good within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to belong to a 'broad church' where we can agree to disagree over differences but hold true to a unified agenda in terms of a biblical evangelical understanding of the gospel."
On Wednesday, addressing the situation in the North, the assembly will discuss proposals to arrange four or five meetings where a small group, including the Moderator, can meet those within the church who have suffered directly from violence.
In its report the Church and Society Committee has said that "no political party can be part of a shared future until it renounces and forsakes criminality, engages in complete, verifiable decommissioning, and is fully committed to democratic methods alone".
