The new Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Dr Trevor Morrow, has said it is time for members "to reach out our hands to those who have caused us pain and offer forgiveness".
After he was installed as Moderator in Belfast last night, at the opening session of the Presbyterian General Assembly, he said: "This is what I would love Presbyterians in Ireland to be known for: that we are a forgiven and forgiving people because we believe in the priority of grace."
Recalling the Presbyterian tradition of being dissenters, he said it was something they needed to rediscover. "From the 16th century we have been a movement for reformation and renewal. We have been awkward and difficult at times. In our history we have defied prelates, priests and popes. On occasions, we have defended monarchs or encouraged rebellion.
"We have always been such an amazing mixture of social and ethnic background. But the one controlling factor in all of this was that we would not accept any other ultimate authority except Jesus himself," he said.
He described the current times as "momentous days in the history of Ireland" in which he saw opportunity for the emergence of congregations that would be different from the tribal allegiances of the past.
These could comprise "women and men who are Celts and Anglo-Saxons, republicans and unionists, those who feel comfortable speaking Irish, or Ulster Scots or English, hurlers and cricketers, IT consultants and shipyard welders, held together in one fellowship not by cultural identity or political aspiration but only that they are followers of Jesus", he said.
One of the youngest moderators, and the first from among ministers serving in the Republic for 36 years, Dr Morrow has taken as the theme for his year in office "Jesus for the 21st Century".
Among the 1,200 delegates and invited guests he addressed was the President, Mrs McAleese.
