The Presbyterian Church in Ireland last night selected a man who has lived and worked at the heart of one of Northern Ireland's worst sectarian interfaces as its next Moderator.
The Rev John Finlay (61) minister of Harryville Presbyterian Church in Ballymena, Co Antrim will be installed in June for 12 months. He has lived and ministered at the church in Ballymena for the last 25 years.
During many recent years Harryville has been the focus of loyalist protest and repeated attacks on both the local Catholic Church and its Mass going congregation.
Ballymena has also won the unenviable reputation as the heroin capital of Northern Ireland.
Rev Finlay said he felt the town of Ballymena and Harryville had been unfairly portrayed. "We certainly have our problems but we are not the only local community having to face up to sectarianism and the drug culture and I believe Ballymena is making progress in dealing with these difficulties", he said.
Commenting on his selection as Moderator Rev Finlay said that apart from surprise he was "overwhelmed by the sense of responsibility placed in me, but I accept this honour out of a desire to serve Christ and the Church."
He was nominated by nine of the 21 Presbyteries across Ireland to succeed Dr David Clarke. Dr Joe Fell, minister of Ebrington, Derry received five nominations, Rev Wilfred Orr, from Newtownbreda three, Dr Donald Patton, Old Church Randalstown, two.
The remaining nominations were for the Rev Derek McKelvey of Fisherwick in Belfast and Rev Willis Cordner of First Bangor.
The son of missionary parents from Killinchy, Co Down, Rev Finlay spent his early years in Argentina. He said he saw his ministry as one of bringing people to personal faith and encouraging and strengthening them in their faith.
However he said he considered the church to be in a state of transition as it faced "the exciting challenge of changing into the different sort of church needed to impact a secular post modern generation."
PA