Paisley quits as church leader
by Gregg Ryan Ireland Correspondent
 | | | THE FOUNDER of the Free Presbyterian Church, the Revd Ian Paisley (left), will not be seeking re-election as its Moderator, and will step down at the end of this year, it has been announced.
His departure from the Church, which first met at Crossgar, Co. Down, on St Patrick’s Day in 1951, and now has 100 congregations worldwide, has led to speculation that there might be sufficient opposition to defeat him in a contest for the moderatorship. He has been criticised for his part in leading a power-sharing executive that includes Sinn Fein. The opposition to him has gained momentum because of the rift within the church membership caused by Mr Paisley’s acceptance of the title of First Minister of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
At the weekend, more than 200 senior church elders and ministers met to discuss the issue. The five-hour gathering also considered the matter of Mr Paisley’s moderatorship with reference to his position as First Minister. |
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Mr Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party — which is linked to his Church — has also been riven by strife over the question of its leader’s power-sharing with Sinn Fein. This has precipitated a number of resignations, including the MEP Jim Allister. Some observers view with scepticism a church official’s view, issued after the meeting, that Mr Paisley had made his own choice, and was happy with the outcome.
A statement from the Church read: “In January, all offices will be vacated. Mr Paisley has indicated that he will not be standing for the office of moderator of presbytery.” |
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