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Evangelical Presbyterian Church

Annual Presbytery Reports

2016

Presented at

Belfast Bible College

22 April 2017

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Contents Committees: Presbytery Business and Arrangements 4 Congregational Statistics 6

Church Development 8 Training of the Ministry and Admissions 10 International Missions 12 Finance 17 Accounts: Central Fund—Income and Expenditure 18 General Fund—Income and Expenditure 19

Home and Foreign Missions—Income and Expenditure 20

Capital and Investment Fund—Income and Expenditure 21

Training for the Ministry Fund—Income and Expenditure 21

Church Extension Fund—Income and Expenditure 21

Balance Sheet 22

POCVA Board 23 Public Morals 24 Youth 27 Inter-Church Relations 30

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1 Presbytery Composition and Meetings

Serving Retired Non-Voting Commissioners Total

Ministers Ministers Ministers

01/01/16 9 3 1 16 29

31/12/16 9 3 1 18 31

Presbytery met 8 times, (a special Presbytery met in November), with an average attendance of 24.

2 Annual Presbytery Day Conference and Presentation of Presbytery Reports

Belfast Bible College: Saturday 23 April 2016.

Moderator, Rev Robert Johnston, presided.

Opening Devotions.

Prof Carl Trueman, Westminster Theological Seminary, 1 Samuel 1: A Time of National Crisis.

Noon: Moderator convened the Annual General Meeting, reviewed his year as Moderator and welcomed the incoming Moderator, Mr Mervyn Langtry, who preached on Paul’s Last Days from 2 Timothy 4.

Rev Robert Johnston announced the winners of the Sunday School projects.

Rev Mark Johnston (EPCEW) and Rev John Hawthorne (Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland) brought greetings.

Prof. Carl Trueman, 1 Samuel 2: Hannah’s Prayer.

Concluding praise and prayer.

3 Moderatorial Duties

The Moderator, Mr Mervyn Langtry presided at meetings of Presbytery and PAC

and represented the church at:

General Assembly, Free Church of Scotland

General Assembly, Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)

The Congregational Union of Ireland

Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland

4 Delegates and Representatives

Rev Robert Johnston attended EPCEW Theological Conference

Revs Andrew Lucas and Gareth Burke attended the Synod of CRC (Netherlands) in October 2016.

5 Personnel and Appointments

Mr Les Fullerton resigned from the eldership of Groomsport church.

Presbytery Arrangements Committee

Mervyn Langtry (Moderator), Rev Robert Johnston, Harold Gibson, John Grier

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Mr Trevor Kane was licensed as a Probationer for the ministry, 3 March 2016.

Rev Billy Elliott was appointed interim Moderator of North Belfast and resigned from this position in March due to ill health and has been on sick leave since April 2016. Rev Robert Beckett volunteered to act as Interim Moderator for 3 months, April-June.

Rev Gareth Burke, a three month Sabbatical from April to June inclusive.

Mr David Gordon was elected to the eldership in Stranmillis and installed by a Commission of Presbytery on Sunday evening 20 November.

Mr Trevor Kane was released from his obligation to EPC in October 2016 following an invitation from Dumfries Free Church of Scotland to become resident pulpit supply.

Rev Marcus Hobson was appointed presiding minister of Richhill interim session, October 2016.

Mr Alastair Logan and Mr Trevor Gilliland were appointed as Assessor Elders to Crosscollyer for one year.

6 Commissions of Presbytery

PAC acted as a Commission of Presbytery over the summer and winter recess periods.

Rev Robert Johnston (Convener), Rev Jeff Ballantine. Messrs. Sam Francey and Mervyn Kelly were appointed as a Visitation Commission to North Belfast and brought their report to June 2016 Presbytery.

7 Committees

All Standing and Special Committees met as required by the Code or business in hand.

8 Other

Ministers and Office Bearers Conference: Knock, 19-20 February 2016. Prof David McKay, Reformed Theological College, was the speaker on both occasions.

The church history book ‘by honour and dishonour’ was launched at public meetings on 14 March 2016 at Knock and 15 March 2016 at Omagh.

The Office Bearers’ half day of prayer, Finaghy on 12 November 2016.

A special meeting of Presbytery convened on 14 November 2016 to discuss North Belfast and Richhill.

Recommendations

1 We give thanks to God for his gracious provision enabling us to continue in the work of the Gospel in 2016.

2 We thank the Moderator for his diligence in attending to all the duties of his office throughout the year.

3 We thank all those who have represented the church during the year in various spheres and capacities.

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4 We thank the editor of The Evangelical Presbyterian, Rev Andy Hambleton and Mr Derek Johnston (layout and design) for all their diligence in producing the magazine.

5 We thank all interim Moderators, Assessor Elders, Commission and Committee members for all their diligence and commitment to the work of the church.

6 We continue to pray for the congregation of Richhill and Rev Billy Elliott.

7 We commend the churches in North Belfast and ask for your prayerful support.

8 We thank Mr Ernest Brown for his years of diligent work and research leading to the publication of our church history, ‘by honour and dishonour’.

9 We call upon the church to pray that we might know much blessing and encouragement in the days ahead.

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Congregational Statistics

Membership BC CS/HF

CR FI GR KN OM RH ST Total

Jan 2016 60 11/6 29 34 27 26 33 17 103 346

Dec 2016 59 11/6 27 32 29 31 34 14 90 333

New Members 2 0 0 0 2 8 1 0 3 16

Deaths 1 0 1 2 0 2 0 0 2 8

Disjunctions/ Resignations

2 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 4 10

Baptisms 5 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 11

Marriages 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 5

Average

Attendance BC

CS/ HF

CR FI GR KN OM RH ST Total

Sunday AM 83 17/17 44 35 35 39 67 16 119 472

Sunday PM 62 19 30 22 28 29 40 11 74 315

Prayer Meeting 21 9/6 16 15 18 11 12 5 27 140

Communicants 46 10/11 29 23 20 24 39 11 67 280

Sunday School Bible Class

27 - 7 26 - 23 19 - 41 143

Mothers & Toddlers

18 24 25 8 25 - - - 36 136

Other Youth Groups

60 22/15 25 - 30 43 20 - 39 254

BC Ballyclare GR Groomsport CS Crosscollyer Street KN Knock HF Hope Fellowship, Somerton Road OM Omagh CR Crumlin RH Richhill FI Finaghy ST Stranmillis

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1 General This has been a busy year for the Church Development Committee as we have sought to fulfil the Great Commission of Matthew 28 and to reach out with the Gospel to other parts of the province where there is a limited Gospel presence. The committee has met both formally and informally on numerous occasions throughout 2016 and we are grateful to all within the church who pray for our work. During the convenor’s sabbatical (April-June 2016) Andrew Lucas acted as convenor and ensured that the work of the committee continued to move forward over those months. 2 Policy The Committee drew up two policy statements during the year both of which were approved, with minor adjustments, at a special presbytery meeting in November. One statement deals with the whole area of Church Planting and the other more specifically with the development of a church plant in the North West of the province. We are grateful to our friends within the EPCEW for their willingness to allow us to model our major policy statement on their own church planting document. 3 Partnership Gareth Burke and Andrew Lucas had opportunity to attend the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church of the Netherlands in October and to find there considerable interest in, and support for, church planting in Ireland. As well as opportunity to contribute to the formal meetings of the Synod the EPC delegates also had a most encouraging meeting with representatives of the CRC Mission Board. As a result of these discussions friends in the CRC have indicated a willingness to be involved financially in a North-West Church Plant. We look forward to welcoming CRC delegates to our Presbytery Day Conference in April 2017. Although technically outwith the time frame for this report it is worth reporting that more recently we received a visit from Rev Lee Shelnutt of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in the USA. Encouragingly it became evident in our discussions with Mr Shelnutt that our brethren in the ARPC would be interested in providing some suitable manpower to become involved in church planting in the UK. We truly give thanks to God for these contacts and for the willingness of others to become involved with us as we seek to expand our borders for the good of the kingdom and the glory of God’s Name. 4 North West Having identified the need of the North West and received presbytery support for this venture we are now actively seeking to bring this church planting project

Church Development Committee

Rev Gareth N Burke, Rev Andrew Lucas, John Grier, Mervyn Langtry, David Watson

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forward. We have a clear view, as a committee, of how we want matters to progress. We urgently need the prayers of the church for wisdom and help particularly in the identifying of a suitable person/people to ‘head up’ the work. 5 Hope Fellowship From the 1 January 2017 the Church Development Committee has had responsibility for the oversight of the work in Hope Fellowship. This work is in need of the prayers of the whole church and while there are many challenges, and not a few setbacks, yet the Lord is clearly blessing on the Somerton Road. The congregation urgently needs a pastor/teacher to bring the work forward under God and the committee is proactively seeking to identify someone with the suitable gifts. To date we have been unsuccessful in so doing having made three approaches to brothers who we felt were well gifted for the work. Please pray that we will know much of the Lord’s help and guidance in the coming months. Hope fellowship meets each Sunday morning at 11.30am and the congregation would be both encouraged and helped if others from different EPC churches were able to occasionally join with them. They meet for Bible Study and Prayer on Wednesday at 7.00pm. There is a Children’s Meeting each Monday afternoon and a Junior Youth Challenge every second Friday. The evangelistic potential of the area is enormous, the spiritual vitality of the congregation striking, and the level of engagement with the local community encouraging. We record our thanks to Rev Sidney Garland for his faithful work as Interim Moderator and would encourage the wider church to particularly remember Mr John Grier, the Hope Fellowship elder, who carries a great deal of responsibility for the ‘day to day’ running of the work. Recommendations

1 We give thanks to God for the privilege pf being able to go out with the Gospel and encourage the church to pray for the work of CDC.

2 We acknowledge, with thankfulness to God, the warm fellowship and co – operation that has developed between the EPC, the Christian Reformed Church and the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.

3 We encourage the church to pray for CDC as efforts are made to identify suitably gifted men for the North West Church plant and for Hope Fellowship.

4 We assure our brothers and sisters in Hope Fellowship of the support and prayers of the presbytery and wider church and give thanks to God for their perseverance in the work of the Gospel.

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As we look back over 2016, we give thanks once again for the Lord’s guidance and provision. 1 Trevor Kane On the evening of Thursday 3 March 2016 Trevor Kane was licensed as a Probationer for the Christian Ministry by the Presbytery of the EPC at a service at Stranmillis EPC, in recognition that he had successfully completed his studies at Edinburgh Theological Seminary, as well the various other requirements which the church lays down, such as presbytery exams and pastoral placements. During the autumn we were sad to say farewell to Trevor and family, but thankful to God for the opportunity for ministry which has opened up elsewhere. Trevor has been called by Dumfries Free Church of Scotland to provide ‘Resident Supply’, with a view to becoming the minister of the congregation when all the requirements of the Free Church of Scotland Board of Ministry have been met. We give thanks for this opportunity for Trevor and Suzanne to put their gifts to use, and we pray that in the coming months and years the Kane family, and the congregation at Dumfries Free Church, will know God’s richest blessing upon them as they enter into this exciting new chapter. 2 John Roger We also give thanks for John Roger and the progress which he is making in his studies at the Reformed Theological College. The reports we have heard from the college, from the congregations in which John has preached, and also from Omagh EPC, where John fulfilled his summer placement, are all outstanding.

Likewise, those who were present at the student preaching service held at Stranmillis EPC heard John preach very ably on John 6.37. We pray that John’s excellent progress will continue as he prepares for the ministry, and that the Lord might raise up others too with a similar mind for truth and heart for God.

3 Ministerial Sabbaticals 2016 also saw the introduction of Sabbaticals for EPC ministers, and Rev Gareth Burke was granted sabbatical leave by Presbytery from April to June. Most of his time was spent in Edinburgh pursuing a course of study in Andrew Bonar and Premillennialism at Edinburgh Theological Seminary. Gareth reports that the Sabbatical proved to be spiritually enriching and physically invigorating .

Recommendations 1 Give thanks for the successful completion of Trevor Kane’s training, and

continue to pray for him and his family as they settle into life and ministry in Dumfries.

2 Give thanks for the good progress in John Roger’s studies, and pray that he and his family would know God’s provision for this time.

Training for the Ministry and Admissions Committee

Rev Dr S J Garland, Rev Dr R C Beckett, Rev A Hambleton, M Langtry, K MacDonald

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3 Pray, and give thanks, for the faculty of the Reformed Theological College in all their labours as they teach John and others.

4 Pray that the ministers of the EPC would find the provision of sabbaticals a great opportunity to be enriched, encouraged and refreshed in their work.

5 Pray for and encourage donations to the TOMA fund.

6 Pray that the Lord would raise up men from within (or without) our denomination who are gifted and called to the ministry, and that the TOMA committee would have wisdom as they seek to encourage and mentor those in training or considering God’s call on their lives.

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1 The Great Commission Still Applies We could summarize the assignment given to us by our Master (Matt 29.19) in this way: making disciples of Jesus by reaching and teaching. It is our prayer that we may continue in this great work - a task that remains unfinished among the nations both globally and locally - those God has brought to our doorstep. Frank Houghton, a missionary to China (with CIM), wrote the hymn Facing a Task Unfinished in the 1930s. Originally it was written with a request for 200 more missionaries to go to China in spite of all the dark clouds over China at that time. The amazing story of the song is that 200 missionaries were able to go, some of them from Northern Ireland. They played their part in one of the most incredible stories in church history. The church In China has grown from fewer than 750,000 Christians in the 1930s to more than 80 million today. 2 Reaching the Unreached One of the best strategies for reaching the unreached is to train and equip those believers who are closer geographically and culturally to carry on the task. This stresses the importance of theological education and theological books. This has been and continues to be the focus of the efforts of our EPC missionary and IMC Convenor, Rev Dr Sid Garland. But more workers are needed as teachers and trainers, catalysts and literature distributors, and also those able to engage with inquirers online. 3 Supporting Free Church of Scotland Missions We in the EPC have had a long connection with the missionary endeavours of the FCoS. We no longer send a representative to their Mission Board (which now incorporates home and international missions) but we have re-established lines of communication with their Mission Director, Rev David Meredith and Mission Coordinator, Mrs Sarah Johnston. Our Committee has resolved to direct our annual EPC grant towards the Indian, South African and Peruvian fields which are best known to our congregations. Our Help the Needy donations follow the same pattern. However, we are also open to having Free Church-related visitors who can refresh and expand our interest in their work. Sarah Johnston is in charge of the missionary columns in the Free Church monthly magazine, The Record, and very willing to help us have access to fresh reports some of which may appear in our own EP magazine. Congregations are encouraged to continue in to support this work in prayer through the use of the Missionary Prayer Notes (circulated to members of Presbytery) and other updates available online from the FCoS and their partner ministries. In addition to the sterling service given on the South African field to the Dumisani Theological Institute and Bible School by Rev Norman Reid and his wife Angela, several of our members have visited Dumisani. The work is now being led by Rev Dr Jack Whytock who is a minister of the Free Church of Scotland. Student numbers are growing and the ministry of Dumisani is commended for our prayers.

International Missions Rev Dr Sidney J Garland, Rev Marcus Hobson, Sam Francey

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With the assistance of Mr Ernest Brown (Knock) and the Free Church Missions Board, we were able to facilitate the visit of two of our Indian brethren to Northern Ireland. Memorable meetings were held in our Ballyclare, Groomsport and Finaghy congregations (with others participating) in May 2016. Rev Samit Mishra is minister of the Chhapara Church, one of four Presbyterian Free Churches in central India. It was encourging to hear how the congregation has grown and how they are involved in sending out missionaries to other needy areas. Pradeep Kumar is a teacher in Chhapara Christian School and an elder in the Chhapara congregation.

It is interesting to trace the historic links between the EPC and the work in India. After Nan Dunlop's first year in Lakhnadon, where the Hospital is (now EHA), she served in Chhapara. Pradeep's father, Rev Prakash Kumar, was the ministry firstfruits of the mission. Through their visit we believe that EPC members were encouraged to pray, support and even visit this good work in India.

4 Giving to Missions Although we no longer have missionaries working with the Free Church of Scotland, Presbytery has continued to channel considerable financial support to the FCoS Mission Board. This amounted to £8,000 as well as further gifts of £3,486 through our Help the Needy Appeal (for India, South Africa and Peru). Our other major contribution as a denomination goes towards the support of Rev Dr Sid Garland through Mission Africa: £8,494. While our missionary giving as a denomination is commendable (and we recognise how much goes out at the congregational level), it is still a matter of concern that our Central Fund and General Fund had again to make up a deficit (though not as much as in previous years). We encourage our congregational deacons’ boards to look at what they can do to meet this short-fall.

5 Encouraging Missionary Interest in the EPC We are happy for the prayerful interest in particular missions and missionaries connected in one way or another to our congregations. We commend the Stranmillis congregation on preparing a monthly missionary news sheet with fresh prayer requests from missionaries they have a particular link with. Equally we can commend and learn from the circulation of regular news from Hope Fellowship North Belfast. And so the International Missions Committee is requesting some interested EPC member who would be willing and able to join hands with Stranmillis, adding news from other EPC related missionaries. In this way we could circulate up-to-date missionary prayer information to all our congregations. We also appreciate the role played by our EP magazine in the promotion of missionary interest.

The women’s fellowship within the Free Church of Scotland is known as Women for Mission (WfM). They provide very strong practical support for mission at home and abroad. It was an honour for one of our members, Jean Garland, to speak to the WfM biennial Away Day conference in Inverness in September 2016. Our own EPC Women’s meetings have also shown a good missionary interest but perhaps we could still learn from and emulate the outstanding work of WfM.

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6 We Commend to your Prayers the Following who are Serving in Mission Rev Dr S J Garland, a minister and missionary of the EPC, is based in Belfast but still serving with Mission Africa and Africa Christian Textbooks (ACTS). Prayers are requested for Sid and also his wife Jean facing a difficult health challenge. Sid's annual report is appended (below) with appreciation to our congregations and Presbytery for their continued support and prayers for this vital ministry for the strengthening of the church in Africa. 7 Other EPC Members Serving in Home and International Missions Pamela, Musa and Gracie Gaiya in Jos, Nigeria with ACTS and Mission Africa. Andrew and Eunice Moody in Goli, Uganda, and their daughter Joy at Rift Valley Academy, Kenya. The Moodys are now serving under the banner of Crosslinks (former BCMS). Ed and Kate Underwood based in NI, with One Hundredfold and UFM Peter Grier serving in student ministry in Munster with Christian Unions Ireland (formerly known as IFES Ireland). 8 Connected Missionaries Catherine Grier has continued her service with AIM in Chad. We congratulate Catherine on her engagement to Aphia Tuwi, a Ni-Vanuatu WEC missionary. The wedding is planned for July 2017 after which they plan to return to Chad, serving together under WEC. Christian Witness to Israel has been in our prayers for many years and we particularly remember Rev Stephen Atkinson who is promoting the work of CWI in the USA. 9 Mentoring those Considering God's Call into Missionary Work We consider it part of the remit of our IMC to mentor and encourage others to take up the challenge of missionary service. We are glad to have had recent conversations with several of our members who are seriously considering this wonderful calling. Please pray for all such and that from the earliest stage both the senders and the sent will have one heart and mind for the advancement of Christ's kingdom among the nations. Pray also for the IM Committee (Marcus Hobson, Sam Francey and Sid Garland) as we seek fresh ways to encourage us all to keep missions in our hearts and above all our prayers. 10 The Risk of Missionary Work Today The world is a dangerous place today but that should not hold us back. Throughout history, mission has always been dangerous work. The life and example of Helen Roseveare (who passed on to glory in December 2016) reminds us of the physical and emotional cost that missionary work may sometimes entail. Helen believed that God in his sovereign wisdom used her suffering to advance his cause. May the Lord inspire us all to trust him like this and so be ready to be risk-takers for his worthy cause.

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Appendix: Mission Report, Rev Dr S J Garland, (Mission Africa)

As usual the past year involved travelling. I was privileged not only to share with God’s people on deputation in Northern Ireland but also to visit Nigeria twice. My first visit in April enabled me to be present for the dedication of the newly acquired and renovated ACTS Warehouse/Depot in Lagos. Other travels included visiting High Leigh Conference Centre for the 75th Anniversary of Christian Literature Crusade, visiting London to speak at Mission Africa’s English conference and also in two churches (including IPC Ealing), visiting Scotland to speak in several churches and also the HQ of Christian Focus Publications in Ross-shire, and also visiting the world’s largest Book Fair in Frankfurt.

However, 2016 was not a matter of “everything as usual” for two reasons. Firstly I was appointed by the EPC Presbytery as Interim Moderator of Hope Fellowship North Belfast. This was another missionary challenge! I am grateful for the opportunity given to shepherd the work through its transition to “mission church status” following the retirement of Rev Dr Robert Beckett. By the end of the year, I was happy to hand the work over to others so that I could again focus my attention more fully on the needs of Africa.

The second reason that the year took an unexpected turn was due to Jean’s suffering with what has now been diagnosed as Motor Neuron Disease. This came as a big shock to us and we are grateful for the sympathy and prayers of many people. Of necessity my priorities had to change to make sure that Jean has the support she needs on the journey ahead. In the providence of God, I was able to travel to Nigeria in November to discuss this with the ACTS Board in Nigeria. They approved the handover of my Director’s role to Rev Luka Vandi who has been with me in the work right from the beginning in 1993. While continuing to work under Mission Africa, my work now is to mentor and advise as well as to raise prayer and financial support at this end. I am no longer required to travel to report to the ACTS Board of Directors.

However, I am still convinced of the unique importance of ACTS:

1 ACTS has a focus on strengthening the church ACTS is not a church but exists to serve and to strengthen the church, even the persecuted church. It is our prayer that good books will move the church towards reformation and revival. 2 ACTS has a focus on serious theological books ACTS was started by those engaged in preparing men for the ministry. Teachers and students alike were frustrated by the lack of sound books and appropriate textbooks. By providing books, the ACTS bookshops (12 in Nigeria, 1 in Kenya) are safe-guarding and equipping a new generation of ministers of the Gospel. 3 ACTS has a focus on leaders (those called to ministry and mission) The training of theological educators (better done in Africa) and the equipping of trainers, leaders and their churches with tools for their varied ministries. This includes assisting African leaders in writing and publishing books that can offer

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Bible-based teaching and correction for Africa’s growing church. With this end in mind, I was delighted to be present for the dedication in November 2016 of the recently completed African Writers Retreat/Guest House. 4 ACTS also sees the need for other helpful Christian literature This includes the provision of Bibles and Study Bibles, hymnbooks and books for children. On the latter point, towards the end of 2016 we received an urgent request for Bibles and Bible story books for the thousands of children who have been orphaned and displaced because of the continued activities of Boko Haram. 5 ACTS has a vision for serving all of Africa There are very few doing what ACTS is doing. Across Africa (and even much of Asia), ACTS is unique in our focus on serious theological books. Pray that we will be able to respond to requests for assistance from countries such as Uganda, Liberia and Cameroon. I am very grateful to the EPC Presbytery, members and congregations for your support during the past year(s). Please join me in praying that ACTS will continue to “stand in the gap”; that Rev Luka Vandi will be given wisdom for his new responsibilities; and also that he will be granted a visa to visit Northern Ireland to join with us in celebrating the 130th Anniversary of Mission Africa and also our 30 years of service with the mission. Your prayers are making a difference.

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Finance Committee

Rev Stephen Roger, Mervyn Kelly, Mervyn Langtry, Roger McMullan

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The POCVA Board David Watson (Lead Signatory)

Karen Langtry, Stephen Logan, Elizabeth Woolsey, Stephen Woolsey

The POCVA Board continues to implement Presbytery’s POCVA Policy as expressed in Committed to Care. The Board thanks all sessions for their help in ensuring the POCVA Policy is implemented in the congregations.

1 POCVA Board Constitution The Board received only one nomination in September 2016 and one member agreed to continue for another year (Elizabeth Woolsey). Ernest Brown stepped down as planned in September 2016, but because we are still short of board members, continues to act as Counter Signatory. 2 Committed to Care Committed to Care was revised and issued in Autumn 2016, and now includes all matters relating to Camps.

3 Training No training events were held in 2016, but First Aid training sessions, and Committed to Care training sessions are scheduled for 2017.

4 EPC Regulated Body Status AccessNI requires a minimum of 20 Applications in any rolling 12 month period to sustain RB status. We have been able to manage this and at present application numbers are proving adequate. Online applications have speeded up the process.

5 Audit Programme The triennial audit programme (when members of the POCVA Board visit all of the congregations), is scheduled to take place April-May 2017.

6 Bulletins The Board prepared further draft bulletins in 2016 on matters which have come to their attention. These include: Revision to Bullying Policy, Photography, Manuel Handling and Concussion Awareness. It is planned to issue a number of these bulletins in 2017.

Recommendations

1 That Sessions accept the POCVA Board’s thanks for embracing the POCVA Policy and shouldering the responsibilities this policy requires.

2 That the whole Church continues to recognise the major responsibility of Presbytery, Sessions, POCVA Co-ordinators, Leaders-in-Charge and Camp Leaders to implement our POCVA Policy.

3 That Sessions seek to ensure all training events organised by the POCVA

Board have adequate and proper representation.

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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7.14)

The verse with which we begin this report is well-known and frequently quoted. God was speaking to King Solomon after the dedication of the Temple, and it is worth setting the verse in the context of all that God said in verses 11-22. He set before Solomon and the people a clear choice. If they followed him, there would be national blessing, but if they forsook him, then there would be national humiliation and collapse. Each year sees a further deterioration in the moral fabric of Northern Ireland society. On BBC1’s The View on Thursday 1 December 2016, there was an interesting studio discussion about how society in Northern Ireland is changing rapidly in terms of attitudes to moral and ethical issues. In some ways it contained few surprises, but it was a further reminder of how many, especially young people, now completely reject Biblical standards of morality. The reality is that, even as God’s people, we are no longer as shocked or outraged as we ought to be or once were by this downward spiral. The godless and atheistic mind-set seems to permeate all aspects of society, and, if we are honest with ourselves, it has influenced our attitudes far more than we think so that we are almost numbed to what is going on. We are afraid to speak out for fear of being condemned as narrow-minded and hate-filled bigots. Rational and respectful debate is now very difficult in an age of social media where rudeness and personal insults form the basis of that is supposed to be “discussion”. The mainstream media seem more interested in sound-bites than in rational debate, and the Christian perspective on moral issues seems to be viewed more as an illness or a deficiency of character than a legitimate viewpoint. Christians in the world of employment face many pressures and challenges, and are fearful of putting their head above the parapet for fear of the untold damage it could do to their careers. God would be perfectly justified in bringing judgement upon the land – a land once richly blessed by Gospel light, but now floundering in moral and spiritual darkness. However, God is rich in mercy and patience, and we must take to heart the solemn words of 2 Chronicles 7.14. As God’s people, there is a challenge to us to humble ourselves, to pray earnestly and to live godly lives as a witness to society. If we do so, then God has promised to hear, to forgive and to heal. This report relates to 2016, but as we write it, Northern Ireland is once again in the midst of a serious political crisis which could have wide-ranging implications for many areas of life. We exhort all our people to pray daily for our Province and nation.

Public Morals Committee

Rev Robert Johnston, Wallace Thompson