Presbyterian Church’s new Moderator on being the youngest to hold the post, the likelihood of a female successor and why he’d be sad if same-sex marriage was legalised
The Presbyterian Church’s youngest Moderator in living memory talks same-sex relationships, healing rifts and why a woman could succeed him
The new head of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) believes it won’t be long before there’s a woman moderator. Rev William Henry, at 50 years of age, will be the youngest incumbent in living memory when he is formally elected to the prestigious post in four months.
The Maze minister, whose competitors for the top job this time round included a female candidate, said that in his view it’s only “a matter of time” before the glass ceiling in his church is finally shattered.
He also said that while he supports the PCI’s opposition to same-sex marriage, he would “accept” it — albeit “with a degree of sadness” — if it were legalised in Northern Ireland.
And he revealed his hope that the ongoing rift between Union Theological College (UTC) and Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) — he’s an alumnus of both — can be repaired.
In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph at Assembly Buildings in Belfast yesterday, Rev Henry said he was aware the PCI is perceived as being stuffy and dominated by older men, and he revealed that he thought his relative youth would hinder his chances of being elected.
“To be honest, I thought being younger would go against me,” he said.
“But I think it’s important that we have leaders in the Church who are young enough to give a sense of drive and change and an impetus to get the Church prepared for the 21st century.
“Certainly, I’m passionate about doing that and I’m always being prepared to be used by God in that.
“It’s vital we have that mindset because we have closed too many churches and there are too many churches where the profile is very aged, and so every reminder, perhaps if it is a younger moderator, is a helpful thing.”
In total, 19 presbyteries across the island of Ireland met independently two days ago to cast their votes for the next moderator.
Rev Henry received 11 votes, more than three other nominees — Rev David Bruce, secretary to PCI’s Council for Mission in Ireland (four votes); Rev Albin Rankin, of Stormont Presbyterian (one vote) and Rev Mairisine Stanfield of First Presbyterian Church, Bangor (three votes).
The father-of-three, who was in the running last year for the top job but was unsuccessful, said he believed a woman would assume the role in the not-too-distant future.
“This year I’m the youngest moderator and maybe next year it will be the first female moderator,” he said.
“Lady ministers have acted in all capacities in our Church.
“They’ve been moderators of presbytery and we have many, many minsters who are women.
“Mairisine is well respected and I imagine it’s a matter of time [before she becomes moderator] and there’s every possibility she could be there.”
Mr Henry confirmed that he supports the Church’s opposition to samesex marriage, but he added that the PCI “abhors” homophobia and is “open and welcome to anyone”.
Asked what he says to gay people and their families who believe their church is telling them they are not worthy or acceptable, he said he wants his Church “to embrace everyone”.
“We need to stress that the Church is for you and that as a Church we are constantly reminding everyone, and we remind ourselves, that everyone is valued, everyone is cherished by God,” he said.
“We reject homophobia and all the negative aspects of that and we don’t want to polarise and we don’t want to exclude.
“We do want to welcome, so there is a place for everyone as part of our Church, whether that’s at worship, or as part of our organisations.”
Rev Henry, the minister of Maze Presbyterian Church in Co Antrim for the past two decades, will replace Rev Charles McMullen (below) as moderator and will be officially installed at the start of the Church’s General Assembly on June 3.
He said he wants to focus on the theme of ‘enjoying God’ during his year-long tenure as moderator, and he stressed that he hopes his Church can stay relevant to young people in an increasingly secular society.
“In our congregation we have leaders and young people who are deeply committed to God,” he said.
“They want to hear God speaking in a way that makes connections to their lives. “That is a passion that we have. We have a passion for family ministry, so that’s a big driver.
“I know what I want my congregation to look like and we work towards that. And with that vision we’ve strived to get there.”
He also voiced concern over the “explosion of social media” and its potentially dangerous effects on children’s mental health.
“Social media can have tremendous positives, which even we as a Church use, but there are many negatives associated with that,” he said.
“As part of our youth ministry ,that would be a topic that would be raised on occasions with our young people.”
Last June the PCI, which has more than 200,000 members north and south of the border, voted to sever its ties with the Church of Scotland because of the latter’s more liberal attitude to same-sex relationships.
The unprecedented move meant that the moderator of the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly would no longer be invited to the annual meeting of the Presbyterian General Assembly in Belfast.
At last year’s meeting, the severance vote was passed by 255 votes to 171.
When asked if he would be making any attempts to heal the division between the PCI and the Scottish Presbyterians over same-sex marriage, Rev
❝ This year I’m the youngest moderator, but maybe next year we will have the Church’s first female moderator