Two names are in the running to be the next Moderator of the Presbyterian Church.
Rev Trevor Gribben, the Clerk of the General Assembly since 2014, and Rev Richard Kerr, minister of Templepatrick Presbyterian Church since 2005, feature on the shortlist.
The next Moderator will be announced early next month.
The church’s 19 regional presbyteries will gather separately across Ireland to select one as Moderator-Designate.
Each of those meetings traditionally takes place on the first Tuesday in February, which this year is February 4, and whoever is selected will be formally elected and installed as Moderator during this year’s General Assembly in June.
The church’s current Moderator, Dr Richard Murray, will continue to serve in office until then.
Administering this process usually falls to the Clerk of the General Assembly.
As Mr Gribben, like Mr Kerr, is a nominee again this year, it will be overseen by deputy clerk, Rev Dr David Allen.
Dr Allen said: “While there was a large field of ministers to consider last year, when there were five names on the shortlist, over the last decade four names per election have been the average. Only once in that time, and that was 2023, have presbyteries considered just two names, so two isn’t that unusual.
“Choosing a new Moderator, our most senior office bearer and chief public representative, is a relatively straightforward process, it is also an important part of the life of our church, a prayerful, open, and democratic, process that starts in late autumn.
“This is the time when members of presbytery begin to suggest names of ministers who they would like to see considered for the office. In the run up to Christmas, following the December presbytery meetings, I asked those on this ‘long list’ if they would be willing to have their names go forward, and this year two agreed.”
All ministers and the representative elder from each congregation within the Presbytery’s bounds will vote for their preferred candidate.
Rev Gribben was appointed Clerk of the General Assembly and General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in 2014, having been appointed Clerk-Designate the previous year.
Born in 1961, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree and Diploma in Theology from Queen’s University, Belfast.
Ordained in 1988 as assistant minister of Duncairn and St Enoch’s Presbyterian Church in Belfast, he was called to Leckpatrick Presbyterian Church in Co Tyrone as their minister in 1990.
In 1996 he was called to Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church in Co Antrim, where he remained for 12 years, prior to being appointed PCI’s deputy Clerk in 2008.
He is a member of the Presbytery of North Belfast.
Rev Kerr was ordained Minister of Templepatrick Presbyterian Church in Co Antrim in 2005, where he continues to serve his congregation.
Born in 1965, he was awarded a Master of Science degree from the University of London and a Master of Divinity from Queen’s University, Belfast.
Richard was convener of the General Assembly’s global concerns committee 2015-20, and has been convener of the global development committee since 2021.
He is a member of the Presbytery of Templepatrick.