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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| New Presbyterian moderator chosen | New Presbyterian moderator chosen |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Rev Norman Hamilton has been elected as the new moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. | Rev Norman Hamilton has been elected as the new moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. |
| Rev Hamilton, 63, is the minister of Ballysillan Presbyterian Church in north Belfast. | Rev Hamilton, 63, is the minister of Ballysillan Presbyterian Church in north Belfast. |
| He was nominated by 11 out of the 19 Presbyteries who met throughout Ireland on Tuesday. | He was nominated by 11 out of the 19 Presbyteries who met throughout Ireland on Tuesday. |
| Last month, an election ended in a tied vote between Rev Hamilton and Rev Norman McAuley. The new moderator will take up the post on 7 June. | Last month, an election ended in a tied vote between Rev Hamilton and Rev Norman McAuley. The new moderator will take up the post on 7 June. |
| The present moderator, Dr Stafford Carson, will continue in office until then. | The present moderator, Dr Stafford Carson, will continue in office until then. |
| Rev Hamilton, who has been minister of Ballysillan for the last 22 years, became a significant public figure as a result of his mediation work in the Holy Cross dispute in north Belfast in 2001. | |
| He said: "I am greatly humbled and surprised that this has come to me. | |
| "I hope during my year to bring a very Biblical perspective to a wide range of issues that are important to both church and society." | "I hope during my year to bring a very Biblical perspective to a wide range of issues that are important to both church and society." |
| The minister was born in Lurgan in 1946 was educated at Portadown College and Trinity College, Dublin. | The minister was born in Lurgan in 1946 was educated at Portadown College and Trinity College, Dublin. |
| He is married with one daughter. | He is married with one daughter. |
| Rev Hamilton is a well-known evangelical, considered by some to be on the progressive wing of evangelicalism. | Rev Hamilton is a well-known evangelical, considered by some to be on the progressive wing of evangelicalism. |