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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Paisley to step down as moderator | Paisley to step down as moderator |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Northern Ireland's First Minister Ian Paisley will step down as Free Presbyterian Moderator in January. | |
| The decision came after a five hour meeting in Belfast on Friday night involving church elders and ministers. | The decision came after a five hour meeting in Belfast on Friday night involving church elders and ministers. |
| On the agenda was a presbytery commissioned-report which dealt in part with concerns over Ian Paisley's dual role as first minister and moderator. | On the agenda was a presbytery commissioned-report which dealt in part with concerns over Ian Paisley's dual role as first minister and moderator. |
| It was also expected to hold elections for moderator and other offices, but this will now happen next year. | It was also expected to hold elections for moderator and other offices, but this will now happen next year. |
| "It was agreed by an overwhelming majority of members that all presbytery offices remain as at present for the remainder of this calendar year," read a prepared statement. | "It was agreed by an overwhelming majority of members that all presbytery offices remain as at present for the remainder of this calendar year," read a prepared statement. |
| "In January all offices will be vacated. Dr Paisley has indicated that he will not be standing for the office of moderator of presbytery." | "In January all offices will be vacated. Dr Paisley has indicated that he will not be standing for the office of moderator of presbytery." |
| Protest | Protest |
| The meeting had earlier been picketed by protesters who are unhappy about the DUP leader's decision to share power with Sinn Fein. | The meeting had earlier been picketed by protesters who are unhappy about the DUP leader's decision to share power with Sinn Fein. |
| Mr Paisley has been elected moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church every year except one since he founded the church over half a century ago. | Mr Paisley has been elected moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church every year except one since he founded the church over half a century ago. |
| Meanwhile, the Secretary of State Shaun Woodward has said he is not convinced that opposition within the Free Presbyterian Church would damage the stability of the power-sharing executive at Stormont. | Meanwhile, the Secretary of State Shaun Woodward has said he is not convinced that opposition within the Free Presbyterian Church would damage the stability of the power-sharing executive at Stormont. |
| Interviewed for Radio Ulster's Inside Politics programme, Mr Woodward argued that the vast majority of voters continue to support Mr Paisley's political partnership with Martin McGuinness. |