Review The
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
10-12 June 2025
Sunshine and anniversaries
Moving to an earlier slot in June, the Scrabo stoned walls of Assembly Buildings were bathed in summer sun throughout the three days of the 2025 General Assembly. This year also marked two significant anniversaries for the Church and saw a change not witnessed in nearly 30 years. Two thousand and twenty-five marked the 185th anniversary of the establishment of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI), and 120 years since Assembly Buildings opened. It was also the first time since 1997 that a Clerk of the General Assembly had presided as Moderator. All this and more can be found in The Review, as it seeks to provide an informative and useful snapshot of just some of what took place between 10-12 June.
A hope and a future In the Presbyterian way of doing things, members of the General Assembly formally elect the new Moderator during a service of installation – and so it was for Rt Rev Dr Trevor Gribben, the 179th person to hold the office. His predecessor, Dr Richard Murray, led the service in front of ministers and elders from PCI’s 500-plus congregations across Ireland, during which Dr Gribben knelt before a packed Assembly Hall, as Dr Murray prayed for him. Overseas delegates from five countries were also present, as were civic guests, who included HM Lord Lieutenant for Belfast and the city’s Deputy Lord Mayor and High Sherriff. In the public gallery were members of Dr Gribben’s family and other personal guests,
including the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, the Most Rev Eamon Martin. To those in the Assembly Hall, and those watching online, he unveiled his theme for the year: ‘A hope and a future in Jesus’. His theme and his address were taken from a well-known chapter in the Book of Jeremiah (29:1,4-14), where the Old Testament prophet had a direct message of hope for the Church and its people today. Dr Gribben said that God called his people in Jeremiah’s day to seek the peace and prosperity of the city – as his followers are called to do today, and not to deviate from God’s Word, or succumb to deception, but be totally reliant on God – calling to him, praying to him, and seeking him.
He named and praised many different professions serving the community, the emergency and voluntary services – even politicians – all who work for the common good. He also rubbished the notion that the Church was on the wrong side of history. “We have a hope and a future in Jesus Christ…and our calling is to proclaim it,” he said. You can read more about Dr Gribben’s address here.