Historical Sketch of Presbytery of Derry and Strabane
3rd March 2009
On the 3rd of January 1989 the Presbytery of Derry and Strabane
was born in Strabane Presbyterian Church Hall. This was the result of
decision taken by the General Assembly in 1988. The name that the Assembly
approved in 1988 was the ‘North West Presbytery’ and this was subsequently
changed by Memorial to the Assembly to be the Presbytery of Derry and
Strabane. And so the Presbytery of Derry and the Presbytery of
Strabane – 2 very old and significant Presbyteries formed one new Presbytery
– the Presbytery of Derry and Strabane
A Presbytery is a Court of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and it has
very many important responsibilities. Every Elder – Teaching and Ruling is
ordained and installed by Presbytery and is under its authority. The
Presbytery is charged with the care of the Congregations within its
jurisdiction.
The Presbytery of Derry and nd Strabane – during the 20 years of its life
has had 20 Moderators one being pro tem and 3 Clerks – one being
pro tem.
One of the Biblical and historic marks of the Church of Christ is the
exercise church discipline (along with the preaching of the Word and the
administration of the 2 Scriptural Sacraments) - and our Presbytery has
dealt with several very serious and far reaching cases. The way in which
those cases were carried out, was I believe, exemplary and I as Clerk, want
to pay tribute to Commission Members who with compassion, integrity and
fairness did their duty to the Lord and His Church.
The work of Presbytery should never to be considered as mundane or ordinary.
This Presbytery, I believe, has always taken its work seriously and has seen
its work as Kingdom business.
Over the years we consulted with most of our congregations, ordained and
installed Elders in most of our 32 Congergations, addressed many social,
political and church issues as we related the Message of Christ to the world
in which He has placed us. We issued statements over the years about
perceived miscarriages of justice, falling moral standards, about education,
about health care, about the challenges facing our farmers, about the
observance Halloween in our schools and in the City Londonderry, about Drug
abuse about Sunday trading, about police reform, about the years of violence
and murder, about toxic waste in the greater Londonderry area and the Foyle
Basin. This Presbytery had a leading role in the parading debate in
Londonderry and helped to broker the pragmatic and workable solution being
followed elsewhere in N Ireland.
We have been involved actively in youth work, in drug education, in Sunday
School Staff training, in Elders Training and in Women’s Ministry, in the
work of the Churches Trust and the Churches Voluntary Work Bureau.
Presbyteries should be and ours is a vehicle for evangelism and for
equipping the saints for the work of their Ministry. y. y. y.
Although our Presbytery was only in existence for 20 years I believe that it
has made a significant contribution to the work of Christ in the North West.
In addition we have witnessed the amalgamation of Congregations such as
Waterside and Fahan, Carlisle Rd and Crossroads, 1st Derry with
Claremont and Strand with Buncrana.
Over the years we ordained and installed 11 Ministers; installed 12
Ministers; installed a Minister as a Chaplain to Her Majesty’s Forces and
Licensed 7 students as Probationers for the Ministerial Office.
The Presbytery of Derry and the Presbytery of Strabane had long histories.
Their amalgamation - which we dissolve this evening, was relatively short
lived - but it did serve to advance the work of the Saviour.
Now at this meeting of our Presbytery we dissolve our union. Friendships
will endure this separation. We have learnt much from each other – we have
prayed and planned together – and there is no doubt that by His grace we are
better equipped today to serve Christ than we ever have been.en.
Every Presbytery in our Church can trace its roots back to Scotland through
the Plantation of Ulster in the 17 17 17th C. - and the formation
of the first Presbytery at Carrickfergus in 1642. Our’s is no exception.
Roots to Scotland and through John Knox the Scottish Reformer to Geneva and
to ‘the greatest school of Christ since the days of the Apostles’ to
the College taught by John Calvin – roots that stretch to Scotland and to
Geneva and then back to Philippi, Lydia and the first Church in Europe and
then back through the Churches in Asia Minor and eventually back to
Jerusalem. And from Jerusalem this great tap root of Grace goes a little
further to a lonely hill with three cruel crosses erected – and on the
middle one the Saviour, suffering as the Lamb of God – the place where
heavens love and heaven’s justice met in the person of Jesus our blessed
Redeemer. The fact that he died and rose again explains why we are here
tonight. Presbyterian Church in Ireland exists because of that Cross and
lives in the power of His resurrection, - enabled by the Holy Spirit.
We have served together. And all that we have achieved – all that we have
done – has been done to the honour of the Lord Jesus Christ – the sole King
and Head of the Church and to Him alone be all the glory for ever.
Amen