THE new moderator of the Presbyterian Church, the Rev Harry Allen, has repeated his predecessor's call for the IRA to reinstate its ceasefire and give peace a chance.
He was speaking last night at the opening of the church's four day general assembly. The former Presbyterian moderator, Dr John Ross urged the Provisionals to abandon violence as his term of office ended at the weekend.
Dr Allen said. "The heart cry of people North and South is for peace real peace. As moderator, I call on the IRA to bring their campaign of violence to a permanent end. There can never be peace until that happens, so why not give real peace a chance?
"Someone has said that all that is needed for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing. So, as moderator, I would also urge all God fearing people in this land to work and pray for that true peace.
Dr Allen (62), has been minister of New Row in Coleraine, Co Derry. He describes himself as a conservative evangelical "in the traditional sense" and wants to be active during his year in office.
He was born in Portadown, Co Armagh, and raised in the Church of Ireland. However, he joined the Presbyterian Church when aged 17. He was educated at Trinity College Dublin and is married with two sons. He had open heart surgery two years ago to remove a tumour but is back to full health.
The Presbyterian Church is the largest Protestant denomination in the North, with 300,000 members. The general assembly will discuss a range of issues, including parades, child protection guidelines for churches and integrated education.
More than 1,200 members and laity will attend the assembly and some 200 resolutions will be debated.