THE proportional representation voting system was praised at the assembly for allowing minorities a voice. Mr George McCullagh of the Adelaide Road/Donore congregation in Dublin said the political system in the Republic "used to be a monolith, but PR was now being more widely used by voters, with many strands of opinion (represented)."
Looking to tomorrow's election, he said that due to the PR system "the marginalised look like winning, as politicians have promised so many things (during the campaign)". To those such as the speaker who wondered what to do when no politician in their area represented their views, Mr McCullagh advised contacting the elected representatives and asking what they were doing for the area. They should lobby them, "highlighting failures," he said, as had been done in the Republic.
Mr McCullagh was speaking to two resolutions arising from a report he had prepared calling on the assembly to welcome and appreciate the changes which have taken place in the Republic. These included the "ever deepening sense of belonging experienced by Presbyterian citizens" and "the increased openness of the society and the wider horizons which people live their lives." The resolutions were agreed.
The assembly also agreed to a motion from the Dublin Synod calling for further consideration to be given to Roman Catholic representatives attending the assembly opening nights, as is traditional with other churches. A report on this matter will be presented to next year's assembly.
Proposing the motion, Rev John Faris from Cork, said he believed "the simple act of inviting a representative of the Roman Catholic Church to our opening night would send out a clear signal throughout the island, not just that we are all the same and there are no differences, but that all the people of this land are welcome within our watts."
A motion proposed by the Tyrone presbytery which sought to prevent any church representative attending interchurch ceremonies/services when the Moderator could not do so in conscience was defeated.