The convenor of the Presbyterian Church and Government Committee, Rev Dr John Dunlop, said yesterday that the emotional and social burden of inquiries was too heavy for society in the North to bear at present.
In his last address as convenor, after seven years in the post, he told the General Assembly in Belfast that Pat Finucane, Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill, Billy Wright, Lord Justice and Mrs Gibson, Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan, ought not to have been killed.
"But neither should 300 police officers who have been murdered; for 187 of whose murders no-one has been charged," he said.
He suggested that if current inquiries continued, and calls for more inquiries were met, "we may end up with the extraordinary situation - some would say a ludicrous situation - of having prisoners released, 'on the runs' back in society, and people closely associated with terrorism in the Government".
He said that "whatever about the difficulties we are currently facing, we are living in a more peaceful, prosperous, hopeful and contented society than in June 1996."
There was, he said, no political solution which does not take account of the existence of diverse people living in contested space. So either we fight, continue to drift into different geographical areas or we share the available space.
"We have had too much experience of fighting, too many deaths, too many injuries, too much grief, to entertain that as an option.
"Choosing to share the available space was the only option for everybody, but it would not happen by accident.
"It won't happen by someone sitting on their hands and others sitting on their arms," he said.
Agreeing policies which honoured and respected diversity would be to the long-term benefit of all, but would mean "compromises", he said.
Meanwhile many tributes were paid at yesterday's General Assembly to its Clerk, Rev Dr Sam Hutchinson, who retires later this year. He has been Clerk since 1990 and will be succeeded by Rev Dr Donald Watts.
Dr Hutchinson is only the seventh man since 1840 in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to have been both Clerk of the General Assembly and the Church's Moderator (a position he held in 1997). Over the same period the Church has had 158 Moderators and 11 Clerks.
Leading the tributes yesterday Rev Dr John Dunlop described Dr Hutchinson as "a peacemaker par excellence, - one who calmed troubled waters. Unlike some people, who at the sight of troubled water jump in to create a jacuzzi. His indeed is a steady hand and a wise head."
He was "the gentlest of people, who arrives into committee meetings with an armful of files and the Code."
He said the Church was deeply indebted to him for his selfless service over many years and wished him and his wife Margaret many years of healthy, busy and happy retirement.
Replying, Dr Hutchinson reminded the assembly of the old proverb "it's a wise man that kens when to lay down the barrow".
"I think retirement at 65 is a very good idea," he said, thanking God, his wife, and the assembly for their support.
He said he believed the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to be "special".
It might not be the world's biggest Church but, having visited denominations at home and abroad, he was convinced it was a great Church. It had been a great honour to serve it.