The Presbyterian General Assembly voted by a narrow margin yesterday to keep its Church House headquarters at Fisherwick Place, Belfast.
Delegates voted 256 votes to 227, with 18 spoiled votes, to keep the historic building in the centre of Belfast, overturning a resolution passed by overwhelming majority at the general assembly last year that confirmed a decision at the 2004 General Assembly to sell the building.
The sale of the building, which was under way throughout last summer, was discontinued last September when it was withdrawn for reasons never publicly disclosed. Responding to queries, church spokespersons would only say that all its terms were not being met in negotiations with a potential buyer.
Next year's general assembly will be asked formally to rescind the original 2004 resolution to sell.
This is expected to be a formality, though it was pointed out by former moderator Dr John Dixon at a press conference following yesterday's vote, that next year's general assembly could not be bound in advance and that, legally, further debate on the issue could take place then. Dr Dixon proposed the sale should go ahead at yesterday's debate.
Dr Dixon was at pains, however, to emphasise that he accepted yesterday's decision, which he said was a disappointment, but that he recognised strong feeling against the sale.
The issue had "been put to bed", he said, although he pointed out that it would mean "without a shadow of doubt" that church members would have to be asked for over £10 million to refurbish Church House.
Two former moderators, Dr John Dunlop and Dr David McGaughey, were the proposers of the motion that led to yesterday's U-turn by delegates. It asked "that General Assembly accept notice of motion to rescind the decision of the 2004 General Assembly: 'that the General Assembly agree that the Church House complex be sold and that a suitable alternative site and accommodation be acquired'."
At the after-vote press conference, Dr Dunlop commented positively on the debate and was satisfied delegates were aware of all the complexities involved. He said there was always a concern on his part at the manner in which the original document proposing the sale had been introduced with just three weeks' notice before the 2004 general assembly. In proposing that the sale of Church House be rescinded, Dr Dunlop said that Church House was "a kind of sacred space in a commercial city. It speaks of Presbyterianism which has a past, a present and a future."
