The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has elected Rev Ken Newell (60), minister of Fitzroy Presbyterian Church, off Belfast's Ormeau Road, as its moderator-designate.He begins his year in office on June 7th, when the current Moderator, Rev Dr Ivan McKay, steps down on completion of his year in office.
Rev Newell was nominated by 12 of the 21 presbyteries who met throughout Ireland yesterday for their second ballot on the post.
Rev Dr Harry Uprichard, minister of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Ahoghill, Co Antrim, received nine votes. Both men tied in the first ballot last month.
For Rev Newell this is the second year he has been involved in a supplementary poll for the post of moderator following a tied vote last year between himself and the present Moderator.
Rev Newell's 12 votes came from the Ards, North Belfast, East Belfast, South Belfast, Carrickfergus, Derry/Strabane, Donegal, Down, Dromore, Dublin/Munster, Monaghan, and Templepatrick presbyteries.
Rev Dr Uprichard's nine votes were from the Armagh, Ballymena, Coleraine, Foyle, Iveagh, Newry, Omagh, Route, and Tyrone presbyteries.
Born on May 14th, 1943, Rev Newell was brought up on Belfast's Shore Road.
He was educated at Seaview Primary, Belfast High School, Queen's University, and Ridley Hall, Cambridge.
In 1968 he was ordained assistant minister in Hamilton Road, Bangor, Co Down, and three years later was called to the Overseas Mission of the Church, working in West Timor, Indonesia, until 1976, when he returned as minister of Fitzroy.
He is joint leader of the Fitzroy/Clonard Fellowship. Between 1990 and 1993 he was in talks with paramilitaries prior to the ceasefires.
Married to Valerie, he has a son and daughter and two grandchildren.