Presbyterians from across Ireland are meeting today to elect a new Moderator.
Voting takes place in 21 presbyteries to decide a successor to Dr David Clarke, and the result will be known by this evening.
The Rev Wilfred Orr, minister at Newtownabbey, is a contender but there are likely to be rivals.
There is no list of candidates for the post, and members of each presbytery will vote on names proposed by their own members. The successful nominee will begin work in June after the Presbyterian General Assembly in Belfast.
Dr Clarke has led calls for increased tolerance between denominations as well as action to combat Northern Ireland's road carnage.
His one-year term of office ends in June. Around 1,000 delegates are expected to meet to formally install his successor.
PA
