PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH GENERAL ASSEMBLY:THE FUTURE of a Presbyterian centre at Lucan in West Dublin has been the subject of intense debate at the General Assembly in Belfast, as the central Board of Social Witness and the Dublin and Munster congregation disagreed vigorously over proposals for its use.
By the narrowest margin possible the Dublin and Munster Presbytery, led by the Presbyterian minister in Lucan, Rev Dr Trevor Morrow, succeeded in having its proposal accepted by a General Assembly vote of 113 to 112.
Part of the site will be used to provide sheltered accommodation, with the remainder most likely being rented to the American Taylor University. During the debate, General Assembly delegates heard how the site had become essential for expanding Presbyterian congregations in Lucan, Maynooth and Celbridge.
The Church Board had hoped to lease the site to a housing association for the provision of sheltered accommodation, using the revenue accrued to develop the Church's Guysmere youth centre in Co Derry.
Dr Morrow, a former moderator of the church, told the General Assembly "it is difficult when you have radical disagreement with friends. It is even more so when this is in public, but it does illustrate how important this is."
He said the fundamental differences involved were "a matter of emphasis", with the board seeing the Lucan site as a financial asset. It was why in the past it (a panel of the board) had attempted, unsuccessfully, to have the site rezoned for commercial purposes, he said. Meanwhile, the Dublin and Munster Presbytery had "put together a vision for the centre ."
For the board, Rev Dr Russell Birney said it had never "considered itself a raiding party on Lucan or the Dublin and Munster congregation".
He was dismissive of Dublin and Munster plans for the centre, which consultants found to be a non-starter financially, he said. The board's proposals for the centre were also strongly supported by the General Assembly clerk, Rev Dr Donald Watts.
Among speakers in support of Dr Morrow were Rev Keith McRory of the Maynooth congregation, Rev Gary Millar of Howth/Malahide, and Glenda McCormick of the youth centre at Lucan.
In his concluding speech, Dr Morrow emphasised their proposals for the Lucan centre were "not just for Dublin and Munster. Just as Pax Romana created the climate which allowed the spread of Christianity, Pax Hibernia has created a new day for us . . . where what was necessary was to be able to address reconciliation in an all-island church."
Speaking after the vote Dr Morrow described it as "extraordinary . . . quite amazing".They had taken on "the complete establishment" in the church. He was quite confident Dublin and Munster plans for the Lucan centre would work and would "provide further opportunities in this new Ireland context" for bringing disparate traditions together, even more so than it was already doing.
