THE 500th anniversary of the Reformation, relationships with other denominations, the political situation in Northern Ireland and support for persecuted Christians will be among the issues discussed at the Presbyterian Church's annual General Assembly when it opens in Belfast next week.
Other subjects that 1,000 ministers and lay elders representing the denomination's 500-plus congregations will be considering include the role and ministry of chaplaincy in Ireland and concerns over education proposals in the Republic.
The General Assembly is held each June in the Church's 'headquarters' at Assembly Buildings on Fisherwick Place in Belfast city centre.
The first formal business, on the evening of Monday June 5, will be the installation of the Reverend Dr Noble McNeely, minister of First Holywood Presbyterian Church, as the new Moderator of the General Assembly.
Rev Trevor Gribben, Clerk of the General Assembly and the Church's General Secretary, said that with close to 100 resolutions before the Assembly this year it would be a busy week.
"This is very much the Presbyterian family in Ireland coming together for a week of worship, prayer, Bible study, celebration, debate and decision-making," he said.
"As a Church we are involved in many aspects of day-to-day life across Ireland and the resolutions that come before our governing body reflect these and in some cases the concerns that we have."
Representatives from the Presbyterian Church in South Sudan and the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon - Churches ministering and bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in very difficult situations - are due to take part in the week's proceedings.
Much of what is to be discussed is routine, affecting the Church, how it operates and its relationships with others.
"In October we are looking forward to celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and members of Assembly will hear plans around the three events that have been proposed," said Mr Gribben.
"Resolutions coming before members will seek to widen accessibility and the demographic of future General Assemblies; we will also look at the priorities that will govern all aspects of our work.
"A report setting out the principles by which the Church relates to other denominations, locally, nationally and globally will also be discussed."
One of the resolutions before the General Assembly seeks to engage the Catholic Church in discussions around the contemporary understanding of the doctrine of justification, said Mr Gribben.
"While we would work closely with other Churches on a range of matters throughout the year, if agreed to, I think that this would be the first time in recent memory that we have considered a formal Church-to-Church theological dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church," he said.
