REV Mervyn Gibson has been elected the new grand secretary of the Orange Order.
The Belfast Orangeman and Presbyterian minister succeeds Drew Nelson, who died earlier this year.
Mr Gibson (58) will work alongside grand master Edward Stevenson and deputy grand master Harold Henning at the head of the institution, after both men were also re-elected at a meeting of the Grand Lodge in Eglinton, Co Derry.
A special memorial service was held in memory of Mr Nelson (60), a solicitor from Dromore, Co Down.
Rev Gibson, who made headlines in October when he said he would not attend any service at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast involving its newly-appointed Catholic canon, Fr Edward O'Donnell, has frequently acted as a spokesman for the order on parading issues.
He said he was "extremely honoured" to be elected.
In other senior appointments, Rev Alistair Smyth and Rev John Noble were elected as the order's grand chaplains.
