THE Presbyterian Church has elected the Rev David Bruce to be its next Moderator.
As is the denomination's custom, Mr Bruce won't take over the post until the opening of its annual meeting of lay people and clergy, the General Assembly, in June.
Until then, Dr William Henry will continue in the role; moderators are elected annually and hold office for 12 months.
In a vote on Tuesday night, 14 of the Church's 19 presbyteries - the name given to geographical groupings of its congregations - backed Mr Bruce's candidacy.
Mr Bruce (62), who was born in Banbridge and lives outside Lisburn, will be the denomination's 175th moderator.
He has headed the Church's Mission in Ireland bodies since 2007, which means he will be the first moderator in more than 20 years to not be the minister of a congregation. Before that, he was the general director of Scripture Union for 15 years.
Mr Bruce said he was approaching the role "with prayerful excitement as we face the great task of commending Christ to Ireland, north and south in a year of major change on this island and beyond".
"With the UK having left the European Union last week and as we enter this transition phase, a new set of political relationships will be formed, both on this island and beyond," he said.
"As members of an all-Ireland Church we will remain fully committed to our people and their witness on both sides of the Irish border."
