Dixon is Nominated as Moderator Designate

The next Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church will be Rev John Dixon (54) who is at present minister of the 1st Antrim congregation. He was nominated by 17 out of the 21 Presbyteries who met today throughout Ireland to vote for a new Moderator. Mr Dixon will take up office on the 1st June in succession to Dr Sam Hutchinson who continues as Moderator until that time.

Mr Dixon, who was born in Clones, is only the second Moderator this century to be selected from the Templepatrick Presbytery, the previous one being Dr Thomas West in 1916 who was also minister of 1st Antrim.

Mr Dixon sees the role of moderator as the first among equals given the task of publicly representing the views of the Presbyterian Church and encouraging ministers and members alike.

'I very much consider myself a preacher, pastor and missionary, ministering to a local community. As Christians we have a great message to tell but we must we aware of the challenges and difficulties people face and respond to those issues in a relevant and helpful way.'

Mr Dixon has always had a strong interest in the work of the church overseas and while not having served in that capacity himself has spent extended periods of time in Nepal and Jamaica working alongside local ministers and missionaries and supporting them in their work.

For the first time a woman minister received a nomination for Moderator. Rev Ruth Patterson, who was also the first woman to be ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1976, was nominated by South Belfast Presbytery. Her father Dr Tom Patterson was Moderator in 1977.

Voting for each candidate was as follows:

REV JOHN DIXON (1st Antrim) 17 VOTES
Armagh, Ballymena, North Belfast, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Derry/Strabane, Donegal, Down, Dromore, Foyle, Iveagh, Monaghan, Newry, Omagh, Route, Templepatrick, Tyrone

REV JIM CAMPBELL (Cooke Centenary, Belfast) 1 VOTE
East Belfast

DR TREVOR MORROW (Lucan) 1 VOTE
Dublin

REV RUTH PATTERSON (Restoration Ministries) 1 VOTE
South Belfast

REV PROFESSOR TOM REID (Principal, Union Theological College) 1 VOTE
Ards

Biography of Rev Samuel John Dixon

Born:

30th March 1943, Clones, Co Monaghan. Age 54

Brought up as a member of Ballyhobridge Congregation

Education

Clones High School

Magee University College, Londonderry

Trinity College, Dublin

Magee Theological College

New College, Edinburgh

Presbyterian College, Belfast

Degrees:

BA - Trinity College Dublin

Career:

Ordained as assistant minister in Carnmoney in 1968

Minister of 1st Rathfriland 1970 - 1980

Appointed to 1st Antrim on 15/05/80

Appointments:

Present Convener, Presbyterian Overseas Board Asia Committee

Present Irish Chairman of OMF International - (OMF is an interdenominational mission agency)

Present Irish representative to Evangelical Missionary Alliance

Present Presbyterian observer to Churches Commission on Mission - China Forum

1993-94 Chaplain to Dr Andrew Rogers during his term as Moderator

1987-88 Moderator of Templepatrick Presbytery

Family:

Married to Claire with two married daughters living in Scotland and England

Mr Dixon describes himself as a preacher, pastor and missionary, ministering to a local community. He has always had a strong interest in the work of the church overseas and while not having served in that capacity himself has spent extended periods of time in Nepal and Jamaica working alongside local ministers and missionaries and supporting them in their work.

PCI Home . . . Press Office . . . News Archive