It was very personal. And while in previous addresses to various General Assemblies and public statements Dr Murray, had spoken about those most affected by PCI’s safeguarding failings, he hadn’t spoken of the effect it had had on him.
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A Moderator reflects
Speaking personally before the Service of Installation for his successor, in his final comments as Moderator, Dr Murray said, “The first thing I want to do is to thank Almighty God for the help he has given me during one of the most challenging, demanding, and stressful times of my life.”
Pausing with emotion for five or six seconds, as if to steady himself, Dr Murray continued.
“On the eve of the Special Assembly in December, a very dear friend called at our manse to pray with me. And I'm not ashamed to say, I sat and wept because of the enormity of the task. But God helped me, and the times I said, why me?”
He told the Assembly that at times he felt like getting on a plane and “just flying away anywhere, just to get away from it” but he knew that he would have to get off and go back, because he believed that God had called him for this time.
Thanking those who had been in touch he said, “I have been so appreciative that so many people have sent me the words from the Book of Esther for such a time as this. And that verse has come up, I cannot tell you how many times people have said that to me…”
Dr Murray then went on to personally thank a long list of people who had supported him, beginning with his wife Lynn, saying “she's just five foot nothing, but she has been a tower of strength.” He also spoke of being the main point of contact for the PSNI investigation, and the Charity Commission’s inquiry.
Explaining, Dr Murray continued, “Most of you don't know this, but whenever the statutory inquiries were first announced, everything landed on me. I was responsible and they would only talk with me. But the General Council, in their wisdom, set up this advisory task group, and they have been a sounding board around me in the latter parts of my time as Moderator, and I want to thank them for their prayers, their wisdom, their confidentiality, and their support of me personally, all out of their love for the Lord.
So, I want to thank today, Avril, and Ken, and Stephen, and Hugo, and Johnny, and Peter. We are, again, to use that phrase, from Shakespeare, a band of brothers and a sister, and we have worked together in these matters tirelessly.”
Dr Murray thanked members of staff in the General Secretary’s Department and former Moderators for Moderatorial engagements, and the Acting Clerk and Deputy Clerk. members of the General Assembly for their support, praying for him and encouraging him.
The Moderator also thanked his congregation, “People keep saying to me, I'm sure you're relieved you're handing over. And in one sense, I am, but I have to say this, and I will be glad to be back in Drumreagh full time. They, as a congregation, have been more than aware I've suffered, because I haven't been available to them as much as I would normally be, and I want to thank Bobby Stevenson and Peter Dickinson, who have filled in in many ways.
“But as I say, I'm relieved in one sense to be handing over, but I still feel the job's only half done. We haven't got to the end of the statutory inquiries, and we have this journey within our greater journey, as witnesses to the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Dr Murray concluded by saying, “But nevertheless, others will be involved now with this. But we will get there. We will get to the end. Our late Queen said at the time of Covid, ‘we'll meet again’. And if I could be so bold as to add to her words, we will meet again with no cloud hanging over us. But in the meantime, we're going to live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us…”
At the start of his first address as Moderator, his successor, Dr Richard Kerr, thanked Dr Murray, for his Godly wisdom, pastoral concern, willingness to go the extra mile and calm leadership. “I know it wasn’t a role you sought…But when we as a denomination needed you, you answered the call and returned to lead us through these past tumultuous months.”
The House responded with a long, and heartfelt standing ovation for Dr Murray.