Presbyterians pray for presidential candidates

Speaking ahead of Friday’s poll, Dr Gribben said,

“This Friday members of our congregations from across the Republic of Ireland, along with other citizens entitled to vote, will have the opportunity of choosing the next President of Ireland, as they go to the polls to elect a successor to President Michael D Higgins.“In my letter to our congregations in that part of our island, I wanted to take the opportunity, as my predecessors have done in the past, to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for those who are seeking Ireland’s highest office. While the role is considered to be mainly symbolic and largely ceremonial, following their inauguration those who become Uachtarán na hÉireann will assume the authority that the Constitution grants to them. As the Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 2:2, we need to pray for those in political authority.”

Dr Gribben continued,

“I said that God called His people in Jeremiah’s day to seek the peace and prosperity of the city – as we, His followers, are called to do today, and I believe that this means engaging in the place we call home by active participation in the life of our local communities, which includes taking part in the democratic process. For many that may mean simply casting a vote. Regardless of the outcome of Friday’s election, we should pray for whoever becomes the 10th President of Ireland, and for all those in political authority across this island, just as we are called to do.”