Over 150 people will come together in Belfast next Saturday for a special conference organised by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) entitled ‘God’s world; our responsibility?’
The one-day conference, will take place in PCI’s Assembly Buildings on 27 September. Michael Jemphrey, PCI’s Agent for Stewardship of Creation, said that he was encouraged by the numbers attending so far. “We chose the title of the conference with care. ‘God’s world, our responsibility?’ is not just a rhetorical question – it is an open invitation for Christians to engage with a vital issue. It challenges us to reflect deeply, especially in light of Psalm 24:1, ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.’
“From the very beginning God created humanity in His image and entrusted us with the responsibility to care for His creation. Yet, as creation itself now groans, we are left asking: how can we faithfully live out this calling as disciples of Jesus Christ?”
He continued, “This conference is designed to help us reflect on God’s world, the place He has given us within it, and the role He has called us to play. Our keynote speaker, theologian and author Rev Dr Chris Wright, will guide us through key moments in the biblical story – from creation in Genesis to the vision of new creation in Revelation, and reveal how our responsibility for the earth in Genesis connects with proclaiming the good news of Jesus and living out love for our neighbour. There will be opportunities for participation through Q and A and break out groups.”
The conference has its roots in last year’s General Assembly, which received a report from PCI’s Council for Global Mission. That report included the findings of an extensive denominational survey on climate change. Nearly 1,200 responses were gathered from individuals across 209 congregations. While views varied, the survey revealed a clear majority who affirmed that:
- caring for creation is an intrinsic aspect of Christian faith
- human-induced climate change is a reality, and
- the Church is called to act responsibly in its attitudes and actions toward creation.
In light of these findings, the General Assembly recommended holding a conference to provide both theological grounding and relevant scientific background. As part of the day, breakout workshops will address practical themes on such topics as eco-anxiety, sustainable food, and stories of congregations who are making tangible responses.
Reflecting on the forthcoming event, Rev Richard Kerr, Global Development Convener, said that it is not too late for others to book a place. “It is vital for the Church to listen deeply and learn from what God is saying through His Word, and from each other. The conference will explore what it means, as followers of Christ, to live responsibly and hopefully, in relationship with our environment, others and our Creator.””
Looking forward to the conference, keynote speaker, Chris Wright said, “People will have different views of the practical implications of the biblical theology of creation, and what should be the nature and the limits of our responsibility to it, both as humans and as Christians, and whether and where creation care fits into our understanding of the gospel and gospel-centred mission. That’s what we will wrestle with on the day, and I hope people will come along and join the discussion, with open Bibles and open minds.”
Ends
Mark Smith, Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s press officer: 0 (48) from RoI 28 9041 7292 or +44 (0) 7802 264 354 / Email: msmith@presbyterianireland.org
W: www.presbyterianireland.org or X (formerly known as Twitter) at @pciassembly and @pcimoderator.
Notes to Editors
2024 Climate Change Survey – Top line findings
The survey indicated that 71% of respondents were concerned or very concerned about Climate change and that 58% agreed or strongly agreed that climate change is a threat to their health and lifestyle. A further 75% agreed or strongly agreed that a biblical understanding of faith underpinned their concerns for the environment, while 68% of respondents said that they strongly agree or agree that their actions contribute to climate change.
Rev Dr Chris Wright
Rev Dr Chris Write is the youngest son of missionary parents. Brought up in Finaghy in south Belfast, his family belonged to Berry Street Presbyterian Church in the city centre where he and his wife Liz met and were married. A Christian since he was six-years-old, Dr Wright graduated from Cambridge in 1969 where he also undertook a PhD in the ethics of the Old Testament. He was ordained in the Church of England in 1977 and after five years of parish ministry in Kent, he went with his family to India, where he had been appointed professor of Old Testament at the Union Biblical Seminary in Pune.
Returning to England in 1988 Dr Wright spent the next 13 years at All Nations Christian College, a mission training college in Hertfordshire. In 2001, he took on the leadership of the ministries of John Stott, at his invitation. They are now combined in the Langham Partnership, where Dr Wright is now International Ambassador.
He is the author of a number of books, including The Mission of God which is used as a text-book. Dr Wright has also written, The Mission of God’s People (Zondervan) and The Great Story and The Great Commission (Baker). He and his wife have four adult children and eleven grandkids.
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has around 185,000 members belonging to 500-plus congregations across 19 regional presbyteries throughout Ireland.
The Presbyterian form of Christian faith is best described as ‘Reformed’ with its strong emphasis on the Sovereignty of God, the Kingship of Christ and the authority of the Bible. The all-Ireland denomination is the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland.
Irish Presbyterianism had its origins in Scottish migrations to Ulster in the early 17th Century. Ballycarry Presbyterian Church in County Antrim is the oldest congregation dating back to 1613. The newest, Donabate Presbyterian Church in County Dublin, opened its doors in 2010.
In 1840 two Presbyterian Churches, the General Synod of Ulster and the Secession Synod united to form the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, with Rev Dr Samuel Hanna elected as the first Moderator of the new church.
The Moderator of the General Assembly: Rt Rev Dr Trevor Gribben
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is the most senior office-bearer of the Church and its chief public representative. By convention, the Moderator is selected each year on the first Tuesday in February by ministers and elders meeting separately across Ireland in PCI’s 19 regional presbyteries. Having been selected for office, the Moderator-Designate is then formally elected by the General Assembly in June and installed at a special service of worship in front of members of Assembly, invited civic guests and members of the public.
Dr Gribben is the current Moderator and the 179th person to hold PCI’s highest office since the establishment of the Church. Trevor was appointed Clerk of the General Assembly and General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in 2014, having been appointed Clerk-Designate the previous year. He is PCI’s 13th Clerk and the eighth to be elected Moderator.
In 1988 he was ordained as Assistant Minister of Duncairn and St Enoch’s Presbyterian Church in north Belfast, Dr Gribben was called to Leckpatrick Presbyterian Church in County Tyrone as their Minister in 1990. In 1996 he was called to Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church in County Antrim, where he remained for a further 12 years, prior to being appointed PCI’s Deputy Clerk in 2008.
Dr Gribben is originally from Tandragee in County Armagh, worshipping initially with his family in Tandragee Baptist Church. He became a member of the town’s Presbyterian Church aged 17, having been an active member of the Boys’ Brigade in Tandragee Presbyterian Church for a number of years. He was also involved in other aspects of youth work.
He attended Tandragee Junior High School and then Portadown College, before gaining a BSc in Applied Maths and Computer Science at Queen’s University, Belfast, in 1983. For a short while, prior to attending PCI’s Union Theological College to train for the ordained ministry, he was a systems analyst and programmer for a Courtaulds-owned company in Portadown.
Dr Gribben was formally elected and installed as Moderator on 11 June 2025, having been selected as Moderator-Designate by the Church’s 19 presbyteries on 4 February that year