Free Presbyterian Church
The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster ( Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster ) is a Reformed Free Church . 60 of their approximately 100 parishes worldwide are in Northern Ireland .
The Church sees itself as Presbyterian , but is in opposition to the Presbyterian Church of Ireland , from which it split off in the 1950s. Organizationally, it is not related to the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland , which separated from the Scottish Presbyterian Church in 1893; however, both churches largely agree in their teachings.
The pastor and politician Ian Paisley , who became known in the Northern Ireland conflict as a radical representative of the unionists , played a key role in founding the Free Presbyterian Church . In addition to his function as head of the religious community, he also served as chairman of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) until 2008 . Critics therefore regard the Free Church as a "DUP at prayer". In 2012, Paisley also resigned from his ministry.
history
The reason for the establishment of the denomination in 1951 , according to their own account, was the prohibition of the Presbyterian church authorities of the Northern Irish county Down to hold an evangelism in a church hall of the Crossgar parish . Thereupon the elders renounced the Presbyterian Church and founded the free church with the support of the guest preacher at the time, Paisley and his colleague George Stears . There are now municipalities or representations in the USA, the Republic of Ireland, Spain and Germany, among others.
Teaching and special features
The teaching of the Free Presbyterians is shaped by Reformation positions. The Church sees itself as reformed in the tradition of John Calvin , John Knox, and the English and American Puritans . Among other things, she values the authority of the Bible, the sanctification of Sundays and the renunciation of alcohol, gambling and dancing. Homosexuality is considered a sin . As a result of a strongly anti-Catholic and anti-liberal attitude, ecumenism is resolutely rejected. The congregations practice both infant and adult baptism. Women are not allowed to perform priestly services or hold church offices. They have to wear headgear in church services.
literature
- Steve Bruce: God Save Ulster! The Religion and the Politics of Paisleyism . Oxford 1986. ISBN 0-19-827487-4
Individual evidence
- ↑ dailymail.co.uk: All gone quiet over there: Ian Paisley retires from pulpit aged 85 after raising the rafters with fire and brimstone for 65 YEARS , January 28, 2012 (English)
Web links
- Website of the Free Presbyterian Church (English)