The next Moderator of the Presbyterian Church will be Rev Dr Donald Patton (57), minister of Old Church Randalstown. Dr Patton was nominated by 11 out of the 21 Presbyteries who met today throughout Ireland to vote for a new Moderator and will take up office on the 3rd June in succession to Dr John Finlay who continues as Moderator until that time.
Rev Dr Joseph Fell, minister of Ebrington, Londonderry received 6 nominations, Rev Derek McKelvey of Fisherwick in Belfast, 2, while Rev Dr Ruth Patterson of Restoration Ministries and Rev Norman Hamilton, Ballysillan received one nomination each. Rev Wilfred Orr from Newtownbreda, and Rev Willis Cordner of First Bangor received no nominations.
Commenting on his election Dr Patton who has been minister of OC Randalstown for the last 6 years said, "I am very honoured by the way so many in the Presbyterian Church have asked me to fulfil the role of Moderator. While I am awed by the responsibility I look forward to the challenges ahead."
He describes himself as "a warm evangelical teacher and pastor intent on reaching out with the Gospel to the wider community on issues that are relevant to them."
His congregation of 420 families is a "traditional Presbyterian congregation but one which is open to change in the conduct of worship and fellowship and which is keen to involve itself in the whole life of the Randalstown community."
"Randalstown is a growing town and while it still has strong rural connections there is a increasing business and professional sector with many people commuting to Belfast," adds Dr Patton. "It works well as a community and through my ministry and that of the congregation we want to play our part and be involved as much as possible with those who live and work around us."
Born in Warrenpoint on 30 May 1950, William Donald Patton spent his early years in Londonderry before his father's work took the family to Portadown. A member of Armagh Road Presbyterian Church he attended Portadown College and later graduated from Queen's University Belfast with a BSSc in 1971 and BD in 1974. In 1993 he was awarded a PhD, also from Queen's.
After ordination as assistant in Trinity Bangor in 1975 he became minister of First Dromore in 1977 and after 6 years was called to Greystone Road, Antrim. In 1988 he became minister of Lowe Memorial Presbyterian Church in Finaghy before moving to OC Randalstown in 2002.
Dr Patton is a keen historian and was convenor of the Presbyterian Historical Society from 1990 until 1996. He has written a short history of First Dromore Presbyterian Church and edited a numbers of other books on church history.
He is married to Florence and has two sons, two daughters and a grandson.
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