Former Presbyterian moderator the Rev Dr Stafford
Carson says he expects cheques will be dropping through the letter boxes
of Presbyterian Mutual Society savers within the next month.
Dr Carson, who played a significant role in the restoration of the PMS
fortunes after the society faced enormous financial problems two years
ago as a result of the economic recession, told the church’s general
assembly yesterday that there are still issues and lessons arising from
the PMS crisis that need to be addressed by the church.
“Once that phase is over we will do our post-game analysis and report back to this assembly. But I think the mood right now ought to be one of genuine and sincere
thanksgiving and I hope that all church ministers will include such a
prayer in their worship this coming Lord’s day.”
Dr Carson said the PMS crisis has dominated the life of the Presbyterian
Church in Ireland for the past two-and-a-half years and he said he was
relieved that the distress of many savers will soon be over.
He said the rescue package which has been put in place and approved by
members of the society is a good one and, in the current economic
climate, it is the best that savers could have hoped for.
“In the next few weeks all smaller savers will receive all their money
back, and larger savers will receive a major portion of their savings,
with the hope that the remainder will follow in years to come.
“As a Presbyterian community we have reason to thank God for this deliverance and for answered prayer.”
Dr Carson thanked various people in business, public office and in the
legal field for their support and advice over the period of the crisis.
He said: “Two years ago when I was installed as moderator I had to run
the gauntlet of protesters outside this assembly hall. This is not a new
experience for members of this assembly, since for many years
protesters outside were a regular feature. But what made that evening so difficult was that these protesters were
not members of another church or fellowship. They were our own
Presbyterian people who felt hurt and injured and aggrieved by what had
happened to the PMS."
“While many of these wounds have not yet healed, I believe that with the
prospect of money being returned there is a different mood among our
people, and that we must continue to show love and compassion and
sensitivity to those who suffered because of the PMS crisis and the
wider economic downturn.”
Presbyterian assembly clerk the Rev Dr Donald Watts, echoing Dr Carson’s
sentiments about the PMS settlement, said that the past two years had
been a time of uncertainty for the church, but he said the major hurdles
had now been happily overcome and he looked to a period of stability
and growth for the church.