Until now, Dr Gribben’s retirement has been somewhat obscured, with the focus on his stepping aside from the church’s moderatorship.
However, a report produced for last week’s General Assembly detailed Dr Gribben’s request to be permitted to retire from his post as clerk and secretary of the General Assembly last year, which the church granted.
The Blue report said: “Following the conviction and imprisonment of a person (William Maher) on May 12, 2025, for child abuse offences, who had previously been involved in a youth leadership role in a PCI congregation, it became apparent there were serious failings in the delivery of safeguarding functions in the denomination.
“On May 27, 2025, the General Assembly advisory committee appointed an ad hoc committee of four people to look into concerns regarding the PCI’s central safeguarding provision. Its work progressed intensively through the summer and into the autumn of 2025.
“The findings of the ad hoc committee report were shared with the General Council on November 12, 2025. Following this, a letter from Dr Trevor Gribben was read to the council, indicating his intention to stand down as moderator.
“This being accepted, his predecessor, Dr Richard Murray, assumed the office. Dr Gribben further sought permission to retire from his employed role as clerk and general secretary, and this was granted.”
The statement has done little to quell speculation about why Dr Gribben left the position following the report, which has never been published.
He had been clerk — one of the church’s most senior positions — since 2014, covering much of the period from 2009 to 2022 in which there were significant safeguarding failings.
Professor Laurence Kirkpatrick, who settled a case with the PCI last year, said questions remained. He added: “Why was Rev Gribben permitted last year to step aside as PCI moderator and retire as clerk?
“He retains his honorary doctorate and membership of the PCI, yet it seems that no questions are asked about the failings under his regime and the accompanying cost to the church.
“Perhaps the investigations of the PSNI and Charity Commission will unearth a fuller story that the PCI itself has been so reluctant to investigate.”
Over the past year, a questioning light has been shone on Dr Gribben’s time as PCI Clerk.
At the end of last year, former PCI head of safeguarding Dr Jacqui Montgomery-Devlin said her experience of working in the organisation was that of a “culture of control and covert bullying”, and that she believed Dr Gribben was “beyond reproach”.
Dr Gribben was also a named respondent, along with other senior members of the church, in a tribunal case alleging sex and race discrimination that was settled with a confidentiality agreement last year. All the allegations were denied.
Former minister Rev Dr Robin Greer also told this newspaper that Dr Gribben threatened him with contumacy to stop him from speaking out at the 2018 General Assembly about being spied on by members of his own congregation.
One elder, who didn’t want to be named, said the decision to let the former clerk retire was a disgrace.
They added: “Trevor Gribben was given permission to retire, and no one knows the details of that, including whether he has been allowed to have his pension.
“Under what terms was he allowed to exit? The church hasn’t communicated anything. Others have been loosed from their roles without benefits.
“It’s appalling. I just have no confidence at all. I believe his retirement should be rescinded.”
In response to questions about why Dr Gribben was allowed to retire in the midst of an emerging crisis, and whether he had been given a full pension, the church said: “As a rule we do not respond to questions relating to personnel issues, and therefore will be making no comment.”