Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland

Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland
The official logo of the Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland.
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationPresbyterian/Liberal Christianity
PolityPresbyterian
ModeratorRev. Lena Cockroft
AssociationsIrish Council of Churches,
European Liberal Protestant Network,
International Association for Religious Freedom
RegionNorthern Ireland, Ireland
Origin1910
Merger ofPresbytery of Antrim with Remonstrant Synod of Ulster
Congregations34
Members4,000
Official websitehttp://www.nspresbyterian.org/

The Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland is a non-creedal Christian denomination, which maintains a great emphasis on individual conscience in matters of Christian faith.

The Church became part of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches on its foundation in 1928, although it is now recognised under the terms of the 2010 Accord with the General Assembly as an independent and fully functioning denomination in its own right. Non-subscribing Presbyterians continue to maintain a strong commitment to the worship of God, the person of Christ, and the centrality of Scripture. This is in accordance with 'The Constitution and Code of Discipline' (1997) of the denomination, which states:

"That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the rule of Christian Faith and Duty under the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ" and "That it is the inalienable right of every Christian to search these records of Divine Truth for his instruction and guidance, to form his own opinions with regard to what they teach and to worship God in sincerity, agreeably to the dictates of his conscience, without privation, penalty or inconvenience by his fellow-men."

Whilst it continues, for historic reasons, friendly relations with the Unitarian and Free Christian General Assembly, it does not share the latter's 'post-Christian' outlook and remains firmly part of the Christian family of faith. In common with most Protestant churches they affirm the two Biblical Sacraments of the Lord's Supper (Communion) and Baptism. Baptism is usually performed using the wording from Matthew 28, and this usage has increased in many places in recent years.

The Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland is a founder of, and active within the Irish Council of Churches and the European Liberal Protestant Network (ELPN).

Today, the denomination has thirty-four congregations (thirty-three churches) on the island of Ireland, divided into three Presbyteries, with a total of about four thousand members. The denomination currently has twenty-five ministers on its roll with both women and men serving as ministers. The NSCPI is also a member of the International Association for Religious Freedom. It has also recorded year-on-year growth in recent years (source: General Synod Annual Reports).

Holywood First Non-subscribing Presbyterian