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.
The Newsletter reports today:
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.