If you take that word, exceptional, as synonymous with unusual. In other words, the Presbyterian communions in Ireland don’t line up with the mainline vs. conservative brands that we know in the U.S.
Here‘s one piece of evidence. Two former moderators of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland have issued a statement opposed to abortion. If you didn’t know better, you might think the PCI is the mainline equivalent of the PCUSA. The PCI is closer to the mainstream of Irish life than the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, a communion that started with some inspiration from J. Gresham Machen and set up a rival communion to the PCI. But I can’t imagine this ever happening in the PCUSA:
Two former moderators of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland have written to all TDs and Senators expressing grave concern at recommendations that unrestricted abortion be allowed in Ireland up to 12 weeks and for health reasons thereafter.
In their letter, Rev Dr Trevor Morrow and Rev Dr Norman Hamilton have said “our church holds a strongly pro-life position, while recognising that there can be very exceptional circumstances when the termination of pregnancy may be necessary”.
They continued: “However, we are very gravely concerned about the [Oireachtas] Committee’s recommendations to introduce abortion with no restriction as to reason until the 12th week of gestation, and beyond 12 weeks on health grounds.
“Even if the recommendation of abortion on request is excluded, the health proposals on their own will create similar provisions to those in Britain, which have, in practice, brought about abortion on request (we note that one in five pregnancies ends in abortion in Great Britain and that of the 190,406 abortions in England and Wales in 2016, 97 per cent took place on health grounds).”
For some reason, apparently, Irish Presbyterians do not stumble over Orwellian language like “women’s reproductive health.”
Another indication that Irish Presbyterians are exceptional odd comes from this recent announcement:
True Christian Piety
Speaker: D.G. Hart
Subject: “True Christian Piety”
Dates: 2-3 August 2018
Times: 10am-4pm
Venue: Stranmillis Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Darryl Hart teaches at Hillsdale College, USA, and is a well-known writer on historical and ecclesiastical matters. On 2-3 August 2018, he will lead a workshop that will explore major themes in his work, teaching and leading discussions on such themes as the Sunday gatherings, marriage as a means of grace, and sanctified work. Attendees should prepare for the workshop by reading Darryl’s books, “Recovering Mother Kirk,” “The Lost Soul of American Protestantism,” and “Deconstructing Evangelicalism.”
Cost: £40 for both days, including lunch and refreshments.
For some reason, Irish Presbyterians do not consider “Old Life” and “True Christian Piety” oxymoronic.
Old Life 
Marriage as a means of grace?
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DG,
If “Marriage as a means of grace” exists, then does matchmaking as in “Fiddler on the Roof” qualify as a spiritual gift? I would argue “yes” from personal experience.
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The Free Presbyterian Church (in Northern Ireland) was usually relied upon to be steady, even as it was wrapped up in day-to-day politics.
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Letme, well, a lot of Roman Catholics in Ireland, right?
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Not after the Vatican threw em under the bus.
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But, yea, even now I suppose.
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Nutfield history – Reminds me of my conversations with Mr. Marsh (a highly intelligent Brit) regarding the misunderstanding of the “Wok the dog” remark between modern Americans and certain south Asian people groups – they hear the same sounds, but they have vastly different meanings. Both meanings are appropriate in their own culture, with the opposite meaning hard to fathom in the other culture.
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