That question has been asked of me quite a number of times since the video depicting two members of the Burke family challenging Mervyn Storey regarding his position on ‘transgender ideology’.
(Mervyn Storey challenged — why no answer ????)
The ‘Belfast Telegraph’ report, which I quoted from in my article on the matter, states: ‘The pair accused Mr Storey of “enforcing transgender ideology” through his role as Chair of the Education Authority (EA) board. The ex-MLA was appointed to the role by Education Minister Paul Givan in 2024.The Burkes’ claims relate to an EA document entitled ‘Guidance for Schools on Supporting Transgender Young People’, a document first published in 2019.’
I understand that ‘The Chairperson role requires a three days-a-week commitment, with annual remuneration between £50,000 and £60,000 (subject to negotiation within this range). Travel and subsistence expenses will also be reimbursed for costs incurred while carrying out EA duties.’ (Education Authority website).
However, such remuneration will not compensate one who violates a solemn oath made to the Lord and who proves unfaithful to the Lord they profess to obey and follow on that ‘great day’!
The video and the newspaper report on the confrontation has caused quite a stir amongst Free Presbyterians.
In truth, it should come as no surprise since the two-facedness of Mervyn Storey has been known to Free Presbyterians for quite sometime.
I have highlighted his hypocrisy in the ‘Burning Bush’ on quite a number of occasions and have drawn Presbytery’s attention to his repeated violation of his ordination oath as an elder of Ballymoney Free Presbyterian Church.
In my article on the Burke protest, I included PDF copies of two articles, one in January 2015 – ‘Mervyn Storey, Minister for Social Development in the Northern Ireland Executive, tried to distance himself from funding of sodomites.’ The other article was on the man’s betrayal of Bible truth by his ‘wishing well’ the ecumenical organisation, ‘The Corrymeela Community’. ‘Principles abandoned – God’s Truth Betrayed!’ This was published in February 2015.
Sodomite
Storey met with the then leader of this organisation, which had been long opposed in the past by the Free Presbyterian Church. He was called Pádraig Ó Tuama, a Romanist and acknowledged sodomite. ‘Ó Tuama is gay, and has been a vocal supporter of the legalisation of same-sex marriage. He has been outspoken against the practice of ‘reparative’ or ‘conversion therapy’. (Wikipedia)
Ballymoney minister and Session have been challenged as to why this man has been allowed to continue as an elder and take a prominent role in the activities of the congregation. The Presbytery officers bearers have likewise been challenged by these articles as to why they have not acted.
Now has come the question from troubled and anxious souls, ‘What can we do?’.
The answer is simple.
1. Let every Free Presbyterian publicly pray in their church prayer meeting for the Lord’s intervention so that there is an awakening by those who are responsible for the conducting of the church’s affairs in a decent and in orderly manner (1 Corinthians 14:40), to act as required of the Lord in this matter.
Those responsible are the ministers and elders, of course. “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief,” Hebrews 13:17.
It is clear that many ministers and elders have lost sight of that day of accounting of their actions before the Lord Jesus!
2. Let every Free Presbyterian privately, politely and in the fear of the Lord, ask their minister to do that which he is obliged to do and which he swore an oath before God to do at his ordination!
That oath contained the following undertakings.
“8. Will you maintain with all the strength God shall give you the position on Biblical separation from apostasy as taken by the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster in 1951 at the time of its secession from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland?
- As God helps you will you expose and resist the continued apostasy from Christ manifested within Irish Presbyterianism, Methodism, Episcopalianism and other visible church bodies; exhorting God’s people to obey the teaching and commandment of 1 Timothy 6: 3-5?”
This is a day for a forthright fulfilling of that oath!
3. Let every Free Presbyterian quietly discuss the matter with like-minded friends and join with them in prayer that the Lord would answer the prayer of the Psalmist in our day.
“Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved,” Psalm 80:19.
Were these things to happen, then I have no doubt that changes would take place to the pleasing of God and the rejoicing of the faithful souls of the godly.
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
6th August 2025