Article

I have been informed that the late Mr George McConnell, long time faithful supporter of the Free Presbyterian Church missionary outreaches, sent in a letter of resignation to Presbytery at the beginning of this year (2025), explaining that he could no longer serve in the position he had occupied for many years because of its treatment of Rev David DiCanio.

Mr McConnell had a very high regard for Mr DiCanio and felt that his treatment by the Free Presbyterian Church, resulting in his expulsion as a missionary, was disgraceful.

However, I understand that his letter was not read out in full and the impression was left with the members of Presbytery that he had resigned because of ill-health.

That was not the reason but it likely suited the officers of Presbytery for the members of Presbytery to go away with that impression.

Mr McConnell was held in high regard by all within the Free Presbyterian Church and his views regarding the treatment of Rev David DiCanio would have alarmed many people and, doubtless, embarrassing questions would have been asked of the Presbytery officers.

If I am mistakenly informed about this issue, the Presbytery can easily set the matter straight by publishing Mr McConnell’s letter of resignation and I will certainly inform the readers of ‘The Burning Bush’ of the true facts.

It is important that the name and honour of a faithful man be upheld and that the reason for his resignation not be disgracefully concealed and misrepresented by a withholding of the truth on this matter.

Perhaps some member of Presbytery, on reading this, will ask for the letter to be read out in full to Presbytery, for I feel that, as is the usual case, there will be no response to what I publish!

Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)

“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God,” 2 Corinthians 4:1-2.

The following was posted by Roy Wilson on his Facebook page at around 11 pm on 12 August 2025.

---

When i was a DUP councillor in Ballymoney council, 2005 – 2009 new legislation was brought in to allow same sex marriage to be legalised in the borough. Mervyn was a sitting councillor as well at that time and was the DUP group leader. We always had group meetings before the monthly council meeting, but on the particular day that this law was to passed, I wasn’t told that the group meeting was changed to the middle of the day. The rest of the group decided that at the council meeting a statement would be read out saying how the DUP didn’t agree with it, but allowing it to pass.

As a born again Christian, I knew this went against everything I was taught and I also knew it would offend my saviour and Lord. The new law was going against everything God’s word proclaimed. 

So I spoke up at the council meeting, making a proposal that ” the council would not allow civil partnership marriages to take place in any government buildings nor within the borough of Ballymoney. My motion was seconded by my colleague councillor Audrey Patterson. It went to a vote and all my other DUP colleagues abstained from the vote, including Mervyn Storey.

But the unbelievable happened after the meeting when Mervyn pulled Audrey and myself aside and threatened us with the party whip, to not do anything like that again.

I made it very clear to Mervyn, I serve my master Jesus Christ first, then the party.

All this that has come out now about Mervyn doesn’t surprise me, he showed his true side to Audrey and myself. And since then the DUP has only went down a slippery slope when it comes to God’s laws

Shortly after this I resigned from bring a councillor and the party. I couldn’t stay in an organisation that sang about God on a Sunday to please people, but during the week stuck their fingers in God’s eye’s.

Peter Robinson rang me shortly after I resigned and I told him ” I wouldn’t tell the media my reason for leaving” it was simply put down as personal reasons. 

So there you have it, my real reason for leaving. And in my view, Mervyn needs to choose who he wants to serve. God or man. And Ballymoney free Presbyterian church should definitely be asking him this question. 

The country can do without Mervyn Storey, but it definitely can’t do without God, the one true God Jehovah. And He can definitely work without any politician.

Amen

---

The link to the post is here:

Roy Wilson 12 August 2025 Facebook post

Sir,

Mr Mervyn Storey only digs the hole he is in even deeper with his attempt defence of the indefensible!!!

It is reported in your newspaper, at 6.26pm on Friday 8th August, that Mr Storey had issued a statement defending his role as chair the board of the Education Authority (EA) which in its ‘Guidance for Schools on Supporting Transgender Young People’, promotes respect for ‘a young person’s wishes and use their preferred name/pronoun in everyday interactions’, and that ‘staff should give a transgender pupil access to toilets which match their gender identity, unless there is a good reason not to do so’.

In his statement he said:—‘The suggestion that I am, or have ever been, engaged in promoting transgenderism is without any foundation in fact…’

‘For further accuracy, I would point out that the guidance referred to intended to support transgender pupils in schools was developed [in] 2019, prior to my appointment as chairperson of the board of the EA in January of this year.’

Mr Storey simply puts his foot in his mouth by that statement!

He tells us that the perverted guidance issued by the Education Authority, which aids and abets transgenderism, was in place when he accepted the position of chairman of the Board. He obviously knew then that he was taking on the leading role in a body that openly sided with transgenderism. How can he now say that there is no foundation in the criticism that he helps promote this ungodly and utterly unscriptural and unnatural notion?

One cannot hold the position of chairman of an organisation which promotes transgenderism and claim that one is not a participant in the promotion of this evil!

Mr Storey should study the allegation that the Lord levelled against the Edomites who watched the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, though took no part. “In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them,” Obadiah 1:11.

Mr Storey’s pathetic excuse will not cover or conceal his wrongdoing!!

When Mr Storey was running away and refusing to answer, he was showing a little more wisdom than he is now in offering this moronic defence!!

Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
Kilskeery
8th August 2025