The incoming Methodist President, the Rev Jim Rea, has called for a spiritual revival "that will sweep over the whole people of God on this island."
Speaking at his installation service in Ballymena last night, Mr Rea said that despite the achievements of the Churches in Ireland, something was missing.
"Our society becomes increasingly materialistic and secular, and sadly in some situations in the North, even more sectarian. As the Churches struggle for relevance, we ask 'What is needed?' May I suggest that what we most need is the dynamic of the Holy Spirit coming in full measure."
Taking as his theme for the year "Come Holy Spirit, Revive Your Church Again", Mr Rea said that if the Church was to experience this revival in any measure, its members would have to live uncomfortably with the world.
He said: "We will not always be in line with public opinion on subjects such as the promotion of alcohol as a necessary ingredient of modern living, the exploitation of the poor by giving endless opportunities to gamble on the lottery, or the concerns we have about how the people of Iraq are given back their freedom."
He said that spiritual revival would revolutionise the Church and make an impact on "this divided nation. We are not there yet. The recipes may be present and some good things are happening, but the dynamic is missing."