The new President of Presbyterian Women, Libby Russell, has praised the contribution of Presbyterian Women in church life. PW is the organisation which supports the development and resourcing of ministry among women in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI)
Speaking during the group’s annual conference, which took place recently in PCI’s Assembly Buildings in central Belfast, Libby Russell said, “Presbyterian Women contribute much more to church life than some would realise. Many of our members hold various leadership roles within church life, from eldership to congregational committee, from running Bible studies, to so many different organisations, which enables them to keep women’s ministry to the forefront. While I am sure many of our women help with various hosting and catering, they contribute so much more than that,” she said.
The former primary school teacher, who is an elder in the Church’s oldest congregation, Ballycarry Presbyterian Church in east Antrim, where her husband is minister, said that she is looking forward to her year in office. Mrs Russell also said that she very much admired those who had gone before her, “as it is on the foundation they have laid down that enables the work of Presbyterian Women to continue and thrive.”
Mrs Russell continued, “I feel a strength that is developing in our organisation is the fact that Presbyterian Women are willing to step out with courage to change the shape of women’s ministry, which fits the needs of their members without losing the aims of discipleship, living for Jesus, and caring for the missional aspects of our projects.
“I am most looking forward to meeting the women in their own church environments and groups to learn from them; to encourage them and to listen to their ideas as to how they are sharing generation to generation. To see the variety of creative approaches to our women’s ministry by Presbyterian Women will be a privilege.”
On the Saturday of the Conference, the Assembly Hall was filled with women from the 450 Presbyterian Women’s groups from across the island of Ireland, who had gathered around the theme for 2026/2027 ‘Generation to Generation’.
Taken from Psalm 79:13, it says, ‘Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation, we will proclaim your praise.’ Guest speaker, Jo Frost, the newly appointed Executive Director at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, spoke on the theme.
PCI’s Women’s Ministry and Presbyterian Women Development Officer, Pauline Kennedy said that the conference was always a time of “coming together to worship, focus on God’s Word, and celebrate what he is doing in our lives and through his church. As an organisation we are committed to supporting the development and resourcing of ministry among women in PCI, enabling, equipping and encouraging women of all ages to become disciples of Christ. I would like to thank everyone who is part of the Presbyterian Women family, for coming on Saturday and for Jo’s inspiring talk,” Mrs Kennedy said.
During the Conference the Special Home and Overseas projects for 2026/2027 were unveiled. “Transforming Lives for Good (TLG) is our Special Home Project where we hope to raise £15,000 to support the amazing work that is being done by them. This support will seek to equip, resource, train and empower congregations within the life of the PCI to make a difference in the lives of children and families in their local communities, especially through their volunteer programmes, such as Early Intervention and Make Lunch,” Mrs Kennedy explained.
The Special Overseas project will support Bible Society Malawi (BSM) and its Family Scripture Engagement Project, which seeks to strengthen family faith life by encouraging households to read, study, and discuss God’s Word together. BSM has partnered with Scripture Union to provide practical resources that help families develop daily patterns of Bible reading. “Our goal is to raise £15,000, to enable many more families to receive Scripture in their heart language and to nurture faith from generation to generation,” Mrs Kennedy said.
Congratulating Mrs Russell on becoming president, Mrs Linda Beattie, the outgoing president, said, “I would like to wish Libby God’s richest blessing as she enters her term as president. I hope that I can be the listening ear and coffee-confidante that she has been to me this year. I know God will strengthen and encourage her and that she will be a blessing to everyone she meets,” Mrs Beattie said.
Find out more about PW here.