Ballycarry elder says Presbyterian women contribute so much more than 'hosting and catering' as she begins presidency
A former Ballycarry primary school teacher has praised the contribution of women’s ministry as she takes up a senior role with the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI).
Libby Russell, the new president of Presbyterian Women, was addressing the annual conference of the organisation which supports the development and resourcing of ministry among women in the church.
Mrs Russell, an elder in Ballycarry Presbyterian Church, 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.”
Looking forward to her year in office, she added she very much admired those who had preceded 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 Saturday (May 16) the PCI’s Assembly Buildings in Belfast hosted women from 450 Presbyterian Women’s groups from across the island of Ireland, who had gathered around the theme for 2026/2027 ‘Generation to Generation’. Guest speaker, Jo Frost, the newly appointed executive director at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, spoke on the theme.
Pauline Kennedy, PCI’s Women’s Ministry and Presbyterian Women development officer, said 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”.
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.
Congratulating Mrs Russell on becoming president, Linda Beattie, the outgoing president from Carrickfergus, 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.”