County Down’s Presbyterian Women prepare for annual conference ‘Generation to Generation’
Local Presbyterian Women’s groups in congregations across County Down will come together in Belfast on 16th May 2026 for their annual conference.
The organisation supports the development and resourcing of ministry among women in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI), and the meeting itself is one of the largest gatherings of Christian women in Ireland.
Taking place in PCI’s Assembly Buildings in central Belfast, this year’s theme is ‘Generation to Generation’. “Much of what Presbyterian Women does happens in the 450 local groups that are spread across our local congregations across the denomination, including those across County Down,” said PCI’s Women’s Ministry and Presbyterian Women Development Officer, Pauline Kennedy.
“So, when women from the groups come together for the annual conference, it is always a special moment in the PW calendar, which I am very much looking forward to,”
“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. Our annual women’s conference is, however, open to all women, as we come together to worship, focus on God’s word, and celebrate what he is doing in our lives and through his church.
“It is also a time to reflect on the past year and look forward to what God has planned for the year ahead, and this year our theme is taken from Psalm 79:13, which says: ‘Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation, we will proclaim your praise.’
Mrs Kennedy added: “Our focus won’t just be on the younger generation, but the older generation too, which is a growing part of society. We will think biblically about the God of the generations and how we can be women who play our part in his story as we seek to pass on faith in our chaotic world.
“As we prepare for our conference, we come expectant to encounter him afresh and take his blessing back to our local churches and communities.”
“To help us focus on our theme, we have Jo Frost as our guest speaker. Jo is the newly appointed Executive Director at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, and before that she had served for the past eight years as the Director of Communications and Engagement at the Evangelical Alliance.
“I am really looking forward to hearing what she has to say,” Mrs Kennedy said.
Over the years upwards of 1,000 women attend the annual meeting. Those attending from County Down, and from congregations across the denomination, will also hear from outgoing PW President, Linda Beattie, who worships in Joymount Presbyterian Church in Carrickfergus.
Talking about her year as president, Mrs Beattie said it had been a ‘privilege’ to serve as she had ‘thoroughly enjoyed it.’
Involving much travelling, Mrs Beattie visited 34 different PW groups, she said that, “each one was unique as they served God where he had placed them as women with a heart for ministry and mission within their church and their community.
“While it has been humbling to see the dedication and commitment from group leaders and committees and the women themselves, it has also been a privilege to have been president.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed it, but I certainly could not have done it on my own strength as I have felt God’s presence with me every step of the way.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported me prayerfully and practically this year, as it has been so appreciated.”
Mrs Beattie added: “It has been the most challenging, inspiring and privileged time. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to spend time talking with the women in their individual congregations and seeing how God has been ever-present with them this year.
“My prayer is that they would continue to feel God’s presence, guiding and leading them to serve him where he has placed them.”
During the annual meeting Mrs Beattie will hand over the presidency to Libby Russell, who worships in Ballycarry Presbyterian Church. “As I come to the end of my year in office, 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-confidant 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.
The conference is from 10.30am to 1.45pm on Saturday, 16 May, and includes tea/coffee and scones. Costing £10 (or euro equivalent) it can be booked via:
www.presbyteianireland.org/events.
Presbyterian Women
There have been women’s organisations within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) for over 150 years. Presbyterian Women (PW) is an organisation for women within PCI and is part of women’s ministry within the Church.
PW Groups are envisaged as women’s fellowships in which women are encouraged to become Christians and to become Christ-like. In addition to supporting mission at home and overseas, each group is to seek ways of actively reaching women in its own area for Christ. PW’s motto is ‘Living for Jesus’
Encouraging women to become disciples of Christ it aims to highlight the need for:
- Love and unity
- Obedience to God
- Christian living and spiritual maturity
- Service using gifts, time and money
- Local and global mission
The organisation supports the work of the Council of Mission in Ireland by helping to fund deaconess training and the outreach of South Belfast Friendship House into Sandy Row.
It also supports the Council for Global Mission as it sends out and funds global mission workers in countries across the globe through donations made to our Mission Fund. Each year, Presbyterian Women also select special projects, both at home and overseas.
