President & Lay Leader

The Church elects a President and Lay Leader annually, who chair the Conference and other committees throughout the year, as well as visiting Methodist congregations all over the island and representing the Church in the public sphere.

Rev Dr Janet Unsworth

President 2026-27

Ms. Laura Griffith

Lay Leader 2026-27

The theme for the Connexional year is, ‘Living Letters – Written by the Spirit, sent into the world.’

“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.”
– 2 Corinthians 3:2 (NIV)

This picture of a ‘living letter’ given by the apostle Paul to the church in Corinth, reminds us how each follower of Jesus is called to be a vibrant, living expression of God’s Spirit, an ‘ambassador of Christ’ to others.

In 2026-27 we will focus on what it means to be ‘Living Letters’ scribed, not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God.

Janet and Laura will sometimes travel together but will also attend separate appointments across Ireland. Through worship, preaching, and meeting others, they aim to encourage people to live as ‘Living Letters’, sharing love, joy, and hope in a changing world.

They value your prayers for safe travel and good health throughout the year. Please also pray for their husbands, John and Brian, and their families during their time in office.

We invite you to join with the President in praying for the Methodist Church in Ireland to grow in every way.

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Watch the President’s inaugural address from the Installation service from June 2026 here.

JUNE
14 - Mountpottinger
21 - Adare & Ballingrane
28 - Methodist Church in Great Britain Conference
JULY
5 - ACC
12 - National Day of Commemoration
19 - Ballymoney & Coleraine (am), Portrush (pm)
AUGUST
9 - Braniel
16 - Rathgar (am), Dublin Korean (pm)
23 - Youghal & Waterford
30 - Kinsale & Cork
SEPTEMBER
6 - High Street
13 - Dunkineely & Ardara
27 - Warrenpoint (am), Donard (pm)
OCTOBER
4 - Seymour Street
11 - Portadown
18 - Cornerstone (am), Monaghan (pm)
NOVEMBER
The Gambia (dates tbc)
15 - Wicklow (am), Dundrum (pm)
22 - East Belfast Mission
29 - Greenisland
DECEMBER
6 - Trinity
20 - Carrickfergus
JANUARY
3 - Ballynahinch
10 - Portaferry & Glastry
17 - Larne
24 - Priesthill (Zion)
31 - Ballymena
FEBRUARY
7 - Dundonald
MARCH
7 - Antrim (am), Omagh & Fintona (pm)
14 - Whitehead & Islandmagee
21 - Athlone & Longford
28 - Easter, St Anne’s Cathedral
APRIL
4 - North West Methodist Mission
11 - Regent Street
18 - Killarney & Kenmare
25 - Tullamore & Birr
MAY
2 - Dublin Central Mission
9 - Knock
16 - Donaghadee
23 - Cregagh
30 - Finaghy
JUNE
7 - Whiteabbey
JULY
12 - Whiteabbey
AUGUST
2 - Castlewellan Holiday Week
16 - Glengormley
SEPTEMBER
6 - High Street
OCTOBER
4 - Cullybackey
11 - Donegall Road
18 - Larne
25 - Whiteabbey
NOVEMBER
8 - Whiteabbey
22 - Whitehead & Islandmagee
29 - Whiteabbey
DECEMBER
20 - Whiteabbey
27 - Whiteabbey
JANUARY
10 - Knock
17 - Whiteabbey
31 - Whiteabbey
FEBRUARY
14 - Portaferry & Glastry
21 - Greenisland
28 - Whiteabbey
MARCH
14 - Whiteabbey
21 - Athlone & Longford
APRIL
4 - Whiteabbey
11 - Regent Street
25 - Tullamore & Birr
MAY
2 - Whiteabbey
23 - Carlisle Road (am), Moville (am), Limavady (pm)

Watch Janet and Laura in conversation with Rev Dr Heather Morris, General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Ireland on the ‘Living Wholeheartedly’ Podcast