Introducing the President Designate of the Methodist Church in Ireland for 2024-25, the Rev Dr John Alderdice, and the Lay Leader Designate for 2024-26, Ms. Elaine Barnett.

The President and Lay Leader designate were elected at Conference in 2023. The Installation of the new President and Lay Leader will take place at Conference in 2024 (5th - 9th June).

Rev Dr John Alderdice | PRESIDENT DESIGNATE 2024-25

Rev Dr John Alderdice has travelled for twenty-five years. He is currently stationed as Superintendent of the Ballynafeigh Circuit. He has previously served as the Director of Ministry, as Methodist Chaplain to Queen's University Belfast (Church of the Resurrection), and as a Circuit Minister on the Newtownards Circuit (Movilla Abbey and Comber), and on the Tandragee and Richhill Circuit.

His previous service to the Connexion includes being the Convener of the Faith and Order Committee, Chair of IMYC Executive, Children's Secretary for the Portadown and Down Districts, Youth and Children's Secretary, Down District Home Mission Secretary, Conference Director of Music, Convenor of the Board of Ministry, Edgehill Governors, Convenor of Pastoral Efficiency, member of the Connexional Team, and a member of the Stationing Committee.

John is currently a Trustee of the Methodist Church in Ireland, is Convenor of the Connexional Team and is a governor of Methodist College.

John is also an Ecumenical Canon of Down Cathedral.

MS. ELAINE BARNETT | LAY LEADER DESIGNATE 2024-26

Elaine is a Local Preacher on the Carrickfergus Circuit, and Society Steward in Whitehead. She has served the Connexion in a number of areas, including as all-Ireland YWA President; NE District Home Mission Secretary; Representative to the British Conference; and Convener for the Connexions Steering Group. She was the first lay person to be elected to the Conference Secretariat, serving since 2000, first as Journal Secretary, and currently as Editorial Secretary.

Her desire has always been to see people grow in faith and develop skills to serve God in the local church. This was at the heart of her work in Edgehill Christian Education Centre, where she introduced correspondence courses and District training events, and then for twelve years when she was employed in a lay ministry role in both Woodvale and Craigyhill Methodist Churches.

For the last five years she chaired the ecumenical Northern Ireland Executive Committee of [Women’s] World Day of Prayer, and is now an Appointed Officer of its England, Wales and Northern Ireland National Committee. Her work within the charity sector led to her becoming a Member of the Institute of Leadership and Management, and she is a Trustee of Larne [Trussell Trust] Foodbank.