2 November 2026 | Budva, Montenegro [Joe Philpott]
The Irish Mission (IM) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church took a significant step closer to becoming a conference on 29 October, when the Trans-European Division (TED) Executive Committee approved moving forward with its change of status at the TED Annual Council in Budva, Montenegro. The vote recognised sustained growth and the mission’s readiness to take on the responsibilities of a conference across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The decision follows a detailed assessment of the Mission’s growth, finances, evangelism and administration. Further steps remain before the transition takes effect, including a constituency meeting to be called by the British Union Conference (BUC). A date for the change has yet to be determined.
Readiness for conference status
TED Executive Secretary Robert Csizmadia outlined the assessment process, explaining that a change of status requires more than a decision by the local field. To assess the Mission’s readiness, a commission reviewed more than 200 pages of documentation and met with the IM’s officers, executive committee members, pastors, Bible workers and local church elders.
The commission concluded that the Irish Mission was ready to become a conference and submitted its findings to the BUC, which subsequently voted to advance the request to the TED Executive Committee.
Joining the meeting online, IM President Adam Keough described a process that members had supported since delegates voted in 2019 to make the conference status a strategic objective. “And ultimately, this is not because of our faithfulness. This is because of God’s faithfulness,” Keough said, reflecting on generations of ministry across the island of Ireland.
Sustained growth
The IM serves two legal jurisdictions: Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland. Established in 1902, it has experienced sustained growth over the past 25 to 30 years, largely through immigration.
As of August 2026, the Mission had 35 congregations, around 15 of which had been established during the previous decade, Keough reported. With members from more than 50 countries, the IM recorded a membership retention rate above 95 per cent and averaged 26 baptisms a year over the past decade.
Keough reported that the commission found the Mission to be in a strong, sustainable financial position. Since 2020, they have averaged 9 per cent annual tithe growth and said the IM was phasing out financial support from the BUC. Since 2018, it has contributed more to the worldwide church than it received.
Preparations have also included appointing a full-time executive secretary in 2023, strengthening risk management and restructuring pastoral districts as the number of congregations has grown. Work continues on arrangements for a permanent headquarters and the legal structures needed to operate across both legal jurisdictions.
Answered prayers
For Audrey Andersson, a General Conference general vice-president with Irish roots, having been born in Dublin, the milestone carried personal significance. “I remember growing up hearing many prayers for the growth of the church in Ireland. Prayers that seemed unanswered until now,” she said.
“The transition from the Irish Mission to the Irish Conference is a significant milestone for the Church. It is an opportunity to reflect with gratitude on God’s faithfulness, to recognise the dedication and sacrifice of those who have contributed to the growth of the Church, and to look forward with renewed commitment to Mission.”
That continuing responsibility includes reaching the wider population of Ireland. Keough highlighted the IM’s investment in digital evangelism through Hope Media Ireland, alongside its emphasis on developing leaders, strengthening unity and nurturing healthy communities.
Looking ahead to the opportunities presented by the Mission’s investment in digital evangelism, Keough said, “We look forward to continuing to see the growth of Hope Media Ireland and the impact it can make across the communities and the territory that we represent.”
[Photos: Joe Philpott]
