Irish Mission Executive Secretary report

The secretariat role within the Irish Mission (IM) has undergone several significant changes and transitions over the course of the quinquennium. Initially, the role was carried out by Pastor Jacques Venter, who was then serving as the British Union Conference (BUC) Associate Executive Secretary and overseeing secretariat responsibilities across the three missions within the BUC.

As the IM’s needs grew and the role became increasingly demanding, it was recognised that a dedicated focus was required. Consequently, in October 2022, Pastor Adam Keough was appointed IM Executive Secretary on a half-time basis, with the remainder of his time dedicated to pastoral duties. This arrangement continued until October 2023, when Pastor Keough assumed the role of IM Executive Secretary on a full-time basis, allowing him to fully concentrate on the Mission’s HR, governance, compliance and administrative needs, as well as its legal, regulatory and statutory requirements.

A further transition occurred in August 2024, when Pastor Dan Serb, then IM President, accepted a call to serve at Newbold College. Following his departure, Pastor Keough was appointed IM President, effective September 2024. At the same time, Pastor Ben Pontanar was appointed to the position of IM Executive Secretary, ensuring continuity and focused leadership across the IM’s operational and administrative functions

Managing Growth in the Mission

As reflected in the IM President’s report, the IM experienced significant growth both in membership and in the number of congregations over the quinquennium. By the end of 2025, membership had increased by 44%, from 1,083 in 2021 to 1,560, while the number of congregations across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland had risen by 42%, from 24 in 2021 to 34.

To effectively manage this growth, the IM Secretariat has continuously encouraged local church clerks to actively use ACMS to ensure that membership records are accurate, up to date and maintained in compliance with data-protection requirements, as well as engaging with new attendees in a timely manner to facilitate membership transfers. This encouragement is complemented by the provision of ongoing training and support for local church clerks to ensure that they are adequately equipped in their role.

These areas of growth have also necessitated the employment of additional pastors. Increasing ministerial capacity is essential to ensure the continued provision of effective pastoral care, spiritual leadership and meaningful engagement with members across the Mission’s territory. At the end of 2025, the Mission had 16 employees: two in administration, an office secretary, a Hope Media Ireland director, a full-time Youth and Pathfinder sponsor, and eleven pastors serving in the field. To support integration, an improved onboarding process has been introduced to ensure that incoming pastors are effectively oriented into the IM’s operational structures and cultural context. This facilitates a smoother transition and strengthens alignment with the IM’s stated purpose, mission and values, as well as the values outlined in the BUC Strategic Plan.

There has also been a renewed focus on the ongoing professional development and support of existing pastors and employees. The IM officers have encouraged and supported continuous learning and professional development outside individual areas of strength and competence, while also providing opportunities for reflection and growth in ministry practice. In addition to pastors attending BUTREC seminars, several are currently enrolled in structured short-term professional development courses, and four pastors are pursuing doctoral degrees in church growth, leadership, theology and biblical studies.

Furthermore, increased attention has been given to employee health and wellbeing. Pastors and employees are actively encouraged to take appropriate rest, and to plan and utilise their annual leave. This has contributed to a significant increase in annual leave uptake over the past year, reflecting a positive shift towards a healthier work-life balance.

Mission to Conference Status

Recognising the steady growth of the Mission, at the IM Session in October 2021, the constituency formally adopted Strategic Objective No. 5, pursuing the ‘change of status to Irish Conference’. Over the course of the quinquennium, the IM Secretariat has played a central and sustained role in advancing this strategic objective. It has been actively engaged in the implementation of the nine-step process outlined in TED Working Policy B 75 10, ensuring that each step in the process has been addressed. This has included the coordinated preparation of the Self-Evaluation Document, the collation and submission of Supplementary Information and Materials for the TED Survey Team, and the provision of detailed responses to follow-up queries and clarification requests from the survey team.

Governance and Compliance

Two significant areas of responsibility covered by the IM Secretariat in relation to the Mission operating as a church, company and charity are governance and compliance. Governance includes ensuring that appropriate structures and policies are in place to support accountability, transparency and oversight, and that IM Executive Committee members, directors or trustees are provided with the information and guidance necessary to make strategic decisions. It also involves ensuring that decisions are properly documented, communicated and implemented. To facilitate this, the IM Secretariat has been maximising the use of the OnBoard management system, enabling IM Executive Committee members, directors or trustees to easily navigate and access relevant and up-to-date agenda items, minutes, governing documents and resources.

Compliance, on the other hand, focuses on ensuring that the Mission adheres to relevant legal, regulatory and statutory requirements across its different operating contexts as a church, company and charity. This includes compliance with denominational policies, company and charity law, employment regulations, safeguarding standards, financial reporting obligations, and data-protection requirements. The IM Secretariat also plays a key role in monitoring regulatory changes, maintaining accurate records, coordinating charity compliance audits and filings, and ensuring that internal policies are up to date and consistently applied.

In collaboration with the IM Risk Manager and the IM Audit and Risk Committee, the last quinquennium also saw the establishment of an IM risk register, comprehensive and regularly updated IM risk assessments, and the development of the IM Risk Management, Complaints Management and Incident Management policies. In October 2025, the IM also successfully hosted its first risk leadership summit, attended by pastors and safeguarding and risk-management leaders from across the Mission’s territory, under the theme ‘Caring for Each Other Matters’. Awareness and training are also ongoing for pastors and local church leaders to support the implementation of these policies.

Looking Ahead to Future Objectives

Comprehensive Policy Schedule Review:

Undertake a full and systematic review of all current policies to ensure ongoing compliance with relevant denominational policies and legal, regulatory and statutory requirements. This process will also identify gaps, update outdated provisions, ensure alignment across all policy documents, and prepare the Mission for conference status.

Facilitate Registration of the IM in Northern Ireland:

Upon authorisation by the BUC Executive Committee, progress the formal registration of the IM as a company and a charity in Northern Ireland. This will include ensuring appropriate legal structures, governance arrangements and compliance with the Companies House and Charity Commission for Northern Ireland requirements.

Promote Redemptive Membership Review Process and ACMS Categorisation:

Enhance and promote the redemptive membership review process across local churches as outlined in the Church Manual. In parallel, strengthen the accuracy and consistency of member categorisation within ACMS to support better pastoral care and engagement.

Volunteer Handbook for Local Churches:

Develop a comprehensive volunteer handbook to support local churches in the recruitment, training and management of volunteers. This resource will outline role descriptions and expectations, provide guidance on safeguarding and risk management, and address local church governance and compliance. It will also set out best-practice principles to ensure that volunteers are effectively supported and equipped.

Acknowledgements

The IM Secretariat wishes to express its sincere gratitude to Pastor Jacques Venter and Pastor Adam Keough, whose previous service and leadership in the department laid a strong foundation for the Secretariat’s work in the Mission over the past quinquennium. It also extends its heartfelt appreciation to the church clerks, whose quiet, diligent and often unrecognised efforts are nevertheless essential to the effective operation of our local churches. Its thanks go as well to our IM office secretary, Keisha Durrant, for her patient and supportive work with our local church clerks and disclosure clerks, and to our IM risk manager, Jeason Kanagaraj, for his dedicated and thorough work in strengthening the Mission’s approach to risk management. The IM Secretariat is also grateful to the members of the IM Audit and Risk Committee for the generous investment of their time, expertise and wisdom in guiding and overseeing this important area of work.

All is offered in service and for the glory of God.