Name: The Marriage Course (online)
Start: 2026-01-06T00:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-01-06T23:59:59+01:00
Location: Online

CSMI Mission Director Jenny Smyth to retire

Monday September 22nd 2025

Jenny Smyth receiving a gift from CMSI partners in Kenya.

Church Mission Society Ireland (CMSI) Mission Director Jenny Smyth has announced that she is to retire after serving as Mission Director for 11 years.

Jenny was also Partnership Coordinator for two years and, along with her husband Billy, served for 20 years as a Mission Partner, spending many years in Connor’s former link diocese of Yei, South Sudan. Jenny was a CMS Britain Mission Partner in Uganda before joining the CMS Ireland family in 1996, when she married Billy.

The couple served together in Uganda, moving to Yei in 2003 following a ceasefire in the long running civil war in what was then Southern Sudan. They returned to Ireland with their children in 2007, and Jenny was appointed CMSI Mission Director in 2015.

Jenny shared her plans for retirement at the annual Ignite Conference for CMSI supporters, held in Dromantine Retreat and Conference centre near Newry on September 13.

In her remarks, she spoke of her history with the Society. “I now feel that someone with fresh energy, complementary skills and new vision would benefit the Society,” Jenny said. “We’re really blessed with a very supportive Board of Trustees and a strong, stable staff team… and I am sure that they are well able to ensure continuity for the Society and keep things on track during the change of leadership.”

Jenny concluded with words of gratitude:

“I would like to thank you all and our global partners for the ongoing prayerful support that you’ve given and the practical ways in which you support the Society. Please do pray that God will direct and guide the process of recruitment and for the person that God has already appointed for this role.”

CMSI Chair of Trustees David Reynolds led the gathering of more than 120 CMSI members and friends in a time of prayer following the announcement which resulted in an outpouring of affection for Jenny demonstrated by a standing ovation and through many valedictory words offered across the day.

It is hoped that a new Mission Director will be in post in time for the Society’s Annual General Meeting in March 2026. In due course, there are plans for an event to celebrate Jenny’s ministry in CMSI as well as online prayer meetings which will focus on the process of recruiting a new Mission Director.

The Chair of the Church of Ireland’s Council for Mission, the Rev Tim Wright, said: “On behalf of the Council of Mission I want to thank Jenny for her outstanding service to the Church through the Church Mission Society Ireland.

“She has been a passionate advocate for a global engagement with a local church whether serving overseas or at home.

“She has successfully led a popular and well supported Society and interacted with other like-minded organisations on the Association of Mission Societies and the Council for Mission.

“We will miss her enthusiasm, leadership and godly wisdom. We wish Jenny and Billy God’s blessing as they leave this sphere of ministry and seek to serve him in new pastures.”