History will be made on Wednesday when the Methodist Church of Ireland appoints its first woman president. Rev Heather Morris, who is a director of ministry at Edgehill Theological College in Belfast, is the third generation of her family to enter the church.
The 48-year-old will now become the first female to lead one of the four major Christian churches in Ireland.
But she told UTV there was no pressure put on her to enter the church.
"Actually my parents were very wise in giving me time to discern where God was leading me," she explained.
"So there was no expectation at all probably, they worked very hard to make sure that there wasn't a burden of expectation."
Dr Morris was born in Africa where her parents were carrying out missionary work.
"My father and grandfather both served in Nigeria," she explained. "My grandfather for most of his life and my father for eight years so that is very much part of who I am as a person and I had the opportunity to go back to Nigeria a couple of years ago. As we approach into the G8 for example, certainly that experience shapes me as we begin to think about the issues that the G8 gives us an opportunity to speak (on), like aid for example."
Dr Morris says that being a woman has actually helped establish her authority.
She continued: "Because there is a bit of news about it and an opportunity there, I don't think I have anything different or better to say but if being a woman gives me an opportunity to say some things in public and to speak of God in public, I am glad to take that opportunity."
Ahead of the G8 leader summit in Co Fermanagh next week, Dr Morris says that the church is supporting the IF campaign which is asking the leaders to work to end world hunger.
"We are working with other churches and many other organisations to highlight issues like aid and tax and ask that land wouldn't be grabbed and that there would be transparency," she commented.
"So we have definite things to say about social justice across the earth and here on this island."
Dr Morris will be installed in the role in a ceremony at Joymount Presbyterian Church in Carrickfergus at 7.30pm.
She commented: "It quite often happens that the installation of the president and their ordination service take place in Presbyterian or Church of Ireland or indeed on one occasion in a Roman Catholic Church and that is a sign of God stirring up the church and encouraging us to work together."