MARANATHA COMMUNITY CHURCH TROWBRIDGE TRUST
MINUTES OF THE VISIONARY MEETING HELD ON THE 26[TH] JANUARY 2025
This meeting was held on the 26[th] January after our normal Sunday service when the congregation were invited to stay and participate in the visionary meeting.
In attendance were around 60 of the congregation plus the trustees.
Introducton
The meeting commenced with a short time of prayer led by John, who then explained the reason and the need for the visionary meeting.
Finances
The church accounts for 2024 have been published and copies of these were freely available to anybody in the congregation to take a copy if they wished. John explained that the churches income from tithes and offerings had increased by 13% to £53,210 and expenses were down by 8% to £33,755, giving a current account balance of £65,315.
Total Income - £53,210 +13% Total Expenses - £33,755 -8% Current Account - £65,315 Savings account - £43,327
Question raised concerning an emergency fund for people in need, Jerry responded to say that we can give up to £250 when needed but anything above this has to have trustees’ approval.
New Policy Directves
John explained to the congregation that we had commissioned David Fiddy to look at all our church policies and where necessary update and amend. David has extensive experience on formulating
church policies with his work for a number of churches in the Devizes area. The list of church policies is below:
Management Document and Engaging External Speakers. Safeguarding Policy on Child Protection and Serious Incident Reporting Declaration of Trust and Social Media Policy. Conflicts of Interest and Expenses Policy. Risk Management Policy and Political Activity and campaigns Policy. Anti-harassment and Bullying policy. Investment policy and Finance policy. Reserves Policy.
The process of checking and then approving the policy is ongoing.
No questions from the congregation
Charity Status.
John explained that the church was actively seeking to change its charitable status to a CIO and then explained what this was. See below:
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
“A CIO is a form of incorporated charitable organisation that allows its members and trustees certain protections against personal liability and provides a legal capacity as an individual. In other words if we get sued then the trustees will not be liable for any financial compensation”
John stated that it would have no impact on the congregation and the Maranatha name would continue. The whole process is likely to take around 3 to 4 months.
Building
Rob then explained about our vision for our own building.
A number of people offered to look out for potential buildings that might be suitable as well as looking out for land on which we could build our own purpose built church. All should report back to Rob.
Review of last year, special reference to new things
Jeremy presented this item
Vision for the new year 2025
Jeremy presented this item
Any other business
Two items were raised
- 1) Colin was looking for a list of the congregations telephone numbers and email address so that we (he) could have more contact with members of our congregation. Although this sounds a good idea in practice it leaves us vulnerable to abuse/misuse. We iterated that all requests for information about other members their email and telephone numbers would all go through Rob who would contact the person to gain approval before passing on this information.
Some consideration was given to Rob asking members of the congregation to volunteer release of this information so that Rob can produce the list to those who would like a copy.
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2) There was a suggestion that for our Sunday service we have a nominated “runner” with a microphone who would attend to anybody who has a word for the church.
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3) Trevor is producing and organisation chart (organogram) so that it is clear who is responsible for each activity in the church and people will know who to approach if they have a problem.
| Dec-23 | Dec-24 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Bank Balance | 51,753 | 60,968 | |
| MoneyIn | 3,595 | 6,343 | |
| MoneyOut | 5,756 | 1,996 | |
| Closing Bank Balance | 49,592 | 65,315 |
| Income Categories | Income Categories | Income Categories | 01/01/23-31/12/23 | 01/01/24-31/12/24 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Interest | - | - | 757 | 1,364 | |||
| Gifts Received | - | - | - | 400 | |||
| Tithes & Offerings | 3,595 | 6,343 | 39,074 | 45,348 | |||
| Income - Restricted | - | - | - | 2,115 | |||
| Income - Unassigned | - | - | 468 | - | |||
| Gift Aid | - | - | 6,600 | 6,098 | |||
| Total Income Categories | 3,595 | 6,343 | 46,899 | 55,325 |
| Expense Categories | Expense Categories | Expense Categories | Expense Categories | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Charges | 6 | 5 | 109 | 67 | ||||
| Courses and Conferences | - | - | 610 | 806 | ||||
| Equipment | - | - | 972 | 896 | ||||
| Establishment Costs | 421 | 195 | 3,378 | 2,446 | ||||
| Evangelism | 572 | 100 | 2,217 | 594 | ||||
| Events | - | - | - | 2,702 | ||||
| Giving- Fellowship | 800 | - | 1,250 | - | ||||
| Giving- Gifts | 1,000 | 950 | 1,500 | 10,945 | ||||
| Giving- Mission | 5,500 | - | 17,000 | 7,200 | ||||
| Giving- Speakers | - | - | 590 | 980 | ||||
| Insurance | - | - | 429 | 461 | ||||
| Music/Literature | - | - | 474 | 1,141 | ||||
| Pastoral expenses | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Rent Paid | 633 | 444 | 6,380 | 6,133 | ||||
| Salary | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Subscriptions | - | - | 438 | 100 | ||||
| Youthwork | 25 | 301 | 628 | 1,399 | ||||
| Total Expense Categories | 8,956 | 1,996 | 35,975 | 35,870 | ||||
| Grand Total | 5,361 - |
4,347 | 10,924 | 19,455 | ||||
| HSBC Current Account Kingdom Bank Ltd Savings Petty Cash TOTAL |
||||||||
| 47,202 | 65,315 | |||||||
| 41,963 | 43,327 | |||||||
| 120 | 98 | |||||||
| 89,285 | 108,740 |
Maranatha Community Church (Wiltshire) - 01.12.2024-31.12.2024
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Maranatha Community Church (Wiltshire)
I report on the accounts of the Church for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are attached.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Church, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Church’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention ) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: John Edwards
John Edwards B.Sc. (Econ) 5 Sandalwood Road Westbury Wiltshire BA13 3UP
- 4 June 2025