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← Churches Together In England

2023-12-31-accounts

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

COMPANY NUMBER 05354231 CHARITY NUMBER 1110782

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

CONTENTS

Contents Page
Company Information 2
Trustees’ Report 3 – 14
Report of the Independent Examiner 15
Statement of Financial Activities (Including Income and Expenditure Account) 16
Balance Sheet 17
Cash Flow Statement 18
Notes to the Financial Statements 19 – 29

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CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

Company number 05354231(England and Wales) Charity number 1110782 Rowena Loverance (Chair of Trustee Board and Trustees/Directors Convenor of Enabling Group) Dr. Lisa Adjei Mrs Amanda Allchorn Mr Richard Bradbury (Company Secretary) [Appointed 7[th] December 2023] Fr Alexander Fostiropoulos Revd Stephen Fowler Rt Rev’d Paul Hendricks Pastor Rasaq Ibrahim [Appointed 01 April 2023] Dr. Elizabeth Joy Mr James Laing (Treasurer) [Resigned 31 March 2023] Rev’d David Lavender (Company Secretary) [Resigned 7 December 2023] Rev’d Dr. Lurliene Miller (Vice-Chair of Trustee Board and Deputy Convenor of Enabling Group) Rt Rev’d Moses Owusu-Sekyere Revd Dr Callan Slipper Maddy Thomson Victoria Turner Company Secretary Mr Richard Bradbury Chief Executive Officer/General Rt Rev‘d Mike Royal Secretary Registered Office 27 Tavistock Square London WC1H 9HH Bankers CAF Bank Limited 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ CCLA Investment Management Ltd COIF Charity Funds 80 Cheapside London EC2V 6DZ Epworth Investment Management 9 Bonhill Street London EC2A 4PE Independent Examiner Shoaib Arshad FCCA ACA Knox Cropper LLP Chartered Accountants 65 Leadenhall Street London EC3A 2AD

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CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED)

The Trustees present their annual report with the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023. The accounts comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, Financial Reporting Standard 102 and follow the recommendations in Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

ABOUT CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND

Churches Together in England (CTE) is the national body set up by the churches in 1990, and has partner bodies in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Churches Together in Britain and Ireland is the successor body to the British Council of Churches and acts in part as a Forum in which the concerns of the four National Ecumenical Instruments can be shared.

The Member Churches of CTE are: Churches and Denominations with a national presence; Unions of Churches; and Associations or Councils of Churches with a national presence. Member Churches are expected and entitled to make an active contribution to the life of Churches Together in England, to develop its fellowship, to guide its policy and to contribute financially. Local churches and congregations are encouraged to join their local 'churches together' grouping, or – if appropriate – their County/Intermediate Body.

At a national level CTE has 54 Member Churches or Councils of Churches and over 90 Charities and Networks in Association (also known as Bodies in Association). The numbers of both continue to grow. Churches are also continuing to develop ecumenical commitment locally and at Intermediate (County) level.

CTE is a visible sign of the Churches' commitment as they seek a deepening of their communion with Christ and with one another. It also provides a vehicle to proclaim the Gospel together by common witness and service. Its strength comes from people from different ecclesial traditions and cultures finding new ways to work and worship together.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

CTE is a company limited by guarantee (company number 05354231) and a registered charity (charity number 1110782). The governing instrument of the charitable company is the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

There are six Presidents of CTE: The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, The Free Churches Moderator, a representative of the Orthodox Churches, a representative of the Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches and a President nominated by the Religious Society of Friends and the Lutheran and German-speaking Churches. The Presidents meet regularly to discuss matters of concern to the churches in England. Their meetings are facilitated by the General Secretary of CTE. In June 2002 the then Presidents signed a Personal Covenant to seek a common understanding of Christ's message of salvation in the Gospel; and to work towards the visible unity of the Church of Jesus Christ in the one faith in the presence of the late monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor. This has subsequently been signed by the new Presidents.

The Forum is a triennial meeting of CTE that provides an opportunity for people representing churches at local, intermediate and national levels to meet. It serves as a place where the current work of CTE is celebrated and affirmed, and general fresh direction is discerned. The function of the Forum is to engage in worship and discussion; to recommend to the Member Churches such matters as it believes should be addressed jointly; to support and encourage Intermediate Bodies in their role as the servants of their participating churches; and to share its reflections on the activities and future programmes of CTE. The Forum does not have other roles in the governance of CTE. The Forum will meet again in March 2025.

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CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED)

The Members of the charity, with other ecumenical representatives, comprise the Enabling Group. To enable the widest possible participation in the shaping of the life and work of CTE the Enabling Group draws together representatives of Denominations, Charities and Networks in Association and regional representatives of the Intermediate Bodies. Every member of the charity undertakes to contribute up to £10 to the charity’s assets in the event of the dissolution of the charity.

The Enabling Group has the legal responsibilities in the governance of the charity for electing the Trustees and electing the chair of the Trustees. Its responsibilities also include: the admission and classification of members of the charity; agreeing procedures at general meetings and meetings of the Trustees; receiving the annual report and accounts of the Trustees; and appointing the Independent Examiner.

The Enabling Group is a reference point for Member Churches and other representatives for making decisions together which are proper to them (where necessary referring matters back to the Member Churches) and for responding to initiatives from the Forum, Member Churches and Intermediate Bodies and enabling those initiatives to be carried out by the churches in consultation with one another. The Enabling Group may make recommendations to the Trustees and comment upon their operation, but may not limit or otherwise affect the Trustees’ legal powers and obligations. The Enabling Group meets twice a year.

Being a company limited by guarantee, there is a Board of Directors who also act as the Trustees of the registered charity. The members of the charity elect the Trustees. The Trustees manage the business of the charity and are responsible for: ensuring that the charity is solvent, well-run, and delivering the charitable outcomes for which it has been set up; ensuring that the charity complies with charity law, and with the requirements of the Charity Commission, that the charity does not breach any of the requirements in its governing document and that it remains true to the charitable purpose and objects set out there; acting with integrity, and avoiding any personal conflicts of interest or misuse of the charity’s funds or assets; and regulating the financial affairs of the charity. The Trustees may enter into contracts, appoint and employ staff, determine staff pay and conditions of service. The Trustees may appoint an honorary treasurer. The Trustees endeavour to consult the Enabling Group and to inform it of their decisions. They arrange the agenda of the Enabling Group, which the Enabling Group is free to amend.

The Trustees meet at least three times a year. They are mostly elected because they already have the necessary experience of being a Trustee and/or director within their denomination. Time is given within Trustees’ meetings to focus on the role and changes in legislation. Those new to the work of the company meet with the General Secretary. Where required, formal training or advice from consultants is given. The Trustees (who are also Directors) who served during the year were:

Rowena Loverance (Chair of Trustee Board and Convenor of Enabling Group) Dr Lisa Adjei Mrs Amanda Allchorn [Resigned 7 December 2023] Richard Bradbury (Company Secretary) [Appointed 7 December 2023] Fr Alexander Fostiropoulos Rev’d Stephen Fowler Rt Rev’d Paul Hendricks Pastor Rasaq Ibrahim (Treasurer) [Appointed 1 April 2023] Dr. Elizabeth Joy Mr James Laing (Treasurer)[Resigned 31 March 2023] Rev’d David Lavender (Retired 7 December 2023) Rev’d Dr. Lurliene Miller (Vice-Chair of Trustee Board and Deputy Convenor of Enabling Group) Rt Rev Moses Owusu-Sekyere

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CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED)

Rev’d Dr Callan Slipper Maddy Thomson Victoria Turner

The day-to-day management of the company is delegated to the General Secretary, Rt Rev Mike Royal who reports to the Trustees and is managed by the Convenor. There are five full time staff members and two part-time staff members.

PUBLIC BENEFIT

In compiling this report, the Trustees have given due regard to the public benefit guidance as issued by the Charity Commission.

The charitable objects of Churches Together in England include the advancement of the Christian Faith, the relief of poverty and the advancement of education and any other purposes which are charitable according to the law of England and Wales. The Charity seeks to be a visible sign of churches’ commitment to one another in obedience to the prayer in John 17:21 “that they all might be one”.

As a charity, CTE is committed to the advancement of the Christian religion, the promotion of religious harmony, and promoting co-operation, joint working, and greater efficiency amongst its members. We believe that the Christian faith is of benefit to individuals and society because it has at its heart God’s intent to reconcile all people and the whole of creation to himself under Christ as head. That is a vision which encompasses peace and cohesion, mutual respect and self-giving love.

CTE’s religious activities amongst its 54 church member denominations is at the core of the fulfilment of public benefit. It is primarily done through what we offer to our members. CTE fosters and encourages churches to work together as one, enabling religion to be a force for good in wider society. Church Members’ engagement with CTE’s growing group of Charities and Networks in Association enables them as churches better to understand issues of poverty and how best they can respond to those needs. This was born out in our focus on the cost-of-living crisis in 2023 and educational and awareness raising input from poverty-fighting organisations like the Joint Public Issues Team JPIT (Social Justice); Christians Against Poverty (Debt), Hope into Action (Homelessness) and Trussell Trust (Food Poverty) at our church members Enabling Group in Spring 2023. CTE’s ongoing commitment as a Commissioner of the ChurchWorks Warm Welcome Campaign has seen over 4000 churches and other institutions open their doors to those struggling to heat their homes and put food on the table. The quarterly convening of a Charities and Networks in Association gathering has provided an opportunity for these charities to learn from each other and also for CTE to create opportunities for them to engage with church members.

In summary, through its work, CTE continues to contribute to the creation of social capital and community cohesion by bringing together Christians of differing ethnicities and theological persuasions, and by providing resources which assist them to create relationships with neighbours, including those of other faiths and beliefs.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The charity’s objectives (“the Objects”) are defined as the advancement of the Christian Religion in accordance with the statement of faith given below, the relief of poverty and the advancement of education and any other purposes which are charitable according to the law of England and Wales.

The charity seeks (within its general objectives) to be a visible sign of the churches’ commitment to one another, in obedience to our Lord’s Prayer “that they may all be one. As you, Father are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me”. (John 17:21) (NRSV)

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CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED)

REVIEW OF THE YEAR

2023 saw the dawn of a post-pandemic world, where most of our interactions with stakeholders moved from being primarily online to being primarily in person. Our Enabling Group of Church Members meetings took place on 24-25 March 2023 and 12-13 October 2023, which focused on the church's response to the Cost-of-Living Crisis (March) and Young Leaders, including the formal launch of the Churches Together in England Bill Snelson Young Ecumenists Fund (October).

The All-Ecumenical Officers Conference took place on 19-21 September 2023 at The Hayes Conference Centre in Derbyshire with nearly 100 delegates in attendance. John Bell from Iona Community was a popular and inspiring speaker. The National Ecumenical Instruments Roundtable met online once a month during 2023, with a decision taken to open up this meeting beyond Ecumenical representatives from England to all of the Ecumenical Representatives from nations across these Isles. The Ukraine Refugee Roundtable met every other month throughout 2023, which also provided a conduit to engage directly with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

CTE strengthened its work as a Commissioner for ChurchWorks, with an ongoing focus around the church’s Warm Welcome Campaign as well as issues of mental health and social isolation.

It was a great privilege for the General Secretary of CTE alongside four of the Presidents of Churches Together in England Archbishop Justin Welby (Church of England), Cardinal Vincent Nichols (Catholic), Rev Canon Helen Cameron (Free Churches Group) and Archbishop Nikitas (Orthodox Churches) to be involved in reading a blessing over His Majesty King Charles III at the Coronation on 6 May 2023. This was an ecumenical triumph when one considers that, in 1953, the Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church stood outside Westminster Abbey for the Coronation of the late monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

During 2023 the Apostolic Faith Mission International Ministries and Fellowship of Churches of Christ became CTE Church Members and the following eleven Charities and Networks of Association joined CTE – National Estate Church Network; Trussell Trust (Foodbanks); Tearfund; At-A-Loss; Christians in Media; Isaiah 61 Movement; Pais Movement; Parish Nursing UK; Ascension Trust (Street Pastors); A Rocha UK and the National Day of Prayer and Worship.

CTE’s ‘bread and butter’ work of supporting County and local level ecumenism and training of Ecumenical Officers continued throughout the year. This was particularly important given the fragility of some Churches Together groups post pandemic but also an opportunity with signs of new life in places that had been languishing previously. The work of CTE’s Racial Justice Working Group (RJWG) continued to gain momentum during the course of 2023 as we embarked upon closer working with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.

Finally, 2023 saw the Churches Together in England staff team benefit from developing their team working and from the additional operational capacity added in the previous year.

STRATEGIC AIMS

Member Churches continued to commit to support the strategic aims outlined in the Enabling Group meetings in March 2023 and October 2023. The structure of this Annual Report reflects those seven aims, and reports on the ways in which work has been undertaken in the pursuit of those goals.

  1. To inspire member churches to work more closely together in mission

2. To find new ways to support intermediate and local ecumenism

3. To find new ways to extend CTE’s valued role of relationship-building

  1. To create more opportunities for churches to do theology together

  2. To increase the capacity of CTE to speak out in the public square

  3. To strengthen CTE’s own vision of its role and make this more widely known

  4. To develop the work of racial justice for CTE and its member churches

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CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED)

The following sets out the highlights of 2023.

1 To inspire member churches to work more closely together in mission Learning to be Missionary Disciples Conference: The 3[rd] Learning to be Missionary Disciples Conference took place from 28 February – 1 March 2023. The conference was sold out with 60 delegates attending from 17 Member Churches and 26 Charities and Networks in Association.

Thy Kingdom Come: The Thy Kingdom Come (TKC) launch took place at the Salvation Army Regent Hall in Oxford Street, London on 18 May 2023. CTE worked closely with TKC online prayer meetings and supported them in their planning. Mike Royal and Shermara Fletcher led ecumenical prayers and delivered readings respectively alongside other ecumenical friends. Before the meeting, representatives specifically thanked CTE staff for all their help and support in the lead up to the event.

The Group for Evangelisation: Chair Rev Trey Hall (Methodist Church, director of Evangelism and Church Growth) continued to convene this ecumenically diverse group of missional practitioners. The group met in June and October 2023. The meeting in June focused on ‘Evangelism and Millennials’, an important topic for CTE given the launch of the Bill Snelson Young Ecumenists Fund.

The MA Mission Prize: This year’s MA Mission Prize had 11 entries from 8 different theological institutions. Three papers were shortlisted and although an award was not given, all shortlisted submissions were commented for their work. Most of the entries are added to the Mission Research Library hosted on CTE’s website www.cte.org.uk .

New Housing Areas Group: The New Housing Areas Group met on 29 June 2023 to consider the theme “The Building of Suburbia: well-being based community in a North London new housing development”. The meeting particularly focused on the relationship between new housing development, social prescribing and mental health. At the meeting on 2 November 2023, they considered the adoption of a New Housing Covenant.

Christian Enquiry Agency: Ben Aldous continued to support the work of the Christian Enquiry Agency that can receive up to 40,000 views on its website each month http://christianity.org.uk . A new partnership was also formed with The Fuelcast, a platform which supplies free devotional videos http://www.thefuelcast.com.

2 To find new ways to support intermediate and local ecumenism Ecumenical Officers are the backbone of local ecumenism and are vital to English ecumenism. At Intermediate level, ecumenically appointed officers (usually referred to as County Ecumenical Officers – CEOs) work alongside their denominationally appointed counterparts (Denominational Ecumenical Officers – DEOs), dealing with queries and providing encouragement and support to local ecumenism. They are supported by National Ecumenical Officers (NEOs), appointed by their Churches at national level, who resource and train them in collaboration with Doral Hayes, CTE's Principal Officer for Ecumenical Development and Relations.

Doral Hayes supports CEOs within ten regions of England, with most Counties along with key cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester having Intermediate Bodies that are supported by these CEOs. Doral and other staff team members actively supported several of these Intermediate bodies in 2023 including Suffolk, Sussex, Hereford, Derbyshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Devon, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, South London, East London, Devon, Milton Keynes, Surrey, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Shropshire, Merseyside, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Waveney, Staffordshire, Birmingham. This support included both in person and online events.

NEOs met in person in the Winter and the Summer during 2023. 13 NEOs met in the Winter and 17 NEOs met in the Summer in London for a days reflection together. NEOs continued to meet monthly on Zoom for an hour, to update each other on news from their own traditions as well as reflecting on

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CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED)

matters of concern including the Ukraine War, responses to the Israel-Gaza Conflict; the Inter Faith Network which has lost its funding in 2023; the Cost of Living Crisis and the theme of Freedom of Religion and Belief.

Similarly, County Ecumenical Officers met online twice in 2023. CEOs are supported at these meetings and in all of their work by the whole staff team but in particular by the Principal Officer for Ecumenical Development and Relations. CEOs also meet regionally and are supported by the Principal Officer for Ecumenical Development and Relations at these meetings. Doral Hayes continued to support and engage with Intermediate Bodies which were in the process of advertising for and appointing replacement CEOs. CEOs have a key role in both bringing church leaders together in their geographical areas, providing strategic leadership to their Intermediate Body and supporting local Churches Together groups across the county.

New Ecumenical Officers Training: Over 25 new Ecumenical Officers were trained from 31 January – 1[st] February 2023 at the annual training course for new Ecumenical Officers and facilitators held at the Woodbrooke Centre in Birmingham. Planning for the 2024 course continued throughout the rest of the year. This course is one of the most established pieces of work held under the auspices of CTE. All together over 200 people attended various workshops of Ecumenical Officers, all deepening relationships and providing upskilling, resources and support.

All Ecumenical Officers Conference: Ecumenical Officers were delighted with the opportunity to meet from 19-21 September 2023, with John Bell from Iona Community as guest speaker, attended by nearly 100 delegates.

3 To find new ways to extend CTE’s valued role of relationship-building

CTE’s Enabling Group continues to reflect England’s Christian diversity, and its members recognise each other as disciples of Jesus Christ, but are also diverse in their styles of Christian worship, theology and spirituality. This reflects the relational heart of ecumenism, and it is why relationships remained at the heart of CTE’s work in 2023, with an increasing sense of the importance of unity in line with the prayer of Jesus “that they all might be one”. In 2023 the Spring Enabling Group focused its attention on the church’s response to the Cost-of-Living Crisis, where the speakers reflected on the social justice issues that underpin poverty in the UK and appropriate social action responses of the church.

The Autumn Enabling Group focused on the importance of raising a new generation of young ecumenical leaders including the launch of the Bill Snelson Young Ecumenists Fund. There were excellent presentations on the history of ecumenism and the young people who influenced the movement in its early days from CTE Trustee Victoria Turner and an exploration of current social trends of young people by Rachel Gardner from Youthscape.

The Apostolic Faith Mission International Ministries and Fellowship of Churches of Christ were confirmed as a new Member Churches at Spring Enabling Group with voting having taken place in late 2022. There were also other churches who began initial conversations about becoming members in 2023.

In 2023 we saw ongoing growth in membership of Charities and Networks of Association with CTE including the National Estate Church Network; Trussell Trust (Foodbanks); Tearfund; At-A-Loss; Christians in Media; Isaiah 61 Movement; Pais Movement; Parish Nursing UK; Ascension Trust (Street Pastors); A Rocha UK and the National Day of Prayer and Worship all joining CTE. This brought our Charities and Networks in Association membership to 91 organisations.

During 2023 the Pentecostal and Charismatic Forum met twice, chaired by Bishop Tedroy Powell on 10[th] May 2023 and Richard Bradbury on 22[nd] November 2023. Shermara Fletcher, Principal Officer for Pentecostal, Charismatic and Multicultural Relations provides Secretariat to this meeting, implementing the actions as decisions are made.

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CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED)

Member churches continue to involve CTE staff in their work and synodal life, with the CTE General Secretary being involved in building relationships with Church Members by attending and speaking at their annual conferences and key events including the following churches: Armenian Apostolic Church (6 January, 23 September and 16 December 2023); Church of England, General Synod (7-11 July 2023 and 13-15 November 2023); International Ministerial Council of Great Britain (11 March 2023); Ground Level (20 April 2023); Lutheran German Speaking Churches (28 April 2023); Congregational Federation (13 May 2023); Baptist Assembly (17-18 June 2023); Roman Catholic Church, Rome (29-30 September 2023); United Reformed Church, West Midlands (14 October 2023); Apostolic Pastoral Congress (2021 October 2023); Lutheran Council of Churches (31 October 2023); Fellowship of Churches of Christ (11 November 2023); Coptic Orthodox Church (5 December 2023) and the Greek Orthodox Oecumenical Patriarchate (18 December 2023).

Important to CTE is its relationship with other Ecumenical Instruments across these Islands. CTE has been represented at Churches Together in Britain and Ireland meetings by Trustee Bishop Paul Hendricks and General Secretary Bishop Mike Royal attending their retreat, trustees’ meetings and AGM throughout the year. CTE also took part in the Irish Council of Churches 50[th] Anniversary Celebrations at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast on 22 January 2023. Towards the end of 2023 a decision was taken to include Ecumenical Officers from Wales, Scotland and all of Ireland quarterly in its Ecumenical Representatives Meeting. This helps to give strategic overview to Ecumenical Officers of the activity taking place across England, Scotland, Wales and all of Ireland.

4 To create more opportunities for churches to do theology together

Forum 2025: Planning is underway for the triennial Forum on 17-19 March 2025. The Forum Planning group met every other month to plan towards the programme, with a view to having over 300 delegates from the ecumenical family attend. This presents a key opportunity for CTE to engage its stakeholders in theological debate through seminars, workshops and keynote speakers. Topics planned for the programme include Artificial Intelligence; 1700-year Anniversary of the Nicene Creed and Receptive Ecumenical conversations.

Society of Ecumenical Studies: CTE continued working with the Society for Ecumenical Studies more closely, creating space on CTE’s website for theological papers and attended their conference on the theme of Synodality on 23 September 2023 at the London Jesuit Centre.

English Welsh Anglican Roman Catholic Group Meeting (EWARC): CTE General Secretary Mike Royal attended these theological gatherings as an Ecumenical observer on 17-18 April 2023 and 25-26 October 2023 respectively. CTE’s engagement in the EWARC is vital in strengthening ongoing ecumenical ties with Anglican and Roman Catholic leaders and theologians.

Conference of European Churches (CEC): The General Secretary attended the CEC Conference for General Secretaries on 27 February – 1 March 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. The themes considered including the War in Ukraine and peace building and the churches’ relationship with national governments and the European Union.

5 To increase the capacity of CTE to speak out in the public square It has been the role of Presidents to represent the member churches of Churches Together in England in the public square. In 2023 there was one change to their personnel. Dr Anna Krauss became President of the Fourth Presidency of Churches representing the Lutherans, German-speaking Churches and the Quakers.

The Presidents of Churches Together in England issued two statements in 2023. One encouraged people to use the Prayer Book produced by the Church of England to pray for His Majesty King Charles III in the lead up to the Coronation. The other statement issued in October 2023 encouraged the churches to pray for peace in the Israel-Gaza Crisis, when they gathered together.

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CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED)

Other channels of communication include the CTE website, social media and from time to time the General Secretary will offer guidance or encouragement for ecumenical endeavour on behalf of the CTE staff and Trustee Board, most often addressed to the Member Churches, or supporting others who have a message to bring.

CTE worked closely with its agencies Christian Aid and CAFOD in its response to the humanitarian crisis, as it has unfolded in Gaza.

6 To strengthen CTE’s own vision of its role and make this more widely known Conversations about the manner in which CTE pursues its aims take place from time to time, most especially about the way in which it acts to support its Member Churches and serve as a catalyst for ecumenical work and vision. Updates to the website have strengthened this role as a supporter of the ecumenical work of its members. Stories from our Church Members and Charities and Networks in Association make up the bulk of the monthly CTe-news while Church Member Mondays continued to be an effective tool on social media for people to better understand our Member Churches. CTe-News also focuses on stories of good ecumenical collaboration and deepening fellowship between churches in the hope this will inspire others to emulate the work described.

CTE’s database of church and ecumenical contacts ensures we can quickly get a message out to our network should we need to.

The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and the involvement of the General Secretary and four of the CTE Presidents in Spring 2023 was an example of CTE’s agile communication, driving interest to our website and social media platforms.

The themes which dominated CTE’s communications in 2023 were the Israel-Gaza crisis, the King’s Coronation, 75[th] Anniversary Windrush Celebrations and the launch of the Bill Snelson Young Ecumenists Fund.

Bill Snelson Young Ecumenists Fund: The Bill Snelson Young Ecumenists Fund has been set up to provide bursaries for young people under 35 who wish to develop their ecumenical understanding beyond England. This is now a designated fund and was formally launched at Autumn Enabling Group 2023. The development of young ecumenists will be a key focus for CTE moving forward.

CTE continued to be a Commissioner with the ChurchWorks Commission, which brings together churches and Christian charities, in the post Covid era. The ChurchWorks Commission Warm Welcome campaign saw over 4000 churches open their door to those who could not afford to heat their homes or put food on the table in 2023.

Engagement with CTE’s two social media channels, X and Facebook has continued to grow. X followers increased by approximately 850 to 3,800 and Facebook doubled its followers to over 3000. CTE also opened an Instagram account in 2023 to increase its social media reach.

7 To develop the work of racial justice for CTE and its member churches

The Racial Justice Working Group met three times in 2023, shaping its working groups around themes of campaigns & accountability, music & liturgy and theology and to provide a space for the Member Church racial justice officers to meet together regularly. Issues of health inequalities, criminal justice, reparations and provision of equal opportunities have been highlighted.

A highlight for CTE was the involvement in the planning and programme of the 75th Anniversary Windrush Service at Southwark Cathedral on 22[nd] June 2023 with over 800 people in attendance. CTE is particularly grateful for the hard work and dedication Shermara Fletcher, Principal Officer for Pentecostal, Charismatic and Multicultural Relations, put into the planning of this service alongside other organisations. There was also a Windrush service at the New Testament Church of God Handsworth, Birmingham on 25 June 2023 with over 600 in attendance. The General Secretary of CTE

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CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED)

also attended a Windrush Service for His Majesty King Charles III at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on the morning of 22 June 2023.

The media campaign to commemorate the murder of George Floyd two years ago entitled “Candle of Justice”, was again initiated. This time we focused on the untimely death of Dea-John Reid in Birmingham, who was stabbed to death and a campaign launched to ensure ethnic diversity in the make up of juries where race is an aggravating factor in a crime. We also continued to work closely with our sister National Ecumenical Instrument Churches Together in Britain and Ireland’s Racial Justice Advocacy Forum,. CTE encouraged Church Members to get involved in Racial Justice Sunday on 12 February 2023.

CTE has engaged with the Church of England Commissioners’ £100 million fund to right the wrongs of Transatlantic Chattel Slavery with a presentation given by representatives of the fund at CTE’s Racial Justice Working Group Meeting.

The National Bereavement Service was hosted by the Wesleyan Holiness Church, Handsworth Birmingham on 23 March 2023 to commemorate the lives of those who died during the pandemic in the Black community. Representatives from serval CTE Member Churches took an active part in the service including CTE’s General Secretary.

Shermara Fletcher continued to engage UK Majority Ethnic Community Churches, to write articles, provide advice & consultation and represent CTE on numerous platforms and in the media, speaking about the issue of racial justice and the church.

GOVERNANCE ISSUES AND GENERAL REMARKS

Trustees met intensively in 2023 and returned to in-person meetings. Trustees’ main task in 2023 was to support the General Secretary to deliver the Strategic Plan for 2023. The Trustees identified pastoral care of staff as a key aspect of the General Secretary’s focus, as well as developing more efficient operational management to reduce pressure on the staff team. While there were a number of staff well-being challenges in 2023, CTE began to see the positive impact in this investment in staff capacity toward the end of the year. Head of Operations Ben Cross and Operations Manager Lorraine Shannon bedded down in their working relationship together with efficiencies being created in accounting, credit control, reducing aged debtors and the general sharing of operational responsibilities between themselves.

Greater emphasis has also been placed on increasing the profile of CTE’s work and Member Churches as well as an emphasis being placed on leadership, strategic vision and operational oversight of the General Secretary.

CTE operates a ‘link trustee’ system, and individual trustees work closely with their linked staff member in refining their area of the Strategic Plan. In 2023 staff together with trustees worked with Member Church representatives and County Ecumenical Officers in leading webinars on topics of particular concern for intermediate ecumenism; on chairing the Racial Justice Working Group and on the preparations for Forum 2025. Trustees and members of the Enabling Group, together with the General Secretary, led on assessing membership applications from new member churches who were recommended to Enabling Group for CTE Membership in March 2023. Trustees have also worked with the General Secretary in welcoming a new Fourth President, Dr Anna Krauss, after the previous period of four difficult years with issues thrown up by the non-enactment of the Fourth Presidency and its impact on the functioning of CTE Presidents. The issue of equal marriage is now being addressed by the Living with Diversity Well Group, which undertook non-violent speech training in November 2023 with the group widened to include a broader range of Church Member representatives from across the church traditions.

11

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED)

As usual, the chair worked closely with the General Secretary in setting the agenda for the Enabling Group, in order to deepen member churches’ feeling of involvement in and responsibility for CTE’s work. In March, the focus was on the Cost-of-Living Crisis while in October the focus was on raising a new generation of Young Leaders and the official launch of the Bill Snelson Young Ecumenists Fund. This fund enables young people to receive a grant to further their ecumenical experience and study abroad.

The Trustees Board, through its Finance Committee, continue to exercise careful financial control meeting four times in the year. Richard Bradbury took over from David Lavender as Company Secretary and now chairs the Finance Committee.

During 2023 CTE continued to make use of its office space and board room facilities at the Free Church Group’s Tavistock Square premises, retaining storage facilities as necessary. While CTE set a deficit budget for 2023 in line with a five-year plan to reduce the reserves it holds, tight financial control of income and expenditure, along with better performance of investments, meant CTE managed to reduce its reserves by the planned amount of approximately £30,000.

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Planning for Forum 2025 will be a huge focus for 2024 and CTE hopes to be able to invite more delegates than ever to come together on 17-19 March 2025. It brings together representatives of CTE's Member Churches, Intermediate Bodies, Co-ordinating Groups and Charities and Networks in Association. CTE's Forum is the broadest representative ecumenical gathering of Christians in England, and we therefore draw the planning team from a wide group of stakeholders.

Developing a closer working relationship with government and any prospective government is also important to build understanding of the church being a force for good in the public square.

CTE is committed to continuing to deepen its working relationship with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) and the National Instruments in Scotland, Wales and Ireland, and also with the Free Churches Group who generously allow their Education Officer’s expertise to be available to us. The National Ecumenical Instruments Roundtable NEIR will be chaired once a quarter by CTBI and include Ecumenical Representatives from across these Isles.

CTE is keen to be involved in supporting and engaging with bilateral ecumenical conversations between different church traditions. This will be a key focus in 2024.

The Learning to be Missionary Disciples Conference to take place in November 2024 will be important for CTE in terms of its Mission and Evangelism strategic aim.

Financial stability has been enabled by careful management of expenditure, a sustained level of support from Member Churches, and an increased subscription levy to those organisations that are CTE Charities and Networks in Association. Increases in fees will be index linked to inflation to ensure the long term financial sustainability of the organisation, alongside a strategy of increasing the number of Church Members and Charities and Networks in Association.

RISK REVIEW

The Trustees undertake each year a wide-ranging appraisal in order to identify the major risks to which the charity is exposed. Steps are taken with a view to mitigating these risks as far as is reasonably possible. The Finance Committee requested that the Risk Register include more detail on Mitigation and Actions and also more specifics of which person is responsible for which areas of consideration.

The Trustees are aware that the continued financial stability of the charity relies on contributions from Member Churches and Intermediate Body subscriptions and to some extent on donation income. They believe that the time-frames for which such income is reasonably assured is satisfactory, and that

12

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED)

expenditure linked to grant income is also managed along similar time-frames, so as to mitigate these risks so far as possible.

Professional Indemnity insurance is purchased at a cost to the charity to protect the charity and its Trustees. Trustees along with Staff reviewed our insurance needs in 2023 which resulted in better value for money in terms of our Insurance Cover.

CTE places a great importance on health and safety matters and undertakes to conduct its operations in such a way as to safeguard the health and safety of all its employees, visitors and the general public. To this end CTE has endeavoured to create and develop a working environment in which there is an awareness of the vital importance of health and safety.

CTE has engaged a new provider to deliver training to Staff and where appropriate Trustees. Training has included Health and Safety Training; Data Protection Training; Display Screen Equipment Training; Effective Remote Working Training; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Training; First Aid Training and Safeguarding Training. This encourages all staff and Trustees to participate in developing and practicing safe working methods and to have regard for the welfare of themselves and others. CTE has a certified first aider amongst its employees. Staff training and consciousness-raising is taken seriously within the organisation.

CTE is aware of the implications of the full implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act in all its activities. Staff have been made aware of, and are required to implement, the data protection principles. CTE is registered with the Information Commissioner.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The result for the year is shown in the Statement of Financial Activities on page 16 and is considered satisfactory by the Trustees. The deficit in the year on the General Fund of £58,754 (2022: £201,129) leaves the general fund with a balance of £321,003 (2022: £379,757) which the Trustees consider adequate to provide the charity with stability and enable longer term planning.

INVESTMENT POLICY & PERFORMANCE

The Trustees’ policy is to retain any short-term surplus funds, including designated and restricted funds, in the highest possible interest-bearing accounts consistent with the objects of the charity, currently using the CAF Bank ‘Gold Account’, the CCLA Investment Management ‘COIF Charities Deposit Fund’ and the Epworth Investment Management ‘Affirmative Deposit Fund for Charities’. Long-term surplus funds are placed in quoted investment funds as set out in note 9. Investment performance was better than in 2022 and this was in line with an improvement in the market at the year end. The Trustees designated £150,000 for the Bill Snelson Young Ecumenists Fund in 2022 to provide a bursary for emerging leaders and opened the fund for grant awards in 2023.

RESERVES POLICY

It is the policy of the Trustees to ensure that the charity has adequate reserves to enable it to meet both its ongoing commitments in regard to general charitable activities, and its future funding requirements. The Trustees require as reserves a minimum of nine months’ expenditure in order to meet any contractual and winding-up costs. The total reserves at the year-end was £699,445 (2022: £732,113).

At the year end the charity held restricted funds of £Nil (2022: £2,356), designated funds of £378,442 (2022: £350,000) and general funds of £321,003 (2022: £379.757) of which £Nil (2022: £Nil) is represented by tangible fixed assets. The Trustees consider the current level of reserves to be appropriate for the present situation and requirements of the charity, and will continue to review the overall position and policy at regular intervals. The Special Projects Fund is intended to be expended over the next 3 to 5 years.

13

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED)

In 2021 the trustees took the decision to invest in a Head of Operations role three days a week and spend approximately £150,000 of reserves on this role over the next 5 years.

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Shoaib Arshad FCCA ACA of Knox Cropper LLP Chartered Accountants was appointed as Independent Examiner of the Charity at the last Annual General Meeting and a resolution proposing his reappointment will be put to the next Annual General Meeting.

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Directors’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law), including Financial Reporting Standard 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, of the company for that period.

In preparing those financial statements, the directors are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

So far as the Trustees are aware, there is no relevant information of which the company’s independent examiners are unaware. The directors have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken in order to make themselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the company’s independent examiners are aware of the information.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

On behalf of the Board

Rowena Loverance (Convenor/Chair)

Dated: 19[th] June 2024

14

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER TO THE MEMBERS OF CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Churches Together in England for the year ended 31 December 2023 set out on pages 1 to 30.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’). You are satisfied that the accounts of the Company are not required by charity or company law to be audited and have chosen instead to have an independent examination.

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the Company’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

Since the Company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a registered member of ICAEW which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Shoaib Arshad FCCA, ACA Knox Cropper LLP Chartered Accountants

65 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 2AD Date: 19[th] June 2024

15

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Notes
2
3
4
5
13
Net movement in Funds
Reconciliation of
Funds
Balances at 1 January
Net
Income/(Expenditure)
Net movement in Funds
Transfers between funds
Balances at 31 December
INCOME
Donations and
legacies
Charitable Activities
Investments
Total expenditure
Net
Income/(Expenditure)
Gains / (Losses) on
investments
Total
EXPENDITURE
Charitable activities		 General Designated
2023
2023
£
£
348,712
9,172
57,424
10,000
25,744
7
431,880
19,179
488,091
7,452
488,091
7,452
(56,211)
11,727
2,457
11,715
(53,754)
23,442
(5,000)
5,000
(58,754)
28,442
379,757
350,000
(58,754)
28,442
321,003
378,442
Unrestricted Funds		 General Designated
2023
2023
£
£
348,712
9,172
57,424
10,000
25,744
7
431,880
19,179
488,091
7,452
488,091
7,452
(56,211)
11,727
2,457
11,715
(53,754)
23,442
(5,000)
5,000
(58,754)
28,442
379,757
350,000
(58,754)
28,442
321,003
378,442
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
Funds
2023
£
-
-
-		 Total
Funds
2023
£
357,884
67,424
25,751		 Total
Funds
2022
£
366,245
88,647
12,993
431,880 19,179 - 451,059 467,885
488,091 7,452 2,356 497,899 527,195
488,091 7,452 2,356 497,899 527,195
(56,211)
2,457		 11,727
11,715		 (2,356)
-		 (46,840)
14,172		 (59,310)
(45,992)
(53,754)
(5,000)		 23,442
5,000		 (2,356)
-		 (32,668)
-		 (105,302)
-
(58,754)
379,757
(58,754)		 28,442
350,000
28,442		 (2,356)
2,356
(2,356)		 (32,668)
732,113
(32,668)		 (105,302)
837,415
(105,302)
321,003 378,442 - 699,445 732,113

16

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Notes
8
9
10
11
12
General
13
Designated
13
13
Net Current Assets
Debtors
Restricted
Tangible assets
Total Funds
Investments
Creditors: amounts falling
due in more than one
Net Assets
Funds
Unrestricted:
Current Assets
Cash at bank and in
hand
Current Liabilities
Amounts falling due
within one year
Fixed Assets		 £
-
287,629
6,476
432,733
439,209
(26,424)		 2023
2022
£
£
£
-
257,894
287,629
257,894
23,910
490,333
514,243
(38,202)
412,785
476,041
(969)
(1,822)
699,445
732,113
321,003
379,757
378,442
350,000
-
2,356
699,445
732,113

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the Financial Reporting Standard FRS 102.The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 December 2023.

The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and were signed on its behalf by:

Pastor Rasaq Ibrahim, Director Company Number: 05354231

Date: 19[th] June 2024

17

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

£
Net income/(expenditure) for the year
Adjustments for:
Purchases/disposals of investments
(15,563)
(Gains)/losses on investments
(14,172)
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
(25,751)
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
17,434
(Decrease)/increase in creditors
(11,778)
Increase/(decrease) in creditors over one year
(853)
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
25,751
Cash provided by investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Total cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
Components of cash and cash equivalents
Cash held with investment managers
Cash at bank and in hand
Total Funds		 £
(15,563)
(14,172)
(25,751)
17,434
(11,778)
(853)		 2023
£
(32,668)
(50,683)		 £
376
45,992
(12,993)
29,628
14,134
(1,596)		 2022
£
(105,302)
75,541
25,751 12,993
(83,351)
25,751		 (29,761)
12,993
Cashflows
£
10,265
(67,865)
(57,600)
490,333		 (16,768)
507,101
432,733
Balance
at 1
January
£
355,789
134,544		 490,333
Balance at
31
December
£
366,054
66,679
490,333 (57,600) 432,733

18

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

1) Accounting Policies

a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under historical cost convention with the exception of investments which are included at market value. The presentational currency of these financial statements is Pounds Sterling (£). Churches Together in England meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

b) Going Concern

After making enquires, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue its activities for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements as outlined in the Statement of Trustee’s Responsibilities on page 14.

c) Grants receivable, donations and subscriptions

Grants receivable, donations and subscriptions are recognised in the period when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item of income has been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

d) Investment income

Investment income is recognised on the receipts basis.

e) Grants paid

Grants paid are recognised on a payments basis.

f) Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. Costs are split between categories based on staff time.

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities and include the charity’s governance costs. Governance costs are those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the costs relevant to the strategic management of the charity.

g) Pension costs

Pension costs represent contributions payable to employees’ personal and denominational and other pension schemes, including The Pensions Trust (see below), and are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities as they are incurred.

The Pensions Trust Growth Plan is in most respects a money purchase arrangement, but does include certain guaranteed benefit elements. The Plan is a multi-employer scheme. As such it is not possible in the normal course of events to identify the share of the underlying assets belonging to the individual participating employers, and accordingly, in accordance with section 28 of FRS102, is also accounted for as a defined contribution scheme with contributions being recorded as they become payable.

19

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Where the scheme is in deficit and where the charity has agreed to a deficit funding arrangement, the liability for this obligation is recognised as the net present value of the deficit reduction contributions payable under the agreement.

h) Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less the estimated residual value of each tangible fixed asset over its expected useful life as follows:

i) Office furniture - 10% / 20% straight line ii) Office equipment - 20% straight line iii) Computer equipment - 50% / 33% straight line

All assets costing more than £1,000 are capitalised.

i) Listed investments

Listed investments are initially recognised at their transactional value and subsequently measured at their fair value as at the balance sheet date using the closing market value. Realised and unrealised gains are disclosed in the Statement of Financial Activities.

j) Funds

Unrestricted funds are incoming resources receivable or generated for the objects of the charity without further specified purpose and are available as general fund. Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the Trustees for a particular purpose. At the decision of the Trustees, previously designated funds may be transferred back to unrestricted general funds without further specified purpose. Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund, together with a fair allocation of costs.

k) Financial Instruments

The Charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments, these being cash at bank, debtors and creditors (see notes 10 and 11). Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

l) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents in the Balance Sheet comprise cash at bank and in hand and short term deposits with an original maturity of three months or less. For the purpose of the Statement of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents are as defined above net of outstanding bank overdrafts if they exist.

m) Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

No judgements (apart from those involving estimates) have been made in the process of applying the above accounting policies that have a significant effect on amounts recognised in the financial statements.

20

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

2) Grants and Donations

Donations:
Contributions from Member Churches
Total		 General
2023
2023
£
£
572
9,172
348,140
-
348,712
9,172
Unrestricted Funds
Designated		 Funds
2023
£
-
-
Restricted		 Total
Funds
2023
£
9,744
348,140		 Total
Funds
2022
£
4,805
361,440
348,712 - 357,884 366,245

Comparative grants and donations

Comparative grants and donations
Charitable Activities
Comparative income from charitable activities
General
2022
2022
£
£
Donations:
4,805
-
Contributions from Member Churches
361,440
-
Total
366,245
-
Designated
Unrestricted Funds
General
2023
2023
£
£
26,450
-
Conference fee income
30,747
10,000
-
-
Miscellaneous income
227
-
Total
57,424
10,000
Subscriptions from intermediate
Contribution to former employees
pension
Unrestricted Funds
Designated
General
2022
2022
£
£
18,475
-
Conference fee income
13,709
47,165
8,547
-
Miscellaneous income
751
-
Total
41,482
47,165
Unrestricted Funds
Designated
Subscriptions from intermediate
Contribution to former employees
pension		 Funds
2022
£
-
-
-
Restricted
Funds
2023
£
-
-
-
-
Restricted		 Total
Funds
2022
£
4,805
361,440
366,245
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
2023
2022
£
£
26,450
18,475
40,747
60,874
-
8,547
227
751
366,245
Total
Funds
2023
£
26,450
40,747
-
227
-
Funds
2022
£
-
-
-
-
-
Restricted		 67,424
88,647
Total
Funds
2022
£
18,475
60,874
8,547
751
88,647

3) Charitable Activities

Comparative income from charitable activities

21

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

4) Investments

UK Listed Investment
Bank interest received
Total		 General
2023
2023
£
£
6,485
-
19,259
7
25,744
7
Unrestricted Funds
Designated		 General
2023
2023
£
£
6,485
-
19,259
7
25,744
7
Unrestricted Funds
Designated		 Funds
2023
£
-
-
Restricted		 Total
Funds
2023
£
6,485
19,266		 Total
Funds
2022
£
7,646
5,347
25,744 7 - 25,751 12,993

Comparative investments

Comparative investments
Expenditure: Charitable activities
UK Listed Investment
Bank interest received
Total
Staff welfare, training and recruitment
Travel expenses
Insurance
Conference expenses
Investment management fees
Website
Publications
Bad debts
Total Support costs
Governance Costs
Independent Examination Fee
Other Governance costs
Total Governance costs
Total
Legal fees, HR and financial
consultancy
Staff costs:
Computer consultancy and running
costs
Office costs
Total Staff costs
Support costs:
Rent
Charitable activities		 General
2022
2022
£
£
7,646
-
5,347
-
12,993
-
Unrestricted Funds
Designated
General
2023
2023
£
£
334,621
-
334,621
-
5,500
-
13,531
-
8,942
-
3,423
-
40,754
-
4,277
-
19,728
-
52,669
7,452
1,243
-
-
-
-
-
(2,472)
-
147,595
7,452
2,808
-
3,067
-
5,875
-
488,091
7,452
Unrestricted Funds
Designated		 Funds
2022
£
-
-
-
Restricted
Funds
2023
£
-
Restricted		 Total
Funds
2022
£
7,646
5,347
12,993
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
2023
2022
£
£
334,621
338,393
12,993
Total
Funds
2023
£
334,621
334,621 - - 334,621 338,393
5,500
13,531
8,942
3,423
40,754
4,277
19,728
52,669
1,243
-
-
(2,472)		 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
7,452
-
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,356
-
-
-
-		 5,500
13,531
8,942
3,423
40,754
4,277
19,728
62,477
1,243
-
-
(2,472)		 5,500
13,975
4,224
2,841
34,679
7,029
18,945
96,837
83
410
500
-
147,595 7,452 2,356 157,403 185,023
2,808
3,067		 -
-		 -
-		 2,808
3,067		 2,927
852
5,875 - - 5,875 3,779
488,091 7,452 2,356 497,899 527,195

5) Expenditure: Charitable activities

22

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

5) Expenditure: Charitable activities (continued) Comparative expenditure: Charitable activities

Staff welfare, training and recruitment
Travel expenses
Insurance
Conference expenses
Investment management fees
Website
Publications
Total Support costs
Governance Costs
Independent Examination Fee
Other Governance costs
Total Governance costs
Total
Office costs
Total Staff costs
Support costs:
Rent
Charitable activities
Computer consultancy and running
costs
Legal fees, HR and financial
consultancy
Staff costs:		 General
2022
2022
£
£
338,393
-
338,393
-
5,500
-
13,975
-
4,224
-
2,841
-
34,679
-
7,029
-
18,945
-
40,773
56,064
83
-
410
-
500
-
128,959
56,064
2,927
-
852
-
3,779
-
471,131
56,064
Designated
Unrestricted Funds		 General
2022
2022
£
£
338,393
-
338,393
-
5,500
-
13,975
-
4,224
-
2,841
-
34,679
-
7,029
-
18,945
-
40,773
56,064
83
-
410
-
500
-
128,959
56,064
2,927
-
852
-
3,779
-
471,131
56,064
Designated
Unrestricted Funds		 Funds
2022
£
-
Restricted		 Total
Funds
2022
£
338,393
338,393 - - 338,393
5,500
13,975
4,224
2,841
34,679
7,029
18,945
40,773
83
410
500		 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
56,064
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 5,500
13,975
4,224
2,841
34,679
7,029
18,945
96,837
83
410
500
128,959 56,064 - 185,023
2,927
852		 -
-		 -
-		 2,927
852
3,779 - - 3,779
471,131 56,064 - 527,195

6) Trustees’ Emoluments

None of the Trustees were remunerated or received pension benefits.

Expenses reimbursed to Trustees for travel, subsistence and conference expenses were £2,897 (2022: £642).

7) Staff Costs

Staff costs during the year were:

No employees received remuneration greater than £60,000.
Staff costs during the year were:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension contributions
Total
Direct charitable activities
Management and administration
Total
The average number of employees (including 2 who are part-time) during
the year was:		 2023
£
280,881
24,597
29,143		 2023
£
280,881
24,597
29,143		 2022
£
282,780
26,183
29,430
334,621
2023
Number
5.0
2.0		 338,393
2022
Number
5.0
2.0
7.0
7.0

No employees received remuneration greater than £60,000.

23

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

7) Staff Costs (Continued)

All staff are entitled to receive pension contributions. Pension contributions for the current year are after recognising the movement in the deficit reduction funding provision for the year as analysed in note 12. This was a release of £853 in the current year (2022: release of £1,596).

Key Management Personnel

Key management personnel are those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the charity, directly or indirectly, including any trustee (whether executive or otherwise) of the charity. The key management personnel of Churches Together in England are the Trustees and the General Secretary.

Total compensation paid to key management personnel including employers’ National Insurance and employer’s pension contributions in the year amounted to £72,544 (2022: £82,652).

8) Tangible Fixed Assets

nvestments
Cost
Depreciation
At 1 January 2023
Charge for the year
At 31 December 2023
Net Book Value
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2022
At 31 December 2023
At 1 January 2023
Market Value
At 1 January 2023
Additions
Disposals
(Decrease)/Increase on revaluation in year
At 31 December 2023
Historic Cost		 UK Listed
Investments
2023
£
257,894
417,749
(402,186)
14,172		 Office
Equipment
£
2,776
2,776
2,776
-
2,776
-
-
UK Listed
Investments
2022
£
304,262
6,700
(7,076)
(45,992)
287,629
260,527		 257,894
255,474

9) Investments

24

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

9) Investments (Continued)

The UK listed investments are as follows:

10) Debtors
11) Current Liabilities: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year
COIF Charities Investment Fund
Epworth Property Income Trust for Charities Fund
Epworth UK Equity Fund
Epworth Global Equity Fund
Epworth Sterling Sovereign Bond Fund
Epworth Corporate Bond Fund
Epworth Climate Stewardship Fund
Royal London Short Term Money Market Y Acc
FP Foresight Global Real Infrastructure Fund A Inc
Rathbone Ethical Bond Fund Institutional Inc
Threadneedle UK Social Bond Fund Institutional Income GBP
Vanguard UK Government Bond Index Fund GBP Acc
Vanguard US Government Bond Index Fund Investor GBP Hedged Acc
L&G UK Property Feeder Fund I Class Acc
Rathbone Greenbank Global Sustainable Bond Fund F Acc
Other debtors
Prepayments
Total
Other creditors
Tax and NI creditor
Accruals
Total		 UK Listed
2023
£
34,251
-
35,474
81,730
-
-
35,370
7,377
32,779
10,181
7,017
14,038
9,988
6,956
12,468		 UK Listed
2022
£
31,369
19,304
85,621
16,657
18,774
36,551
49,618
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
257,894
2022
£
22,112
1,798
287,629
2023
£
5,650
826
6,476
2023
£
15,831
7,965
2,628		 23,910
2022
£
26,109
9,333
2,760
26,424 38,202

12) Pension Obligations

a) TPT Retirement Solutions - The Growth Plan

Past and some current employees of CTE are entitled to membership of the TPT Retirement Solutions – The Growth Plan (“the Plan”). The company participates in the scheme, a multiemployer scheme which provides benefits to some 638 non-associated participating employers. The scheme is a defined benefit scheme in the UK. It is not possible for the company to obtain sufficient information to enable it to account for the scheme as a defined benefit scheme. Therefore, it accounts for the scheme as a defined contribution scheme.

The scheme is subject to the funding legislation outlined in the Pensions Act 2004 which came into force on 30 December 2005. This, together with documents issued by the Pensions Regulator and Technical Actuarial Standards issued by the Financial Reporting Council, set out the framework for funding defined benefit occupational pension schemes in the UK.

The scheme is classified as a 'last-man standing arrangement'. Therefore, the company is potentially liable for other participating employers' obligations if those employers are unable to meet their share of the scheme deficit following withdrawal from the scheme. Participating

25

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

12) Pension Obligations (continued)

employers are legally required to meet their share of the scheme deficit on an annuity purchase basis on withdrawal from the scheme.

A full actuarial valuation for the scheme was carried out at 30 September 2020. This valuation showed assets of £800.3m, liabilities of £831.9m and a deficit of £31.6m. To eliminate this funding shortfall, the Trustee has asked the participating employers to pay additional contributions to the scheme as follows:

Deficit contributions

From 1 April 2022 to 31 January 2025: £3,312,000 per annum (payable monthly)

Unless a concession has been agreed with the Trustee the term to 31 January 2025 applies.

Note that the scheme’s previous valuation was carried out with an effective date of 30 September 2017. This valuation showed assets of £794.9m, liabilities of £926.4m and a deficit of £131.5m. To eliminate this funding shortfall, the Trustee asked the participating employers to pay additional contributions to the scheme as follows:

Deficit contributions

From 1 April 2019 £11,243,000 per annum (payable monthly and to 30 September 2025: increasing by 3% each on 1st April)

The recovery plan contributions are allocated to each participating employer in line with their estimated share of the Series 1 and Series 2 scheme liabilities.

Where the scheme is in deficit and where the company has agreed to a deficit funding arrangement the company recognises a liability for this obligation. The amount recognised is the net present value of the deficit reduction contributions payable under the agreement that relates to the deficit. The present value is calculated using the discount rate detailed in these disclosures. The unwinding of the discount rate is recognised as a finance cost.

Provision as at 1 January
Unwinding of the discount factor
Deficit contributions paid
Re-measurements – impact of any change in assumptions
Provision as at 31 December		 2023
£
1,822
67
(918)
(2)		 2022
£
3,418
27
(1,558)
(65)
969 1,822

13) Funds

Unrestricted funds are incoming resources receivable or generated for the objects of the charity without further specified purpose and are available as general funds.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the Trustees for a particular purpose.

The Forum represents funds earmarked by the Trustees to meet the cost of an event called The Forum which is intended to be run every three years.

The Special Project Fund has been established to provide support for small projects run by CTE and capacity building within Churches Together groups.

The They Also Served Fund has been set up for a project to explore the Black African and Caribbean contributions of servicemen and women during the First World War.

26

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

13) Funds (continued)

Comparative statement of funds
Balance
at 1
January
£
Unrestricted Funds:
General funds
379,757
Designated funds:
Forum
-
ChurchWorks
-
150,000
200,000
Total designated funds
350,000
Restricted Funds
They also served
2,356
Total Funds
732,113
Special Projects
Fund
Bill Snelsdon Young
Ecumenists Fund
Balance
at 1
January
£
Unrestricted Funds:
General funds
580,886
Designated funds:
Forum
54,173
-
200,000
Total designated funds
254,173
Restricted Funds
They also served
2,356
Total Funds
837,415
Special Projects
Fund
Bill Snelsdon Young
Ecumenists Fund		 Balance
at 1
January
£
379,757
-
-
150,000
200,000
 Income
£
431,880
10,000
-
9,179
-		 Expenses
£
(488,091)
-
(5,000)
(2,452)
-		 Gains
£
2,457
-
11,715
-		 Transfers
£
(5,000)
5,000
-		 Transfers
£
(5,000)
5,000
-		 Balance at
31
December
£
321,003
10,000
-
168,442
200,000
350,000 19,179 (7,452) 11,715 5,000 378,442
2,356 - (2,356) - - -
451,059
Income
£
420,720
47,165
-
-		 (497,899)
Expenses
£
(471,131)
(56,064)
-
-		 14,172
Gains
£
(45,992)
-
-
-		 -
Transfers
£
(104,726)
(45,274)
150,000
-		 699,445
Balance at
31
December
£
379,757
-
150,000
200,000
350,000
2,356
732,113
47,165 (56,064) - 104,726
- - - -
467,885 (527,195) (45,992) -

27

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

14) Analysis of net assets between funds

Comparative analysis of net assets between funds
Tangible
Fixed
£
Unrestricted Funds
General funds
-
Designated funds:
Forum
-
Bill Snelsdon Young Ecumenists Fund
-
Special Projects Fund
-
Total designated funds
-
Restricted Funds
They also served
-
Total Funds
-
Tangible
Fixed
£
Unrestricted Funds
General funds
-
Designated funds:
Forum
-
Bill Snelsdon Young Ecumenists Fund
-
Special Projects Fund
-
Total designated funds
-
Restricted Funds
They also served
-
Total Funds
-		 Tangible
Fixed
£
-
-
-
-		 Net Current
Assets
£
£
287,629
33,374
-
10,000
-
168,442
-
200,000
-
378,442
-
-
287,629
411,816
Investments
Net Current
Assets
£
£
257,894
121,863
-
-
-
150,000
-
200,000
-
350,000
-
2,356
257,894
474,219
Investments		 Net Current
Assets
£
£
287,629
33,374
-
10,000
-
168,442
-
200,000
-
378,442
-
-
287,629
411,816
Investments
Net Current
Assets
£
£
257,894
121,863
-
-
-
150,000
-
200,000
-
350,000
-
2,356
257,894
474,219
Investments		 Total
£
321,003
10,000
168,442
200,000
- - 378,442 378,442
- - - -
699,445
Total
£
379,757
-
150,000
200,000
- - 350,000 350,000
- - 2,356 2,356
- 257,894 474,219 732,113

15) Operating lease commitments

At 31 December 2023 the charity had no (2022: nil) annual commitments under operating leases.

28

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

16) Comparative Statement of Financial Activities by fund type

Net movement in Funds
Net
Income/(Expenditure)
Other
Transfers between funds
INCOME
Donations and
Charitable Activities
Investments
Total expenditure
Net
Income/(Expenditure)
Gains / (Losses) on
investments
Total
EXPENDITURE
Charitable activities		 General Designated
2022
2022
£
£
366,245
-
41,482
47,165
12,993
-
420,720
47,165
471,131
56,064
471,131
56,064
(50,411)
(8,899)
(45,992)
-
(96,403)
(8,899)
(104,726)
104,726
(201,129)
95,827
Unrestricted Funds		 General Designated
2022
2022
£
£
366,245
-
41,482
47,165
12,993
-
420,720
47,165
471,131
56,064
471,131
56,064
(50,411)
(8,899)
(45,992)
-
(96,403)
(8,899)
(104,726)
104,726
(201,129)
95,827
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
Funds
2022
£
-
-
-		 Total
Funds
2022
£
366,245
88,647
12,993
420,720 47,165 - 467,885
471,131 56,064 - 527,195
471,131 56,064 - 527,195
(50,411)
(45,992)		 (8,899)
-		 -
-		 (59,310)
(45,992)
(96,403)
(104,726)		 (8,899)
104,726		 -
-		 (105,302)
-
(201,129) 95,827 - (105,302)

17) Related Party Transactions

There are no related party transactions during the year.

29