## **THE METHODIST CHURCH – WEST PENNINE MOORS CIRCUIT TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 20** The Trustees present their Annual Report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2020. ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** ## **Charitable objectives** The circuit shares the same charitable objectives and the rest of the Methodist Church, which are set out as follows: The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the date of Union the advancement of – - a. The Christian faith in accordance with doctrinal standards and the discipline of the Methodist Church. - b. Any charitable purpose for the time being of any Connexional, District, Circuit, local or other organisation of the Methodist Church. - c. Any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church. - d. Any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church. ## **Aims** The Circuit seeks to live out the calling of the Methodist Church, which is summarised thus: “The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the Gospel of God’s love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission. Inspired by Our Calling, we aim: - To increase awareness of God’s presence and to celebrate God’s love - To help people to grow and learn as Christians through mutual support and care - To be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice - To make more follower of Jesus Christ ## **Action and Public Benefit** The circuit encourages and supports the Churches within it in the provision of regular public acts of worship open to members of the church and non-members alike; the provision of sacred apace for prayer and contemplation; the teaching of Christianity through sermons, courses and small groups; pastoral work, including visiting the sick and bereaved; the promotion of Christianity through the staging of events and services; the provision of youth clubs, senior citizens clubs, men’s meetings and women’s meetings etc. with a Christian ethos; promoting the whole mission of the church (and aiding social cohesion) through activities for older people, parents and toddlers and other specific needs groups; and supporting other charities in the UK and overseas, financially and with prayer. ## **Contribution of Volunteers** The Circuit is heavily dependent upon, and extremely grateful for, the contribution of volunteers as it seeks to carry out its objectives. With the exception of 3 stipendiary Ministers and 1 full time lay worker, all members of the Circuit Leadership Team and all other Charity Trustees are unpaid volunteers. ## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE** The Circuit Mission Statement is: “The West Pennine Moors Circuit exists to enable, encourage and equip Methodist people to go in the power of the Holy Spirit to make whole-life disciples of Jesus, to transform lives and communities”. The Circuit Leadership Team meets regularly to discuss the progress of the Circuit and to ensure that the decisions of the managing trustees are taken forward, and to make recommendations to the Circuit Meeting for future action. To help the aim for cohesion across the Circuit, quarterly worship for the whole Circuit has been introduced and all churches are encouraged to join in any special activity a particular church is holding. The Circuit has committed financial resources towards supporting and providing a base for the Asylum Seeker and Refugee Community (ARC) Charity. ARC has received its own Charity status at the end of this financial year. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** We have sold one manse this year, the proceeds of which have been used to buy another manse. ## **Risk Management** The Circuit Meeting is continuing to develop procedures for identifying and addressing the risks facing the charity. It has clearly outlined financial procedures and, in common with all Churches, has developed robust procedures for safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. ## **Principal Funding Sources** Contributions from the Churches by way of Circuit Assessment continue to be the main source of funding. ## **Investment and Reserves Policies and Review** The Circuit Assessment is reviewed annually and covers the cost of ministerial oversight and pastoral care of the churches in the Circuit and the support of 3 Presbyteral ministers and 2 lay workers. The Circuit Advance Fund derives from sales of chapels and manses and is restricted by the Methodist Church. The Reserves Policy is held in agreement with the Charity Commission and has been earmarked for future staffing, the ARC Project, and a subsidy should a shortfall occur in the Assessment. ## **Current Needs and Future Plans** Within the context of the calling of the Methodist Church (as set out above), the Circuit plans to: - continue to support and encourage each local congregation in mission and ministry. - establish and develop a training culture within the Circuit, encouraging lay preachers in their development, supporting probationers and facilitating the development of probationers in training. - continue to review and actively manage the Circuit’s investments in its financial and property resources, seeking to selectively release resources for mission, ministry and outreach. - work through the Methodist Church stationing procedures to secure the appointment of new ministerial staff as vacancies are identified. - continue to work ecumenically, especially in supporting and developing Local Ecumenical Partnerships, focussing on the Anglican-Methodist Covenant. - develop both at Circuit and local level medium term plans for strategic development. ## **Going Concern** The Trustees have reviewed the circumstances of the Circuit and consider that adequate resources continue to be available to fund its activities for the foreseeable future. The Trustees are therefore of the view that the charity is a going concern. ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** The West Pennine Moors Circuit is part of the Methodist Church of Great Britain. The managing trustees operate within the Methodist Church Connexion and as such, their governing document is the Constitutional Practice and Discipline (CPD) of the Methodist Church. The document is available for inspection by appointment at the Circuit Office, c/o Antley Methodist Church, Blackburn Road, Accrington, Lancashire BB5 ODE The West Pennine Moors Circuit is registered as a separate charity, number 1132674. ## **Connected Charities** The churches forming the circuit are themselves charities and, as they are responsible for their own financial affairs. They are not reported in these statements. ## **Appointment of Trustees** All ministers, presbyteral and diaconal, stationed in the circuit by the conference or deemed to be resident in the circuit are members of the circuit meeting. The following are ex officio members of the circuit meeting Circuit Stewards appointed by the circuit meeting Circuit Meeting S3ecretary appointed by the circuit meeting Representatives to District Synod appointed by the circuit meeting Local Preachers’ Secretary appointed by the Local Preachers meeting Each church is represented by a church steward, the church treasurer and representatives appointed by the Church Council in relation to the number of church members (one representative for every 60 members) The circuit meeting has the power to co-opt other members as necessary. As at March 2020 there were 62 members of the circuit meeting, a full list is available from the Superintendent Ministers manse. ## **Trustee recruitment, induction, and training** As outlined above, the appointment of the majority of the members of the circuit meeting is outside the control of the meeting. In appointing the Circuit Leadership Team and other officers, the Meeting has regards to the balance of skills and gifts that are needed to further the work of the church. New members of the Leadership Team are inducted by the Leadership Team. ## **Organisation** The Circuit Meeting is convened three times a year. The circuit leadership team, appointed by the circuit meeting, is responsible for acting on behalf of the of the circuit meeting at other times. The leadership team meets at least six times a year. The circuit meeting retains responsibility for setting the mission priorities of the circuit, the overall strategy to deliver these priorities, the invitation of ministers, the oversight of local churches, the admission of people to the office of Local Preacher, and decisions on formal explorations of call to ministry and candidates to the ordained ministry. The leadership team is assisted in the task of financial oversight by the Circuit Treasurer. The Methodist church appoints a minister to be the Superintendent Minister of the circuit, whose duties are set out in Standing Orders of the Church. ## **Pay and renumeration** Stipends and allowances for presbyters and deacons (collectively ministers) are set annually by the Methodist Conference and the Circuit is responsible for meeting those costs for all ministers appointed by the Conference to the Circuit. ## **TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Circuit Meeting to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the Charity and of the surplus or deficit of the Charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Circuit Meeting has: - selected suitable accounting policies and applied them consistently - made judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent - stated whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements - prepared the financial statements on the going concern basis The Circuit Meeting is responsible for keeping records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with applicable regulations. It is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS** The Circuit’s Independent Examiner, Stephen Holden ACA, has indicated his willingness to accept reappointment. ON BEHALF OF THE CIRCUIT MEETING Rev Stuart Smith, Superintendent Minister DATE 12[th] November 2021 CIRCUIT RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS WEST PENNINE IAOORS CIRCUIT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st AUGUST 2020 LANCASHIRE Di•tr¥¢t Clrcult no IkEeb ai R•ghter•d Charlty. Ch4rfty R¢gl•tratlon numl 1132674 If not a registsr*J charity Hor IAaJe•tys R•v•nu• and Cu•t¢xn• Glft Ald numb•r (The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to dom or grant lunders Tmshing to see evvJerK* of the ovJanisalion's charrtable status. Methodist char￿eS in England and Wales that are not Tegistered dwities are excepted from registratK)n under Statutory Instrumont 2014 No.242) Mini8ter8'. Rev S Smith Rev R Om)r￿￿ R6v A L Makin Cifcuit Stthvards.. Par C Fairclw h Mrs S Crook Mts J Fish Mrs P Peddle Mr J Venables Mts S Crcrfjk 2015 CircutiRarwJ PJJS QG)n>f3 ¢0 o 8Èg ¢0 ¥ * ¥ ) th ts) L* ￿ ¢Y• (T• P41 h) N) N) N) C4) NJ 4 0 ID 44zo4zG) 11 1111 1111 1111 111111 11 1111 NameofCEr￿It.......... ........ Declarations and Scrutiny I confim that thes8 accxuals&sed acc(yJnts for the year to 31 August 2020 have been prepared from the records of the Cir(￿rt and thal tsy irtlude all funds urKkn the CA)ntrd of the Circuit meeting. Ciboth . Signature of treasurer.......... ........ Date. Z OSLJA LA*￿¢115 Hi eé Post code..6.6s..38.￿. Presentation to the Circuit meetlng I confirm that the annual report ￿ accounts for the y&qr ￿ 31 August 2020 tyAM'II be. presented to the Circuit meeting held on .J.JKp. L n 21 Signature of the Char of the meeting Name of the Chair of the rneetirrfJ e6/. IG/ZI Independent Examlnefs Report to the Trustees ofthe ircult CharSty Number !13ag 7+. Responsibllltles and basis of rewt I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the .. Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2020 set out on pages ... to As the Circuit's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the acccKJnts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2Q11 ('the Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the Circuit's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable Directions given by th Charity Commission under sethon 1495)(b) of the Act. . delete or ctrde as appropriate Name of Circuit ... Independent Examiners Statement trhe Circuiys gross income exceeded £250,(L￿ and l am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of (insert name of applicable listed body l (YE￿ i ￿snTUr￿ OF CIIARTERSO CCQU LThIc-L4 I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in. connection with the examination that in, any material respect: which give me cause to believe the accounting records were not kept in accordance with s&#ion 130 of the Act,. or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records; or the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements con￿mIng the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Ac£￿ntS and Reports) Regulations 2ChJ8 other than any requirement that the accnunts give a 'true and fairf view, whith is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination tklete rf not applicable ie all R&P accounts the trustees, annual report is not Consistent wth the accounts Delete if not applicable ie all R&P accounts. I have no CL)ncems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be dra*Tr in this rep(Yt in c*dar to enable a prop8r understanding of the accounts to be reached. I havelP*YM8t' obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes CK held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the M8thodist Church which are irKlividually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of irKJependent examiner Name of independènt examiner Relevant professional qualffication of indeperKlent examiner Name of firm (where appropriate) Address NAME Ltq,..Roys F4PrCKJ..fvJ.EW.L).￿......... ............. .. . .. ..... .. Post Code Date delete or c4rde as approF)nate September 2020 LJÉs4 Name of Circurt...... Declarations and Scrutiny I confirni that these accruals-based acc¢)unts for the year to 31 August 2020 have been prepared from the fecords of the Cir￿lt arKI that trw Ir￿lL#￿e all furKls Und￿ ts c¥)ntrol of the CirGUit meeting. Signature of treasurer ... ￿ C(bO Name and address of treasurer .. Post cod8..6.6s..34.￿. Presentatlon to the Circuit meeting I Confi￿ triat the annual report WKI acc(xmts for the yeaf ￿KIed 31 August 2020 ty￿￿.11 be. presented to th8 Circuit meeting held on .a.Jkk. L 0 21 Signature of the Chair of the meeting Nam8 of the Chair of the meetirvJ 26/io/Z! Independent Examinerfs Reportto the Trustees of the rcuit 113ag7*. Charity Number .. Responsibllltles and basis of report LO. EEj.....e￿￿)l.￿.E...Qfjrfs I r6POrt to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the .. Circuit for the year ended 31 August 2020 set out on pages ... to As the Circuit's trustees, you are responsible for the preparat￿ of the accmnts in accordan￿ wrth the reqUi￿rnents of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Ad). I report in respect of my examination of the Circurt's accounts camed out under section 145 of the Act and, in carying my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under sectson 14515)(b) of the Act. . de18te or circle as apprO￿late Name of Circuit ... Independent Examinerfs Statement trhe Circuit's gross income exceeded £250.(J)O and l am qualrfied to undertake the examination by being a qualrfied member of (insert name of applicable listed body I I ￿SnTUrE OF C¥+f3RTgR&X)11 Delete [ ] if not applicable. CCOopbry+rtrs l N LThIcvLJ I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that in, any materi81 respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records; or the accounts do r￿1 comply viith the applicable reqU1￿MentS conceming the fo￿ and content of accounts set oui in the Charities {Accwnts and Rep(xts) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true arKI fairf vio*, vthich is rK)t a matter considered as part of an independent examination Delete rf not applicabl8 18 all R&P accounts the trustees, annual report is rnt consistent wrth the acctyjnts L￿lete rfnot applicable 18 811 R&P ac￿unts. I have no cnncems and have come across no other matters in connection with the ex8mination to which attention should be drawn in th's re￿1 in (￿der to enable a proper understanding of tha accounts to be reathed. I h8ve1hatl￿. obtainad independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Financ8 Board of the Methodist c￿rCh which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independenl examiner Name of independent examiner Relevant professional qualification of indepeThJènt examiner Name of finn (where appropriate) NfkaE Lkq,.Ro.ys kbEt￿ fvJEW.o).E.................................. .... ..... LACKE￿)￿ ...................................... Address Post Code P£1 3RT Date delete or circle as appro￿late September 2020