## **THE METHODIST CHURCH – WEST PENNINE MOORS CIRCUIT TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021** The Trustees present their Annual Report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2021. ## **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 space 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 its own Charity status. ## **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, 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 Secretary 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 2021 there were 62 members of the circuit meeting, a full list is available from the Superintendent Minister’s 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 four 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, indicated his willingness to accept reappointment, but due to personal issues has had to step down. Ms Kim McInery has indicated her willingness to take over the appointment” ON BEHALF OF THE CIRCUIT MEETING Rev Stuart Smith, Superintendent Minister DATE 29[th] June 2022 West Pennine Moors Methodist Circuit 1 2020 - 2021 THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS ACCRUALS BASIS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2021 Lancashire District C*¢ult no 21-02 R•gl8tered Charfty. Charity Rogistration numbor 1132674 Hor MaJe•ty• Rovonue and Custom• Glft Akl number If nol 8 regi8ter&d chafity (The HMRC number is equtvalenl to 8 registered charTty number in tem$ of evidence of ch8rit8ble st8tUS 8nd m8y be used to give lo donors OT grant funders wishing io see evidence of the organi$8lion's charitable status. M&thodist charrties in England and Wales that aTe not registered charilies are excepted from T89isITats'on undor Sts￿tory Instrument 2014 No.242) CSrcult Ministers Clrcuit Stvw8rd$ Page No Issiue No Rov. S. Smlth Mrn. 8. Crook Front Pago Rèv. L. Makln Mr. C. Falrclough SOFA Rev. R Ornirod Mrn. J. Fl•h Balanc• Sho•t Mrn. P. P•ddlo Mr. J. Vonable• De¢larallon8 Audlt Report Treasurer Mrs S. Crook Mr. J. Gregory Circulation PDF by emall: Paper copy: arcult Meetln8 Setyetaryfft Orcult Stewards, Mlnlster Current Year, Next Year 155ueOI West Pennine Moors Methodist Circuit 21-02 2020-2021 STATEMENT of FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES {SErrEE) Tnrtt R88trlct8¢ Endty*m8rt Fund& Fund8 Tot&1 current Y¢ar 2020-21 INCOME Donations and legacles Incomè from monetary Investments Income from Property Investments Assessments on Churthes 6,950 113 470 581 uy 1.301 25,139 15,139 214077 216,077 Caplial Retèlpts Grants ￿ceiVed IIA 14,000 Other charltable Income 14.665 Totsl Income 257A13 470 19.131 $81 137 278,132 EXPENOITURE Grants and donatlon5 io Salarles and assoclated costs I67,￿11 8,133 176,034 li Property m4lntenance Insurance, UtIIIUes eta D15tr1rt Assessment & Le¥v Depreclatlon Offlce exp•nses Other outBoln 23.748 23,748 12 13,736 13 61JO8 61,308 14 15 3￿39 3,533 16 50A45 7.SSB 671 194 58,940 17 Totsl charStable expendlture 320.671 7,558 194 72 337,299 18 Galnslllossesl on monetary Investments Galnslllossesl on property Investment 216 451 19 20 Net In¢omel(expendlturel 42￿8 IOJ27 L52 -151 -59,618 21 Transfers between funds SL687 22 Other 8ain51llossesl 23 Net movement In funds 11.674 -58,775 -12,518 152 .151 -59,618 24 Total funds brought forward Total fund5 carried foNard 99 116A45 S6￿28 5,657 25 110.994 57,670 96,780 5,506 273,136 West Pennine Moors Methodist Circuit 112020-2021 DECLARATION Bookkeeper I confirm that I Iwe wepared the frorn Il* reLJ)rds oftt* Cifojt aThJ that th&y indude JI funds underthe ¢OWtrd of thè Circuit Cour￿1 Signature of the Boc*k8ep J. Name Mr.J￿¢$wll￿•rn Grrfory es8 13Ay4arth Otho. t41RWEN. ianushlre. BB3 ILB ol-og-22 Treasurer I confiryn that I Chec*￿ th8 aLYoLwts frGffi th& r•x¥ds of CIr￿it and that thwi indude 811 ftnds under the coontrol of the CirrJJil Cojncil Signature of the Tr•asurer Nam Mr& Shlrf•yCrook Addre 47 L•bJmum DrN*. cbwald￿th. B85 UW Dale OJ.08. a Presentstlon to the Clrcult Meeting for Approval l ¢onfirrn that the accounts have been Frfesentthl to the Cirujrt Meetir Slgnature clthe Ch•'r ofthg MeetirwJ Name Addr88S This report is on the CircultAccounts for the Yeaw Ended Date 31 August 2021 Respective Respossibilities of the Trustees and Examiner The Charitys truste8s arè res[wA"￿e for Kryjaratrffi ofthe act(KJnts The Charivg trustees cA)nsid8r that an audit18 n¢1 required forthis year under seC1K￿ 144 ol the Chaths *412011 IIN8 Chariu8s Ad) and lh* an independeni examinabtr) is rgjuired ft Is my rnJpon8lbl1￿ to: . Examine tre ￿¢￿nts und¥ Seth"C￿ 145 otts Charities A¢t To Ic41ow the wct£dLTr5 b"¢J (Sy*n in Ihe gern[￿ Dire¢*crt the ch￿ Commkssbon {urthr Section 14515llbl of Ihe Charities Act). arKI . To stste vkndher p*boJlw matters havecryneto my altenti￿. -2020 - 202*,. West Pennlne Moors klothodl8t Circuit ..￿ll . INDEPENDENT EXAIMINER'S REPORT Basis of Independent Examiner's Report Independent Examinerfs Statement In ¢Onn&￿Ic￿ ox•mln•tkn, no mattw h81 to ry aiith loth•rth•n thow thlli*rn on th• th¢h•d r•port'l'. (11 give8 m• r•asongble caw to tdbvè that In 8ny mthriol rgsF•d the requirements". to keep 8¢c#)unbng records in xg)rdan¢• vitth 130 01 Chanb•s Aca.. to yep8r¥ accounis amd wth th• ￿ntil￿a rwyd8 And ccfflply wth th& Aco)unting rewir¢mertl$ ol tho char￿e3 A¢1 have not t•8n mot.. or +tr• 121 lo which, in my optslon, ottanljon s￿ljh1 te in to onat40 o prcp•r und8r8tandlng of IM ocwunts to r¢8¢W. ' Ple8s8 delete the in th8 br8ck8ts if they do not apply appropriate 131 I hav&h8ve rK*f COtsin￿ indeFwthI bwlf<4lKJn of all inmbn•nt8 the TrLNtee$ for M8th)dist Church Purpo￿1 I'ThCP'l or hdd in olhef Trusts, Bank b818n¢o$ and FuTrJ8 at the Cwltral Fin8nce Board of the M8thodl8t Churc* I'EFB'I, aro ￿d￿lau#l￿ in ¢x¢w Of£10,c￿ Itert pounds) at the b8bnc8 sheet d810. ' Pl8ase clKle gs appropriate Signatur& Nam• ILIM Mc IA-LY l£S OW-o%-LL R9kn￿t Prof8ssional Qualthcobjn c* Body CIQF West Pennine Moors Methodlst Circuft 2020 - 2021 INDEPENDENT EXAIMINER'S REPORT Basis of Independent Examinerfs Report Independent Examiner's Statement In <4)nM￿On Tty O￿lTinatI*l, nomts hA• (%•ro tr) l¢]th•rthan thow th•t•rn on tt*rti*ch•d r•porfl.' 111 wh￿h giw$ m• r8a50nable eaw to belw that in ony matsri81 respset lh8 ￿U￿8M$nts'. to keep 8c¢wnbng rets)rd$ In accorda￿ wtion 130 ofthe charrt￿ Art . to pr¢p8rg accounts which aCTh￿d with ts K4>)untsro r•xrds * cthipty acrLJuntsrKJ r9qUifom•nt8 ofth8 Charib8s Ac* have not ￿en mot.. OT 121 to which, in my ¢pin*)n, ottentr)n 8hwkJ bo dr￿￿ in crter to •nablo • pfcp•f under8t8ndlro ofth a¢owni8 to btr reached. ' PI88S8 dg1818 the in the br8ckets*f they do not apply appropriate 131 I havelh8ve nor obtsined *th￿ndent thkatkjn of 811 in8Stm￿ts wrth th• Tru8t•ts lor Methodbt Churth Purpws 17MCP'I or hoby In other Trusts. Bank bajarw and Funds 8t Centr81 Fln9nce Board ofts meth￿l$t Churth I'CFB'}, which are 1TrJi¥￿u￿ty u) ex¢w of£l0.Q￿ (ten I￿*U￿r￿j pounds) at th& balaTKe she¥t dot8 ' Ple858 Cl￿18 8s appmpriat8 SkJnaturo Nama ILiNfj Mc Id- Ly PJS &E>S ISS Addr O(tr-oE-ZL Rel8venl Profg5sion•l Qualffjcats)n ry Bc#Jy CIQF ¢1