2023-08-31-accounts - Chester Le Street Methodist Circuit

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Circuit Annual Report 2022-23

The Chester le Street Methodist Circuit consists of 6 Methodist Churches, as well as a plant project: Re:new, which meets in a local café in Chester le Street town centre. Barley Mow?

During the year 2022-23 our Circuit churches have been working to build up our presence and outreach in the local communities. As a Circuit our key aims are expressed through the four categories of the Methodist Church’s “Our Calling” framework which are: Worship, Learning and Caring, Serving and Evangelism.

As such we exist to:

Enable individuals and communities to participate in, and encounter God through acts of worship
Encourage people to explore the Christian life and faith, and grow in knowledge an understanding of God
Serve the needs of our local communities and demonstrate the love of God in practical ways
Share the Christian faith in word and deed

A Brief Financial Review of the Year

We have in general achieved our financial targets for the year.

Income

All churches have been able to maintain their assessments

We have continued to receive rental income from the manse on Newcastle Road.

Expenditure

Salaries and stipends were increased in line with the Methodist Church policy and the living wage. ??% of unrestricted income was the Circuit Contribution to the work of the District and Connexion (??% of total costs).- Can you ask Brian about this please?

Other expenditure included stipends/salaries, manse maintenance, travel costs etc.

Plans for 2023-24

Our financial plans for the coming year have been prepared on the basis that we maintain Circuit ministerial staff of one part time Superintendent, one full time Deacon We also have a part-time (15 hours a week) Circuit Administrator.

Basis of Preparation and Legal Framework

The charities annual report and accounts for the year ended 31st August 2023 have been prepared in accordance with the “Charities Act 2011” and the “Charities Statement of Recommended Practice 2015” as applicable to the “Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 102”.

Details

Full Name of Charity – Chester le Street Methodist Circuit Registered Charity Number – 1159362 Date of Registration – 25[th] November 2014

Main Contact Address – Circuit Office, Great Lumley Methodist Church, Front Street, Great Lumley, Durham, DH2 4JB

The members of Chester le Street Circuit Meeting are the Charity Trustees, membership being made up of our circuit office holders, ministers and representatives appointed by the local churches.

Circuit Ministers and Officers

Rev Jenny Porterpryde Deacon Linda Watkin Rev

Circuit Stewards

Mr Brian Straughan Mr Fred Johnson Mrs Karen Keptinstall Mrs Kathy Bevan

Brian Straughan acted as the treasurer overseeing the day-to-day financial management and accounting for the circuit during the year.

Independent Examiner

Jill Hindmarsh

Investments and Bank Accounts

Central Financial Board of the Methodist Church Trustees for the Methodist Church Purposes Barclays Bank

Aims and Organisation

Charity objective is to act as a resource provider within the area around Chester le Street for the Methodist Church.

The purposes of the Methodist Church are, and shall be deemed to have been since the date of union, the advancement of:

The Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and discipline of the Methodist Church.
Any charitable purpose for the time being of any Connexional, District, Circuit, local or other organisations of the Methodist Church.
Any charitable purpose for the time being of any society or institution subsidiary or ancillary to the Methodist Church.

Charitable objectives are delivered through the provision of activities and services, which include:

The organisation and resourcing of regular public acts of worship open to members of the church and non-members alike.
Conducting baptisms, wedding and funerals on behalf of the Methodist Church.
The teaching of Christianity through sermons, courses and small groups.
The resourcing of pastoral work including visiting the sick and bereaved.
Provision of community space and support.
Offering opportunities for worship and faith exploration in local schools.
Promotion of Christianity through the staging of events and services.
Provision of chaplaincy services.

Public Benefit

We confirm that the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit.

Structure and Management

The governing document for the circuit is the Deed of Union (1932) and the Methodist Church Act (1976).

Detailed governance arrangements are outlined within the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church by order of the annual conference (CPD). Day to day management of the circuit is undertaken by the Circuit Leadership Team along with the Local Preachers Meeting and the Circuit Finance and Property (part of CLT) and the Circuit Policy Committee (past of CLT).

Trustee Training

A range of guidance produced by Methodist Connexion to support the effective running of the circuit – specifically the leaflet “The Role of a Trustee in the Methodist Church” is given to all new Circuit Meeting members as induction to their role as Trustees.

Related Parties

The Circuit is part of the Newcastle Upon Tyne Methodist District and is also accountable to the Methodist Conference.

The following Methodist Churches are linked to the Circuit: Birtley Chester le Street Great Lumley Pelton Perkinsville West Pelton

Risk Management

Any major risks identified will be recorded by the Circuit Leadership Team (none have been identified) and professional advice will be taken if required.

Risk assessments are carried out for church buildings and for events organised by the Circuit.

Income and expenditure are monitored in total and compared with the approved annual budget on a half yearly basis to detect trends as part of the risk management process to avoid unforeseen calls on reserves.

Safeguarding

Every person has value and dignity which comes directly from the creation of people in God’s own image and likeness. Christians see this potential as fulfilled by Gods recreation of us in Christ. Among other things this implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm.

Methodist Connexional practice outlines commitment to the following principles:

The care and nurture and respectful pastoral ministry with all children, young people and adults.
The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults when they are vulnerable.
The establishing of safe, caring communities which provide a loving environment where this is informed vigilance as to the dangers of abuse.
We will carefully select and train all those with any responsibility within the church in line with the Safer Recruitment principles, including the use of criminal records, disclosures and registration with the relevant vetting and barring schemes.
We will respond without delay to every complaint made which suggests that an adult child or young person may have been harmed, cooperating with the police and local authority in any investigation.
We will seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse developing with them an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care.
We will seek to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in position of trust.
• We will seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or vulnerable adult.
In all these principles we will follow legislation, guidance and recognised good practice.

The Chester le Street Methodist Circuit commits itself to ensuring the implementation of Connexional Safeguarding Policy, government legislation, guidance and safe practice in the circuit and in the churches.

The Chester le Street Methodist Church commits itself to the provision of support, advice and training for lay and ordained people that will ensure people are clear and confident about their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults who may be vulnerable.

Activities and Achievements

During the year the Circuit has supported the churches in a wide range of outreach activites. Ranging from Food banks, lunches, Bible Study groups, toddler groups, to school events, coffee mornings, Youth work and Sunday worship. We have also made provision for those unable to access our buildings, by offering online services each week and let our buildings to a huge range of groups running community projects.

We have continued to develop new work within the Barley Mow area of the circuit, in partnership with Rev Fabio Viela.??

Reserves Policy

The reserves policy for the circuit is to hold a minimum sum of equivalent to 4 months average expenditure. This should be sufficient to meet any unforeseen item of major expenditure on manses and/or be able to continue in the short term funding planned activities in the event of any inability to raise the full circuit assessment from churches.

The Circuit Funds Document is attached.

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