## **Ecumenical Officer’s Report 2022-23** The big change for me in my role is that from November 1[st] I have been working full time in the role of County Ecumenical Officer for Churches Together in Lancashire. It has been a great privilege to serve as Vicar of the United Parish of Scorton, Barnacre and Calder Vale over the last seven years but it was getting harder to manage this role and the ministry across three churches. This has freed me up to engage more fully as the representative for the North West Region of Churches Together in England and to take on with confidence the role of Moderator of the CTE Forum which is the National Conference of Churches Together in England that takes place every three years. You have heard about the wider CTL work in the Chairman’s report, so I won’t repeat any of that other than to say that it has been great to work with such a strong and dedicated team of ecumenical officers on these programmes. The big events are great, but the real work of ecumenism is rooted in the local and in the every day. Ecumenism is about local churches recognising those things which are best done together to serve their communities. Most important is the time committed to praying together and finding ways to support one another’s mission and ministry. My work with the team of DEOs and network partners is to support and encourage the local churches in their work together. So, with this gift of extra time… what am I doing? ## **I have set a number of priorities for working this year.** - 1 To reach out and re-vitalise all of our seventy plus local groups. The contact database is long overdue an update. - 2 To visit local groups and LEP meetings – I was doing this before COVID so it’s good to be picking this up again. Since November I have enjoyed meeting with the North Blackburn group, the Rossendale Group, and the Fylde Coast Churches group. - 3 To visit local churches and ecumenical partnerships for Sunday worship. It was a great joy to be back with the Lytham Churches for the annual covenant signing during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. - 4 To develop the website and media platforms – we have contracted Dan Morrell of Media4Ministry to assist us in this. - 5 Develop the directory of Independent Free Churches and especially develop contacts with Black and Asian led churches in Lancashire. CTL is lacking in this area. Any help with both these areas would be appreciated. - 6 Denominational Area Contacts: We are planning to create a point of ecumenical contact in each Anglican & Catholic Deanery, Methodist Circuit, URC Mission Partnership which in turn will create a support communications pathway for each of the Denominational Ecumenical Officers (DEOs) ## **Ecumenical Working Parties** These are groups based around the Five Marks of Mission. The membership of the groups includes one or more of the DEOs working with contacts engage in these areas of mission and ministry. The most significant progress has been with the Working Party for Social Justice and Responsibility, and we will hear something from that group later. CTLs commitment to “Care for Creation” found expression in the Church Tent at the Royal Lancashire Show which also gave expression to the those first and second marks of mission which are to with proclamation and discipleship. The EWP for Social Justice will be invaluable this year as we explore Farming and Modern-Day Slavery. ## **Ecumenical Resources** I have always had an interest in ministerial formation and have at various times served as tutor in lay and ordained ministry training. The area that is lacking across existing lay and ordained training is this important area of ecumenical studies. There are modules in ecumenical studies which are part of the Common Awards training schemes for lay and ordained training, but they never see the light of day. This means that we rely too much on the ecumenical agenda being pursued by a few enthusiasts. I want to see ecumenism embedded in lay and ordained ministry training across the denominations. ## **Youth and Young Adults** We had a young adult represent Churches Together in Lancashire at last year’s Forum. Verity Wild was a brilliant advocate and will be part of a group that explores developing opportunities for ecumenical gatherings for youth and young adults. Again, anyone with a desire to this area develop please let me know. ## **Thank you.** Finally – I would like to thank your dedicated team of Denominational Ecumenical Officers. None of the above could happen without them and our denominations would be ecumenically poorer without the gentle and constant nudging that they represent. There is still a long way to go and with them I look forward to a time when we can truly talk about the whole Church in Lancashire walking and working, praying and worshipping together as the One Body that we are called to be in Christ. The Revd Anton Müller County Ecumenical Officer, Churches Together in Lancashire 9[th] March 2023 ChuthT fjenyrnl t>2Mmlnèt4wlCoDtr*Ath 2OJ49 lotsllwJram• 17.246 422 ISJ52 (¢Dsuhalons. cNrse54n¢ le5￿￿ceS 17M7 793 NMRCPJ￿￿lIS.PAYE.Tl&&IIICl L4n S991 2S7 292 JurnrKe 291 16 15 LanuthielwthkLYalSho* othwfXPthIS•S 4.376 $4071 811 ared Lth¥lknesfvom prew0us￿r HSBCcwrt*tP￿urt n,s91 74979 71￿2 71J79 FQsk•ccaunt 71 7L 73J L>)1 |•n¢eof Inr47m¢4fidexpwKiiurelrythÈypJr Cuiront **REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1160021** **Report of the Trustees and** **Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2022 for Churches Together in Lancashire** Towers + Gornall Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants River View 96 High Street Garstang Preston Lancashire PR3 1WZ **Churches Together in Lancashire** ## **Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2022** |||**Page**|| |---|---|---|---| |**Report of the Trustees**||1|| |**Independent Examiner's Report**||2|| |**Statement of Financial Activities**||3|| |**Balance Sheet**||4|| |**Notes to the Financial Statements**|5|to|7| |**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**||8|| **Churches Together in Lancashire** **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2022** The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2022. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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) (effective 1 January 2019). ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** ## **Objectives and aims** The object of Churches Together in Lancashire is the advancement of the Christian faith and other purposes which are charitable according to the law of England and Wales. ## **Significant activities** Churches Together in Lancashire operates through local groups across Lancashire. Groups promote unity through prayer, worship & community service. Activities include food banks, action against poverty, parish nursing, street pastors. Churches Together in Lancashire works collaboratively with Together Lancashire, Farming Community Network, local and County council, other faith groups. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **Financial position** The charity made a small loss of £287 in 2022 compared to a small loss of £1,901 in 2021. There are however significant reserves of £71,692 at the year end (£71,979 - 2021). ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Governing document** The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity. ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number** 1160021 ## **Principal address** St Peters Vicarage Snowhill Lane Scorton Preston Lancashire PR3 1AY ## **Trustees** Rev P Gough (appointed 3.11.2022) Mr R Stephenson (appointed 3.11.2022) Rt Revd P Swarbrick Rt Revd J Arnold Rev B Drury ## **Independent Examiner** Michael Gornall FCCA Towers + Gornall Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants River View 96 High Street Garstang Preston Lancashire PR3 1WZ Approved by order of the board of trustees on 9 March 2023 and signed on its behalf by: Rev P Gough - Trustee Page 1 **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Churches Together in Lancashire** ## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Churches Together in Lancashire** I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Churches Together in Lancashire (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2022. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act'). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act. ## **Independent examiner's statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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. 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. Michael Gornall FCCA Towers + Gornall Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants River View 96 High Street Garstang Preston Lancashire PR3 1WZ 9 March 2023 Page 2 ## **Churches Together in Lancashire** ## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2022** |2022
Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
31,458
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Other
31,745
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
(287)
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
71,979
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
71,692|2021
Total
funds
£
20,249
22,150
(1,901)
73,880
71,979| |---|---| The notes form part of these financial statements Page 3 ## **Churches Together in Lancashire** ## **Balance Sheet 31 December 2022** |2022
Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Cash at bank
71,692
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
71,692
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**
71,692
**NET ASSETS**
71,692
**FUNDS**
4
Unrestricted funds
71,692
**TOTAL FUNDS**
71,692|2021
Total
funds
£
71,979| |---|---| ||71,979| ||71,979| ||71,979| ||71,979| ||71,979| The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 9 March 2023 and were signed on its behalf by: Rev P Gough - Trustee The notes form part of these financial statements Page 4 **Churches Together in Lancashire Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2022** ## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** ## **Basis of preparing the financial statements** The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. ## **Income** All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. ## **Expenditure** Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. ## **Taxation** The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities. ## **Fund accounting** Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements. ## **Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits** The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate. ## **2. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS** There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2022 nor for the year ended 31 December 2021. ## **Trustees' expenses** There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 December 2022 nor for the year ended 31 December 2021. ## **3. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** ||Unrestricted| |---|---| ||fund| ||£| |**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**|| |Donations and legacies|20,249| |**EXPENDITURE ON**|| |Other|22,150| |**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**|(1,901)| Page 5 continued... **Churches Together in Lancashire** **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2022** ## **3. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued** ||||Unrestricted| |---|---|---|---| ||||fund| ||||£| |**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**|||| |Total funds brought forward|||73,880| |**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**|||71,979| |**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**|||| |||Net|| |||movement|At| ||At 1.1.22|in funds|31.12.22| ||£|£|£| |**Unrestricted funds**|||| |General fund|71,979|(287)|71,692| |**TOTAL FUNDS**|71,979|(287)|71,692| |Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:|||| ||Incoming|Resources|Movement| ||resources|expended|in funds| ||£|£|£| |**Unrestricted funds**|||| |General fund|31,458|(31,745)|(287)| |**TOTAL FUNDS**|31,458|(31,745)|(287)| |**Comparatives for movement in funds**|||| |||Net|| |||movement|At| ||At 1.1.21|in funds|31.12.21| ||£|£|£| |**Unrestricted funds**|||| |General fund|73,880|(1,901)|71,979| |**TOTAL FUNDS**|73,880|(1,901)|71,979| |Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:|||| ||Incoming|Resources|Movement| ||resources|expended|in funds| ||£|£|£| |**Unrestricted funds**|||| |General fund|20,249|(22,150)|(1,901)| |**TOTAL FUNDS**|20,249|(22,150)|(1,901)| ## **4. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS** Page 6 continued... **Churches Together in Lancashire** **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2022** ## **4. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows: |||Net|| |---|---|---|---| |||movement|At| ||At 1.1.21|in funds|31.12.22| ||£|£|£| |**Unrestricted funds**|||| |General fund|73,880|(2,188)|71,692| |**TOTAL FUNDS**|73,880|(2,188)|71,692| A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: ||Incoming|Resources|Movement| |---|---|---|---| ||resources|expended|in funds| ||£|£|£| |**Unrestricted funds**|||| |General fund|51,707|(53,895)|(2,188)| |**TOTAL FUNDS**|51,707|(53,895)|(2,188)| ## **5. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES** There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 December 2022. Page 7 **Churches Together in Lancashire** ## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2022** ||2022|2021| |---|---|---| ||£|£| |**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**||| |**Donations and legacies**||| |Donations|29,495|20,249| |ACOS funds|1,963|-| ||31,458|20,249| |**Total incoming resources**|31,458|20,249| |**EXPENDITURE**||| |**Other**||| |Grants|1,000|811| |ACOS expenses|16|15| |Other expenses|3,989|2,360| |Office costs|257|-| ||5,262|3,186| |**Support costs**||| |**Finance**||| |Bank charges|61|-| |**Other**||| |Wages|15,505|13,553| |Pensions|1,741|1,899| |Forums, conferences etc.|5,991|1,038| |Insurance|292|292| |Travel & home telephone|422|1,340| |HMRC payments|2,471|842| ||26,422|18,964| |Total resources expended|31,745|22,150| |**Net expenditure**|(287)|(1,901)| This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements Page 8