2020-12-31-accounts - Zion Baptist Church

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ZION BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020 1 East Road, Cambridge CB1 1BD

Annual report 2020, Zion Baptist Church

VISION

We see ourselves as a ‘sending church’ – A place where all are welcome, all can grow, and all are sent out to serve local and global communities .’

We seek to offer a Christ-like WELCOME that recognises the value of every human being. We help people GROW in recognising, developing and using their gifting, as part of a journey of knowing and following the way of Christ.

We help to equip people to be SENT out to SERVE local and global communities through the power of the Holy Spirit, with humility, kindness, compassion, and to work for peace and justice.

VALUES

We at ZBC intentionally seek to develop a culture where we:

Become a Spirit led community

Feel like one team

Embrace adventure

Inspire others

Share a hunger for God’s coming Kingdom

STRATEGY

Make regular and meaningful contact with members of the congregation, and regular attendees;
Invest in the development of emerging and current leaders of the congregation;
Work in partnership primarily with Anglia Ruskin University, Jimmy’s Cambridge, ZBC Mission House, Agape, Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB), Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT), and BMS World Mission to serve local and global communities;
Offer advice and resources to formal members of the congregation and regular attendees, in spirituality and discipleship, evangelism, and welfare and social action; and;
Invest in fit for purpose buildings and online platforms for use as a base for ministry and mission.

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Our current minister Rev Gale Richards joined us in September 2016 and works with a team of deacons. The minister together with the deacons constitutionally also serve as trustees of the church and are collectively responsible for the spiritual leadership, oversight and administration of the church.

Annual report 2020, Zion Baptist Church

Deacons

Geoff Mann (Treasurer) Jane Mann Derek Wall Roger Wright

Due to decisions taken prior to 2016, we do not have a Church Secretary rather those duties are shared by the trustees, with administrative support from the Church Administrator.

STAFF TEAM

In 2020, Elisabeth Silver continued in her role as our Church Administrator. Elisabet Lajara continued in her role as our Young Adults Worker- Engagement. Jude Nwangu left his role as Young Adults Worker- Discipleship in February 2020. David Smith continued in his role as Church Cleaner.

CONGREGATION

We currently have 21 people in formal membership with the church. This past year, we have been a slightly smaller congregation of about 25 people. Our congregation for many years now has comprised some local permanent residents, and some individuals from a range of transient people groups (e.g. university students, people experiencing homelessness, newly arrived and short-stay visitors and workers from other parts of the world). One of the effects of the Covid-19 global pandemic in 2020 has been that there have been fewer people from these transient groups in Cambridge, and correspondingly in our congregation.

LIFE OF ZBC IN 2020

ZBC on Thursdays

There are usually two Bible Fellowship Groups (BFGs) and that was the case up until March, at which point the two groups moved online and merged, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

On the 1[st] and 3[rd] Thursday of the month there was a focus on prayer, and on the 2[nd] and 4[th] Thursdays of the month there was a focus on Bible study, and when there was a 5[th] Thursday of the month, there were online games and quizzes. We were able to hold one of those quizzes at church before the pandemic struck, and that was attended by two of Jimmy’s Cambridge residents.

We were able to explore themes around mental health through extracts of the Livability ‘Lift the Lid’ Bible study material; the BUGB ‘Listening to God, Listening to each other’ videos (including one featuring our minister). Additionally, we were able to make use of EBA’s resources (including videos, and week of prayer notes) on being disciples that make disciples.

Annual report 2020, Zion Baptist Church

ZBC on Sundays

There has been a continued intergenerational approach to worship in ZBC@10:30 am with people of all ages and backgrounds having a role to play in worship services. We did different series reflecting on scriptures that were important to the earliest Baptist leaders (John Smyth, Thomas Helwys, and John Murton); the Sermon on the Mount; our vision statement; and on the book of Ecclesiastes. We also welcomed as guest speakers, Nigel from Cogwheel (a charity with a Christian ethos offering affordable counselling services), and Nigel Cooper (the lead chaplain at ARU’s Cambridge campus).

In the early weeks of lockdown, there were also opportunities each Sunday morning for someone to share how they were finding the experience of living under lockdown. Additionally, there was space given to two members of the congregation to offer differing perspectives on the global Black Lives Matter protests that were taking place (including a protest in Cambridge that one of our church members attended).

ZBC@SIX for students and young adults met sparingly during 2020. When the group did meet, as overseen by our minister it featured Arrey’s story in word and song, followed the Agape ‘Living and Telling’ course, and followed a few weeks of Alpha Online. For much of the year the group did not meet, as ZBC was not able to connect with the very limited numbers of our usual target groups (ARU students and English Classes’ students) in Cambridge, due to the pandemic.

ZBC Mission House for Students

2020 started with 5 people living at the ZBC Mission house; Joseph, Jude, Sylodie, Kailee and Arrey. Kailee left for Hong Kong in February as her studies came to an end. Sylodie left in March as she decided to relocate but continue with her studies. Joseph left in July as he relocated for work. Jude left in September as he paused his studies and relocated. We welcomed Brigita into the house in June, Pricilla in August, and Inghild in September.

The house continued to be overseen by our minister, and residents had their monthly meetings led by Joseph, and then by Arrey once Joseph relocated.

We had our annual Student Sunday in February, and whilst Kailee could not be at church in person, she wrote about her experiences of being a student, and Gale was able to read that out in the service. Sylodie shared her experiences in person during ZBC@SIX.

When the UK went into a national lockdown in March, to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, there was just Joseph, Jude and Arrey in the house. They were a great support to each other during this time. Joseph and Arrey became our in-house music group for our online Sunday morning services during the lockdown until we briefly resumed in-person services in July, and Joseph relocated.

Annual report 2020, Zion Baptist Church

Brigita was a volunteer tutor at ZBC English Classes and Pricilla attended ZBC English Classes and Café Gilead as a student. Both of them made important contributions in helping ZBC to serve the members of the wider community that attend these groups.

Arrey was appointed our Gap Year Student in September. He has been a great help with operating audio-visuals at in-person services, and in helping our minister produce videos for ZBC ministries (Black History Month series, and ZBC Mission House series).

Inghild’s stay in the house was brief just one month due to her decision to head home to Norway as we felt the effects of the pandemic. However, before she left, she helped to inspire the Kindness project we did as a church at the end of the year for homeless charities. This entailed us giving hand-made ‘You’re appreciated’ cards and purchased gift vouchers and star-shaped reflectors, to Jimmy’s Cambridge staff, as well hand-made coasters, as well as toiletries and snacks to Wintercomfort staff and residents.

Chaplaincy @ ARU Cambridge Campus

Our minister continued to serve as a member of the multi-faith ARU Chaplaincy Team. The work of the team was greatly affected by the pandemic. Before the lockdown in March, she was able to participate in ‘Pop up café’ activities on campus serving students and staff. She also helped to hand out ‘You’re appreciated cards’ to staff. During lockdown she responded to messages and calls from students needing support. In September she participated in a ‘What’s race got to do with it?’ discussion for students on campus, in response to the Black Lives Matter protests. In November, she also participated in an online discussion for Interfaith week on ‘How worship and religious practices have changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.’ In December she attended a meeting with the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion staff to discuss ongoing work on ARU’s Racial Equality strategy.

ZBC English Classes & Café Gilead

ZBC English Classes on Saturdays and Café Gilead for conversational English on Wednesdays were greatly impacted by Covid-19. We registered half the amount of our usual number of students (approximately 75 instead of our usual 150). We were able to offer in person classes January to March, September to November and move our classes online outside of those periods. However, a significant number of our registered students chose not to engage with classes online, preferring to wait for in person classes to return. We secured a new volunteer tutor (Dominika) and returning volunteer tutors from ARU English Language Teaching course (Brigita and John). John, Brigita and Dominika worked with Arrey from the ZBC Mission House, Elisabet and the wider ZBC congregation family and friends (Robert, Franco, Natalie, Jussara), and our minister to lead our groups (Beginners, Elementary, Pre-intermediate/Intermediate, and Upper Intermediate/Advanced).

Our minister worked with Arrey to run Café Gilead. They used articles, short video clips, music, and other creative activities to stimulate conversation on topical issues.

Annual report 2020, Zion Baptist Church

One of the students (Jolanda) wrote about her positive experiences of attending our English classes and Café Gilead, and our minister read this out in one of our Sunday morning services. In 2020, three of the students at different times also engaged with our Sunday services (including our online Carol service).

ZBC Cherry Trees Pensioners Group

Due to the government restrictions introduced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic the Pensioners Group were only able to meet on Wednesdays between January 8th and March 11th. As usual, they had games in the mornings and quizzes in the afternoons. The devotions were led by our minister Gale, Heather, and Derek. The group as led by Jane W were thankful for all their loyal helpers; Sarah B, Sarah S, Dorothy, and Derek. The group was also grateful to Dial -a- Ride who brought many of the members to the meetings.

Jimmy’s Cambridge

During 2020 Jimmy’s worked tirelessly to remain open and support some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Although faced with significant difficulties with the pandemic, Jimmy’s work continued. They provided emergency accommodation to nearly 200 people at East Road. They opened up 10 new modular homes with more to come in 2021 and enabled two-thirds of the residents of their Controlled Drinking Project to reduce drinking to abstinence and take up private residence . Jimmy’s had to reduce the number of volunteers, but the volunteers that were able to come in, continued to serve meals, help with gardening, pack food parcels for Jimmy’s houses and deliver these as well. This meant Jimmy’s were able to support over 50 people in 9 shared houses and our new modular homes.

Two of our deacons (Geoff and Jane) serve as trustees at Jimmy’s Cambridge. ZBC supports Jimmy’s primarily by offering a charitable rate for the lease of the premises they occupy. Due to social distancing measures related to the pandemic, our minister was unable to do her usual Tuesday drop-in at Jimmy’s, and so she started opening up the church building on Tuesday lunchtimes, as a space for residents and staff (and others in the wider community) to drop by. This new initiative was called ‘Prayer and Reflection Space.’ From September until December on and off a few of Jimmy’s residents did make use of the space, as well as some of our English Class students, and other members of the wider community. This space was also used to show the Black History Month video series devised by our minister inspired by her published booklet ‘Text and Story – Prophets for their time and ours.’ We were also able once again to offer some voluntary painting and decorating work to a former resident of Jimmy’s.

Annual report 2020, Zion Baptist Church

Redevelopment & Maintenance of Property Group

This group comprising our minister and two deacons (Roger and Jane) with some support from our Church Administrator has overseen continued work to help make our buildings fit for purpose bases for ministry and mission. In 2020, the internal refurbishment work at the ZBC Mission house was completed, including the laying of new carpets. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic the planned works to install a new internal lift, and to remove some of the pews in the sanctuary, in the 1877 building did not happen, and were postponed to 2021.

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY EVENTS AND HIGHLIGHTS

Leadership Team Away Day

Our minister and deacons gathered online in October for a day of prayerful reflection. They reflected on how we might take up the challenge at the end of the church anniversary book, written in 1987. That challenge being to more intentionally serve the communities local to the church building on East Road (i.e. ARU, and local businesses). To this end, we committed to looking into the feasibility of getting involved with the workplace chaplaincy initiative Mill Road Baptist Church began in 2019, as well as learning from initiatives like the ‘Kindness project’ in Norway, and speaking to experts in the field like Chris Duffet.

Training and Policies

A new Handbook for all employees and volunteers was completed and distributed early in the year. The purpose of the Handbook is to help employees and staff understand the way in which ZBC operates and their role within it. It includes a summary of key policies including Safeguarding, Equality and Diversity, Data Protection and Health and Safety. During the year risk assessments (including Covid-19 specific) for use of the church building were updated.

Our minister and her two pastoral assistants (Evelyn, and Jane M) attended basic training organised by EBA in light of the challenges of living under lockdown, on the theme of mental health.

Social Media and Wifi We installed a ZBC guest Wifi system accessible to all building users. We also created a ZBC YouTube channel, and continued to update our existing website, Facebook page and Instagram account.

BAPTISTS TOGETHER

The local Baptist ministers continued to meet monthly and led quarterly Praise and Prayer gatherings for local Baptist churches. They also jointly led a Cambridge-wide ‘Try Praying’ mission initiative in April 2020.

Annual report 2020, Zion Baptist Church

ECUMENICAL WORK

Centre of Cambridge Churches Together Forum

The forum normally meets 3 times a year and organises 2 major events a year. Two of ZBC’s deacons (Geoff and Jane) attend as representatives of ZBC. Unfortunately, in 2020 many events had to be cancelled because of the pandemic. A service was held on Sunday 26[th] January in the week of prayer for Christian unity – the speaker was Rev’d Nigel Uden, Moderator of the URC Churches. But it was not possible to have any further meetings during the year.

LOOKING AHEAD – What major things will 2021 bring for the life and mission of ZBC?

Serving local organisations, more accessible, and flexible buildings

Our weekly Pensioners’ Group that has met for many years has come to a natural end, as the number of attendees has declined over the years.

We hope to see the postponed work of removing some of the pews and installing a new internal lift undertaken by the summer of 2021, which will enable us to rededicate the building for ministry and mission later in the year.

We hope to form the necessary partnerships, to enable us to intentionally engage with local businesses/organisations through initiatives like Mill Road Chaplaincy, and amass the critical mass of workers and volunteers we need, to make the most of the significant numbers of people we engage with through our community work.

To conclude, we are thankful to have supported each other and served our wider community through a combination of in person and online gatherings, whilst living through the challenges of a global pandemic. We look forward to the year to come, as we continue to seek to be good neighbours to those that surround our church buildings, the homes we reside in, and the spaces we study, volunteer and work in.

March 2021 Leadership Team (Trustees)

Zion Baptist Church Accounts for the yeqr ended 31 D¢c¢mber 2020 Contents and Church information Cohtents Independent Exominer s Report R¢ceipts and Payments Accounts 2and3 Statement of Assets arKI Liabilities Notes to the Accounts 5t09 Current Minister Rev d &ile Richards (Trustee) Current Deacons Geoff Mam Jane Mann Ro9er Wright Derek Wall (Trustee) (Trustee) (Trustee) (Trustee unti19 March 2021) Charity Re9istration mber 1162105 Address l East kood thmbridge CBI 18D Independent examiner Ian Shipley FCCA Prentis a Co LLP 115c Milton Road G]mbrid9e CB4 IXE

Zion Baptlst ChLr¢h Page I Accounts for the year thl¢d 31 t*umb¢r 2020 Independgnt ExonNn¢r's Report To the Tnthes of Zl¢>n Baptisf ayjreh I report to the tru£tees on My examimtion of the accounts of the Church for the year eThded 31 December 2a20 set out on p2ges 2 to 9. Responsibillti¢s basis of report As the Church's trustees you are r¢sponsible fer the wewation of the accounts in accordanrx with th¢ requirements of the Chorities Art 2011 ('the Act,). I report in respect of my exdmitr)2tion of the Church's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carryng Out my exomirotion I have f ollowed all the applicable Dire¢titsns given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of th¢ Act. Indep¢ndeht ¢xaminer's statemeftt I have completed my exami110n. I conf irm that no ntET11 mtters have come to my attention in eonnection with the exami0 giving me cause to believe that in Th3t¢r1 respect.. - accountiThJ records were not kept in respect of the Church as rwuired by section 130 of the Aet.. or the accounts do not accord with those records. r have no concerns and hove come across no other Thjtters in connection with the examirnition to which attention should be drawn in ihis report in order to emble a proper understondir9 of the accounts to be reached. lan Shipley FCCA Prentis & Co LLP 115c Milton Road Cambridge C84 IXE IV LOTr

Zion Boptist Chwch Page 2 Accounts for th¢ year ttsded 31 fJec•nber 2020 P¢¢ipt$ and payments ac¢tht$ (l} 2D20 Total Funds 2019 Desigmted Tolal Funds Funds igmted Funds Fund Fund t¢$ General +Md ts¢d Ful eceipts (Yferin9S Ta% recoveries Donatio ond other Inconp echarges ents received 11,261 379 67 11.640 2 J13 12,754 2.559 2.760 3.912 89.847 566 142 13.322 2,701 2.760 3,912 89,847 5233 86.546 5233 0 86y6 rotdl 105.856 446 106?02 111,832 710 112542 Payments Mithistry Admitsstrtstion ChapEI upkeep Missionary gsvirg Property costs Oth¢r donatiorns 28fi47 10.372 37.185 1.330 30.322 159 434 29XJ81 10.372 37.185 1330 30.322 159 2B.966 10.B14 51,663 2.130 31.481 634 1.504 30.470 10.614 51.663 2,130 31.481 634 io li 12 Total 108.0 434 108.449 125,688 t.504 127,192 IDefiLiysurplus for the year Funds broh fwwd -2.159 130.528 12 -2 J47 1.915 132,443 -13,856 144,384 -794 -14.650 2,709 147P93 Funds carrivJ forword 128369 1,927 130,296 130.528 1,915 132,443 (Mte 13) (note 13)

Zion Baptist ClwJrch Page 3 Accounts for the year ond¢d 31 December 2020 Rec¢lpts ond poyrn¢nts •Jccounts (2) 2020 2019 Auxiliary Funds Receipts Pensioners, f ellowship H8 2,331 448 2,331 Payments Pensioners, fellowship Toddlers 1,311 3.071 1,316 3.071 Deficit for the year Fd5 brou9ht forward -868 3,978 -740 4.718 Funds carried forwrd 3.110 3,978 Summary General ond Desi9fKited Funds Auxiliary Funds 130,296 132,443 3.110 3,978 Total f unds carried forword 133,406 136,421

ZI¢ Baptist Clwrch Page 4 Aceounts for the year ended 31 December 2020 Statem¢nt of Aseets ond Liabilities 2020 2019 Non Alonetary Assets 16 9.758.240 9.431,370 Assets and Liabilities Generol ond Designated Funds Barcloys Current account Cambridge ¢]1 Counties dekKJSit account Cash in 75,300 54.746 250 78,217 53,976 250 130,296 132,443 Auxiliory Funds Pemsioners, fellowship Toddlers 3,110 3,973 3.110 3.978 Total Assets and AccurywJlat¢d F(#MIs 133.406 136,421 The Reteipts Payments Aceounts. Stat¢rnt of Assets ond Liabilities M)tes to the Accounts seto t on p29es 5 to 9 for the year ended 31 December 2020 are as approved by the Trustees. Geoff Mann Trsre¢ 'li OCE .

Zion Baptist Chw¢h Pag¢ 5 ounts for th¢ y¢or ¢nd¢d 31 Decener 2020 Notes ts the Accouttts (l) A¢eothn9 Pol1•S Th¢s¢ ¢¢unt$ hove i%en prepared on a re¢typts and F¥ts bosis. 4tre no material OLrt*faMdiNJ liabilit$ at 31 Dec¢mber 2020. 2020 6ekval Desigmted Totol Fund Funds Funds 2019 Ger01 Designated Total Fund Funds Funds OFf¢rirys Gift aided Non gift atded 8J84 3PTi 269 LIO 8,453 3.187 10,234 2,520 568 10,802 2.520 11.261 379 11.640 12.754 568 13,322 Current year 67 2 J13 2,559 142 2.701 67 2,113 2,559 142 2.701 2020 2019 IMt8rÉ&t rÈceived Missiotrwy donations Other doMtion$ 770 941 1,219 770 2.760 Rechtyges 2020 2019 IDsumnce premium Lift repotrs 438 1.195 3,912 5233 3,912

Zion Baptist Church Page 6 Acctyjnts for the year ¢nded 31 December 2020 Notes to the Accounts (2) 2020 2019 Rents Re¢eived Jimmy's Cambrid9e 1837 buildiryj Warkworth Street 73.171 69,000 13,375 20,847 86,546 89,847 Ministry Minister Gross stipend Pthsion contributions 24,000 23,450 2,639 2,675 34 1,824 150 Ministerial expenses Ministry Pulpit supp 1,746 250 28.647 28,966 434 1,504 Pastoral f und 29,081 30.470 Adminlstration Administraters. salaries Copyi Food (wd CleAnI materials Independemt examirntion Postage and stationery Telephone Trdining 4,469 810 2,499 570 147 1,817 60 6,680 878 273 546 81 2.052 304 10,372 10.814

Zion Baptist Chur¢h Pa9¢ 7 A¢¢ouhts fop the year ended 31 Decemb¢r 2020 Notes to the Accounts (3) 2020 2019 Chapel Upkeep Cleaner's s]laries IT OJKI sound Insuronce Light and heot Miscelknneous Prof essionol f ees Repctirs Water Website 4.595 2,029 7,319 5.880 357 3,299 12,168 808 730 4.550 7,091 9,326 337 7,713 21,164 1.158 324 37,185 51,663 io Missionary 6iviNJ 8MS World Mission Home Mission 665 665 1,365 765 1,330 2,130 li Property Costs Arbury Road Jimmy's Warkworth Street 17,688 15,572 600 15,309 12,634 30.322 31,481 12 Other [tionS Other donations 159 634 159 634

Zion Baptist Church Page 8 A¢¢ounts for th¢ year ended 31 l>etember 2020 Notes to the A¢¢ounts (4) 13 Desi9natsd Funds 2020 Brought Receipts P(]yments fon¥ard Carried f orw(wd Choir Pastoral Fund Sunday school and Bible class 399 877 639 399 889 639 446 434 1,915 446 434 1,927 tsesignat¢d Funds 2019 Brou9ht Receipts Payments forvx]rd Carried forward Choir Pastordl Fwd Sunday school tmd Bible ekS 399 1.671 639 399 877 639 710 1.504 2.709 710 1,504 1,915 14 Related Party Transactions Geoff and Jane Momn, who ore deacons of the Church, are also trustees of Jimmy's Cambrid9e which paid a rent of £73,171 (2019 - £69,LM)) to the Church in the year. The Church rechar9ed costs to Jimmy's Cambrid9e totallirwj £5,233 (2019 - £3,912) They are also the owners of 70 Arbury Rood which the churth rents from them for their minister to live in. The omouht paid to them for the remt of this property in the year was £14,4C(J (2019- £13,2CQ)

Zlon 8ap*ist Church Page 9 Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2020 Note5 to the Accounts (5) 15 Staff Costs Rev'd Gale kichards, a trustee, was ld in the year in her role as the Church's minister. ExpeSe$ totallin9 £34 (2019 - £845) were reimbursed to her. The staff cosfs were: 2020 2019 Wages ap)d stslaries Other pension costs 33,064 2,639 34,680 2,675 35.703 37.355 The average weekly number of stoff employed during the yeor was 4 (2019 - 4) No mehiber of staff received emoluments of more than £60.QCQ 16 Non Monetary Assets 2020 2019 The Church is the benef icial owner (subje£t to the relevant trusts) of the followirg tsssets (at insured values), the legal title to which is held by the Church's cusfodian trustee, the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd.. Church premises Contents Monse Contents 9.160,826 144,799 441,565 11,050 8,851,040 142,800 426.633 10,897 9,758,240 9,431,370