PORTSMOUTH METHODIST CHURCH
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT for the year ending
31 AUGUST 2021
PORTSMOUTH METHODIST CHURCH Year ended 31 August 2021
1 Objectives and activities
In setting our objectives and planning our activities, the Church Council meets at least three times in each year, and gives careful consideration to the Charity Commissioners’ general guidance on public benefit and, in particular, to its supplementary public benefit guidance on advancing our objectives and conforms to the Charities Act 2011.
Our Mission is to follow the calling of the Methodist Church, to respond to the gospel of God’s love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission. We do this by pursuing the mission of God through worship, learning and caring, service and evangelism.
This is done for as many people as possible within the geographical area the Church serves by providing Christian worship, spiritual development, and pastoral care both to church members and to the wider communities in which they are located.
The Church supports the advancement of the Christian Faith through ecumenical liaison with other Christian groups.
2 Achievements and performance
This year has been a huge challenge for the church. The effect of the Covid pandemic and the regulations which have had to be followed from time to time including the cessation of public worship from time to time have seriously affected normal activities. Where allowed by Covid restrictions the church has continued its focus on Mission and Outreach with regular Christian Sunday Worship at our three centres (Copnor, Eastney and Trinity, Southsea)’ as well as Bible Study Groups and Fellowship Groups including Toddler Groups, Coffee Mornings, a Lunch Club, Ladies Groups and a Zimbabwe Fellowship. The Church also sponsors a lively Boys and Girls Brigade. The church has also sought to creatively engage with the community in new ways including the walking nativity in the Copnor area of Portsmouth that was well attended.
The Church also encourages the use of its premises by other faiths and the wider community. Users include Springwood Preschool, Phoenix Players, The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Lithuanian Community of the South Coast, Jade Dance School, Brownies and Guides, Choirs, the Women’s Institute and other occasional users.
When physical attendance has been restricted by the guidance issued by the Government because of Covid, we have found other ways to maintain our Christian Witness using the full range of social media and online communication.
2.1 Plans for future years
To continue to focus on mission activity that will lead new people into faith and so grow the number of Christians and to work with the Methodist Church on its evangelical programme. To focus on worship and spiritual development by a series of workshops and training events. To continue to make the best use of our buildings and support local initiatives.
3 Financial situation
During the year, the Church received total income of £59,377 and dispersed £83,421. Total assets carried forward were £162,449.
The trustees of the Church have every reason to believe that the Church is a going concern. There are no subsidiary undertakings. Trustees foresee a reduction in income and reserves due to the Covid pandemic that will significantly affect the financial position in the next year.
The Church has the following sources of funds: Regular donations from members and adherents, interest on investments and income from lettings which are still uncertain for next year.
These sums are used to fulfil the mission of the Church by bringing more people to Christ or by providing facilities that might enable this to happen.
3.1 Staff.
The church does not employ any staff directly. Presbyters, Deacons and Lay workers are employed by the East Solent and Downs Circuit and allocated to specific churches. Portsmouth Methodist Church pays an assessment to cover the Circuit cost.
3.2 Investment Policy and Performance
To comply with Methodist Standing Orders, monies for long term investment are lodged with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP). TMCP acts as custodian trustee for all large (over £20,000) bequests. These sums are invested in unitised investments or held on deposit. The investment returns are close to tracking the movements in the FTSE100 index. The deposit income mirrors the deposit rates available elsewhere. Portsmouth Methodist Church trustees’ investment policy is aligned with that of the CFB and TMCP because these organisations take into consideration the social, environmental and ethical considerations, both negatively and positively, that make investments suitable for the Methodist Church.
Short term deposits are lodged directly with the Central Finance Board (CFB).
It is the Church’s policy to manage the cash and investment resources of the Church so that a rate of return on investment – both by way of dividend and capital appreciation – is obtained at least as good as market rate considering the Church’s low appetite for risk.
3.3 Reserves level and policy
The unrestricted reserves readily available total £80,000 within which £50,615 has been designated for maintenance and repairs, £5,013 for mission with young people, £2,580 for organ maintenance, £968 for the Portsmouth Open Church Project to the homeless and £693 for Benevolent Purposes.
The Church has a reserves policy covering all its unrestricted funds which is reviewed annually. Our Reserves Policy is to hold at least six month’s expenditure in hand; this would amount to £40,000. Some of the restricted funds can be re-allocated to make up the shortfall of about £10,000.
4 Trustees’ responsibilities
For each financial year ending on 31st August the Trustees are required to prepare financial statements that give a true and fair view of the Church’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees must: • select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently • make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent • follow applicable accounting standards • prepare accounts to comply with the Charities SORP
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Church and enables them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the law. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Church and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
4.1 Risk
The Church is largely risk averse. Risks are managed by being aware of them, quantifying their impact not only in cost terms but in possible reputational or structural damage, minimising them by not taking them or by setting up control systems that report any significant change in the risk. The three significant risks that have been identified are: 1. Failure to meet the Circuit Assessment. This is managed by giving careful attention to balancing income and expenditure. 2. The Church ‘s main source of funding is from donations and lettings and there is a risk that either or both might fall. This risk is managed by holding sufficient reserves and
continually monitoring expenditure against budget. 3. Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. The Church’s policy is to adhere to the Methodist Church’s policy on Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults and to require all centres to comply with the Methodist Church’s Safeguarding policy. Regular safeguarding training is accessed from the Circuit to support the Church in complying with the policy.
5 Structure, governance, and management
The Church is an unincorporated association and is governed by the Methodist Church Act 1976, the Deed of Union and the Model Trust Deeds of the Methodist Church and was registered with the Charity Commissioners on 11 June 2018.
5.1 Structure
The Church is the co-ordinating charity for the three local centres based in Copnor, Eastney and Southsea. The Church is part of the East Downs and Solent Circuit which is the co-ordinating charity for local groups of churches, some of which are registered as independent charities and the balance of which are excepted charities. The Circuit is part of the Southampton District which is the co-ordinating charity for a group of contiguous Circuits. District decisions are made at the half yearly synod to which the Circuit appoints both lay and ordained representatives. The Methodist Conference meets once each year as the supreme denominational body for all Methodist Churches.
- Overall regulatory authority rests with the Methodist Conference. 2. The Connexional Office implements decisions made by Conference and is also responsible for the stationing of presbyters and deacons (collectively known as ministers) in individual Circuits. 3. Connexional decisions are passed via Districts to Circuits for local implementation by the Superintendent Minister, ministerial staff and Circuit Stewards, and authority is delegated to the Circuit Meeting for certain matters. 5. The Circuit Meeting passes regulatory control down to Church Councils for local implementation by the presbyter, the Church Stewards, and other officers, and this regulatory authority is then exercised by Church Councils as Managing Trustees of their charity.
5.2 Purpose of the Church
The Church is an expression within Portsea Island, Portsmouth of the Connexional character of the Methodist Church.
The purposes of the Methodist Church are and shall be deemed to have been since the date of the union the advancement of:
a. the Christian faith in accordance with the doctrinal standards and the discipline of the Methodist Church, b . any charitable purposes 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 and d. any purpose for the time being of any charity being a charity subsidiary or ancillary of the Methodist Church.
The primary purpose of this Church is to advance the mission of the Church in Portsmouth
5.3 Governance
The Church operates within a statutory framework of regulation and seeks to ensure that it follows Methodist Standing Orders. It relies on the Connexional Office at 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR to provide guidance on changes that could affect the Circuit.
The Church Council meets at least three times each year and is the decision-making body for the Church. Membership of the Church Council is made up of Presbyters Supernumerary Ministers and Deacons who are allocated to the Church by the Circuit, representatives from each Centre and Forum Groups chosen annually by each church, Circuit Stewards who are appointed annually to ensure that all areas of the Church’s work is appropriately represented.
There are specific groups within the Church that focus on Mission and Outreach, Worship and Spirituality, Pastoral and Property and Finance who report to and are accountable to the Church Council. They also formulate policies and proposals that will advance the Mission of the Church and bring to the Church Council for approval.
The Church Council has delegated day to day operations of each centre to local Centre Managements Teams.
6 Reference and Administrative Details
6.1 Name of the charity
Portsmouth Methodist Church.
6.2 Charity registration number
1178715, registered in England and Wales
6.3 Principal Office
c/o The Manse, 16 Cousins Grove, Southsea. PO4 9RP. Telephone 01243 371806
6.4 Church Presbyter
Reverend Ray Goddess
6.5 Church Treasurer
Mr Alan Haynes
6.6 Names of Trustees
The following served as trustees throughout part or all of the year 20202021 or were trustees at the time of this report being approved:
Mrs L Adamson, Mrs R Ashman, Mr T De-Graft Estun, Mrs D Foster, Mr A Haynes, Mrs S Haynes, Mrs B Hayward, Mrs F Jenkins, Miss J Mason, Mrs C Matthews, Reverend J Mills, Mrs B Noakes, Mr S Pomeroy, Mr A Riley.and Mrs Diane Williamson
No trustee claims exemption from disclosure of his or her name here.
Name of Church PORTSMOUTH METHODIST CHURCH No 1178715 Declarations and Scrutiny I confim that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2021 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church trustees. Signature of treasurer ... Date. Name and address of treasurer ... Post Code...... Prosentatlon to the Church trusteeg I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2021 Weree presenied to the meeting of the Church tru tees hel on.3.ALR4{.& gog2 Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chair of the meeb'ng . Date Independent Examlner's Report to the Trustees ofthe Portsmouth Methodist Church Charfty Number 1178715 Responslbllltles and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the acLounts of the Portsmouth Methodist Church for the yaAr andéd 34 August 2021 set out on paoès 1 to 5 As the Church's trustees, you are responsible for Ine preparatlon of the accounts In accordan wi(h the requlrements of the Charities AGt 2011 ('the Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Church'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 the Charity Commission under section 145{5)(b) of the Act. 2015 thjrth R P.xls 4d5
Name of Church PORTSMOUTH mHoDIST CHURCH No 1178715 Independent Examinerfs Statement I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gNe me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the -xamination to which attention should be drawn in Ihis report in order to enable a proper nderstsnding of the accounts to be reached. I have nol obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts. bank balanS and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. bignature OT Inaepena8nt examiner Name of independent examiner Mrs Joanne Gregory Relevant professional qualrfication of independent examiner Name of fim (where appropriate) East Solent and Downs Methodist Circuit Address Circuit Office, 19r21 High Street, Emsworth, Hants Post Code P010 7AQ Date delete or circle as appropriate Sep-20 2015 ¢hurth R )r Pjls 5of5