Christ the Cornerstone Ecumenical Partnership charity number 1202248 # **Annual Report and Accounts of ‘Christ the Cornerstone Ecumenical Partnership’ Trustees** ## **For the year ended 31[st] December 2023** Christ the Cornerstone Ecumenical Partnership was registered by The Charity Commission for England and Wales on 8[th] March 2023. It is a ‘Charitable Incorporated Organisation’. This charity did not become operational until 1[st] May 2024, when it replaced an existing charity, ‘The Ecumenical Partnership of Christ the Cornerstone’ charity number 1122083. During 2023, the trustees met to prepare and agree rules, procedures and policies ready for when it would replace the previous charity. As the Charitable Incorporated Organisation was not operational in 2023, it had no income or expenditure, so it does not have any accounts to report for that year. (It did not take over the assets and liabilities of the previous charity until 1[st] May 2024.) ## **Reference and administrative information** : Charity name: Christ the Cornerstone Ecumenical Partnership Charity registration number: 1202248 (from 8.3.23) Office address: 300 Saxon Gate West, Milton Keynes, MK9 2ES The initial trustees serving from April 2023: Rev Canon Francis Higgins (ex officio) Rev George Mwaura (ex officio) Rev Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga (ex officio) Philip Allsop Ade Amos (nominated trustee) Peter Cope Cathy Hampton Grace Hunting Tabbie Macharia (Nominated Trustee) Cheryl Montgomery Peter Steeds Ade Adeyemi was appointed as an additional trustee by the congregational meeting on 10.9.23. He was appointed treasurer at trustees’ meeting 28.9.23. Christ the Cornerstone Ecumenical Partnership charity number 1202248 Peter Cope was acting chair during 2023. (A permanent chair, Cheryl Montgomery, was appointed from April 2024) The CIO held no bank accounts during 2023 as it was not operational. There were no accounts to be independently examined. ## **Structure, governance and management** Five denominations have covenanted together in order to establish Christ the Cornerstone’s Ecumenical Partnership. - The Baptist Union of Great Britain - The Church of England - The Methodist Church - The Roman Catholic Church - The United Reformed Church It is open to other denominations to participate by agreement with the sponsoring body. Membership of the Partnership is open to all Christians of good standing with their own denomination. The objects of the Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP), as stated in the constitution are, for the public benefit: - to advance the Christian faith in accordance with the principles and practices of the Participating Denominations in the Area of Benefit. In furtherance of this object, but not otherwise, the LEP may engage in a range of activities, either on its own or with others, including (but not restricted to): - a) The celebration of public worship in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions set out in the Partnership Agreement entered into by the Participating Denominations; - b) The teaching of the Christian faith; - c) Mission and evangelism; - d) Pastoral work, including visiting the sick and the bereaved; and - e) The provision of facilities with a Christian ethos for the local community, including (but not restricted to) the elderly, the young and other groups with special needs. - f) to advance the Christian faith in accordance with the principles and practices of the Participating Denominations by making grants to organisations in the UK and overseas. The structure for governance is described in the constitution (approved by the Charity Commission) and in the operating procedures agree by trustees on 28[th] September 2023. The constitution and operating procedures are taken from model documents provided by the National Ecumenical Officers of our parent denominations. Christ the Cornerstone Ecumenical Partnership charity number 1202248 The Partnership Arrangement we have is that recommended by the local Ecumenical Oversight Group. The decision making bodies are: - the board of trustees - a leadership team, agreed on 24[th] October 2023 consisting of our 3 ministers, chair of trustees, secretary to trustees and treasurer. - The congregational meeting A core finance group has been set up to oversee the introduction of new bank accounts and to recommend financial rules. The trustees agreed to be guided by the Financial rules and procedures of the previous Ecumenical Partnership until these revisions are made. The core finance group comprises the treasurer, stewardship secretary and an additional trustee. The board of trustees will be responsible for all Church finance, its management and control, including the appointment of a treasurer. The board of trustees will be responsible for ensuring that accounting records are kept, which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. The board of trustees will also be responsible for safeguarding the charity’s assets and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The board of trustees will also be required to ensure that the financial statements are examined by an independent examiner or auditor prior to presentation to the Annual Congregational Meeting. The trustees will need to work closely with related partners: the Cornerstone Trust, owners of the building, and Cornerstone Trading (MK) Limited, who manage the day-today activities of the building, let rooms, run the Cornerstone Café and the Cornerstone Shop. We hold our mission ‘ **to create an oasis of hope in Central Milton Keynes** ’ at the heart of all we do. We wish to encourage and implement real change, leading to opportunities: - to develop the understanding of Christian discipleship within our ecumenical context; - to encourage Christian learning at all stages of our lives; - to encourage young Christians on their road to faith; - to promote social justice; - to review the ways we worship together; - to enhance the ways we serve the communities of central Milton Keynes. Christ the Cornerstone Ecumenical Partnership charity number 1202248 ## **Some dates and actions to note in 2023:** - **5.2.23** - Congregational meeting approves draft constitution (including list of initial trustees) and Partnership Agreement - **28.2.23** - CIO application sent to Charity Commission **8.3.23** - Charity Commission approve application - **20.6.23** – Draft role descriptions for officers agreed by trustees **25.7.23** – Leadership team membership agreed by trustees - **28.9.23** – Core finance group set up and Operating Procedures agreed by trustees. (Ade Adeyemi (treasurer), Janet Trimnell (stewardship secretary) and Peter Steeds (trustee)) - **20.11.23** – List of assets to transfer from EC to CIO drawn up. New banking arrangements discussed. Arrangements for transfer of staff initiated. (TUPE) The board of trustees have worked with great purpose to plan for taking over the responsibilities of the previous Ecumenical Council. Preparations took longer than expected, but were being done thoroughly. Arranging new bank accounts, in particular, was a more complicated exercise than first thought. We would like to thank everyone for their hard work in 2023, leading up to a successful hand over on 1[st] May 2024. This move to become a CIO has been encouraged by our parent denominations and most of the other Ecumenical Partnerships in Milton Keynes are doing the same . However, it is important to note that this is an organisational change **– our heart and mission as a Christian community and oasis of hope in Central Milton Keynes will definitely not be changing!** Peter Cope (Acting Chair of Trustees 2023) Cheryl Montgomery (Chair of trustees from April 2024) ## 18.8.24 ## **Statement of Financial Activity for the year ended 31[st] December 2023** Christ the Cornerstone Ecumenical Partnership (1202248) **Income £0** There was no income in 2023 as the charity was not yet operational ## **Expenditure £0** Christ the Cornerstone Ecumenical Partnership charity number 1202248 There was no expenditure in 2023 as the charity was not yet operational **Net movement in funds £0 Total funds brought forward £0 Total funds carried forward £0 Current assets (as at 31.12.23) none Current liabilities none Restricted funds of the charity none Unrestricted funds of the charity none.**