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2023-06-30-accounts

CONGO CHURCH ASSOCIATION

REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 285760

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE 2023

CONGO CHURCH ASSOCIATION YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE 2023 ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Page Description

TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE CONGO CHURCH ASSOCIATION (CCA) REGISTERED CHARITY NO 285760, OCTOBER 2023

The Congo Church Association, registered charity number 285760, is an unincorporated association governed by a written constitution.

Trustees

The Association's Chairman is appointed by the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Congo (Eglise Anglicane du Congo). Other trustees are appointed by the members at its Annual General Meeting. None of the officers or other trustees receives a salary or any other benefits from the Association.

The principal officers of the Association and their addresses are as follows:

Chairman Honorary Secretary Honorary Treasurer The role became vacant Mrs. Julia Dickens Mr. Paul Dickens on 11[th] January 2022 when Hockliffe Grange Hockliffe Grange Judy Rous retired to take up Hockliffe Hockliffe a post in Aru, DR Congo Bedfordshire LU7 9NL Bedfordshire LU7 9NL

Since the Association does not have a principal or registered office, all correspondence should be addressed to one of the above persons. The other trustees who served during the year were:

Elected (at 2022 AGM): Revd. Tim Naish, Revd. Matthew Grayshon, Martin Jennings,

Co-opted during the year: Revd. Peter Wood

Bankers: Bank accounts are held with Santander, 2 Triton Square, Regent's Place, London, NW1 3AN and with CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, Kent ME19 4JQ

Independent Examiner: Mr Anthony Williams, A J Carter and Co, Chartered Accountants, 22b High Street, Witney, Oxon OX28 6RB

1

The Association’s objects are:

a) To advance the Christian Religion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; b) In partnership with the Anglican Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo to relieve poverty and to provide for the needs of refugees and the displaced;

c) In partnership with the Anglican Church in the DRC and civil society there to promote and sustain schemes for peace and reconciliation, health, education and community development for the welfare and benefit of the population;

d) To relieve poverty among the clergy and former clergy of the Anglican Church and the widows and dependents of any such persons.

There being no Chairman at present, this report is from the Secretary

The Committee of the Association, who are also the Trustees, met 3 times during the year. All committee meetings were held on Zoom. The Annual General Meeting 2022 took place on 15th October 2022, both face to face and on Zoom. There was no informal session or presentation that day, as it followed hot on the heels of the 40th Anniversary Celebrations which had been held in August. Of note, though, was a discussion about the continuing value of Prayer Zooms. The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission in relation to public benefit in executing the activities of the Congo Church Association (CCA). CCA has disbursed grants from the General Fund and the Restricted Funds for purposes that are in line with the Objects of the Association. The same pattern of disbursing funds has continued, notably awarding equal grants to the dioceses, to the Provincial Department for Mission and Evangelism and to the Provincial Youth and Children’s Department as well as 7 bursaries for theological education at the Anglican University of Congo (UAC).

CCA’s grants support a wide range of activities undertaken by the Anglican Church of Congo (EAC). Despite the challenges caused by ongoing serious insecurity, population displacement and violence, a remarkable number of ordinary activities have continued. For instance, CCA grants have supported the following:

Sometimes recipients have chosen to carry over their grant so that a bigger sum would be available in a subsequent year, and several of those above included such sums.

(NB: Subsequent applications for 2022 grants have been received from:

These will appear in the accounts for 2023-24, and show that almost all dioceses are now catching up with their projects and grant applications.)

Trustees carry out regular reviews of policies in line with Charity Commissioners guidelines on compliance. One outcome has been to improve the quality of accounting and reporting on the use of funds sent to DRC.

Project reporting is essential before a new proposal can be considered; each proposal must be in line with the Objects of the Association; and the Trustees have been reminding beneficiaries of the need to account well for monies received. New reporting forms have helped a great deal with this, and good accounting is becoming standard, often with wonderful pictures and stories of the benefits gained.

2

Restricted gifts provided, amongst other things, support for particular dioceses and ministries; the Peace Centre at Rwampara; the building of a new school in Bunia; the orphanage at Butembo; opening of new churches in Goma; clergy families and orphans; youth ministry; and palliative care work in Aru Diocese.

The highlight of the year was the 40th Anniversary Celebration. Almost all the bishops were in the UK for the Lambeth 2022 Conference, with their wives, and it was a golden opportunity to gather with trustees, and UK friends, all under one roof, before they went their separate ways, either for UK visits or to return to DRC.

As can be seen from Note 3 on Page 10, this gave rise to rather higher-than-normal governance and administration costs for the year, but the time we were able to spend together was invaluable. As we reported last year, it was wonderful to renew friendships, meet new people, and hear stories first hand.

The trustees are grateful to many people who supported this venture, hosted bishops overnight, or provided help with onward travel.

For many of those who came on the day, or who met bishops as they went on to meet other communities around the UK, in Ireland, and on Jersey, this was the first opportunity to meet Congolese people and hear their stories direct. This experience has had a profound effect on many people. For example, Oxford diocese was inspired to launch a diocese-wide Harvest Appeal for the Anglican Church in DRC, funds which were used to enhance the project grants for the year.

Trustees have been exercised by the need to keep news and information up to date, and freely available. We are grateful to Judy Acheson for gathering material from all the dioceses, and editing a wonderful newsletter – the first for some time.

Regular prayer points for the monthly Zoom Prayer Sessions are widely circulated and help to keep the Congolese story in the forefront of our minds.

Finally, some work has been done to put in place a new platform for the website which will enable us to populate it more easily in 2023/4. Managing the dissemination of news and information is a constant challenge for the Trustees, and we are always grateful to volunteers who help with this.

CCA will continue to work in close partnership with the Anglican Church of Congo, encouraging prayer, interest and support for their vital ministries from our supporters. We know that EAC leaders will steward well the resources given by overseas friends, whether large or small. CCA Trustees are very appreciative of the ongoing generous financial support and interest shown by many over the past year, and we look forward to continuing this further in the coming year.

Julia Dickens, Secretary, on behalf of the CCA Trustees October 2023

Treasurer’s commentary on the accounts – Paul Dickens (Hon Treasurer)

Introduction

The purpose of this commentary is to explain and to amplify the Congo Church Association’s accounts for the year ended 30th June 2023. These accounts, which follow on pages 6 to 11, show the Association’s activities over the last year and its assets at the end of June 2023.

At the year end the balance of our General Fund, representing money which the trustees can use to further the Association’s objects, stood at about £16,143.05. £11,400 of this is earmarked for unpaid diocesan grants and we keep a reserve of £5,000 for emergencies. We are immensely grateful to all our donors.

The Association’s other funds can only be used for pre-determined purposes. A surplus or deficit on these funds, and changes in the value of our total net assets, will often result from timing differences between receipt and distribution of income.

3

Income

Almost all of the Association’s income (99%) comes from donations, with the remainder coming from investments and interest.

As in previous years, our donations fell into 2 main categories. Specific donations are those which can only be used for a pre-determined purpose which the donor has identified. Where there are no restrictions upon how a donation may be used, it is classed as general. General donations (£19,647) are quite a bit lower than the last two years. It should also be noted that the Association regularly receives relatively large donations from two or three individuals.

Income includes tax both recovered and recoverable from the Inland Revenue for the current financial year. Since we rely far more on donations than on investment income, the Gift Aid Regulations have proved very beneficial to the Association.

Expenditure

Almost all of our expenditure relates directly to the Association's objectives. A few specific items (such as payments of bursaries to the Theological Faculty at UAC (“UACThF”, previously known as “ISThA”)) are separately identified in the Income and Expenditure account. The remainder is analysed in Notes 2 and 6, which splits it between that which was met from the General Fund (Note 2) and that funded by specific donations or income from restricted funds (Note 6).

Where a donor has specified a purpose for which their donation should be used, then, so long as it is within the Association’s objects, it will be accepted and allocated to that cause. The largest item met from our General Fund is support for UACThF. We continue to apply the scheme agreed by the AGM in November 2012, as amended from time to time at subsequent AGMs. After keeping a £5,000 reserve, the funds available in General Fund will be applied as follows:- firstly to pay for 7 bursaries at the UACThF; secondly to be divided into a number of equal portions (the exact number has changed from year to year) and allocated in equal shares to the dioceses and certain Provincial Departments, who will be invited to submit proposals for projects where the funds available might be spent. The committee has discretion to include Congo Brazzaville and other areas as separate dioceses and to “tweak” the number and destination of provincial grants where appropriate. In this way, the dioceses are treated equally and the Association can better monitor the use of its funds. Administrative and financial expenses remain at a very low level (under 1% of total income). The key items included under this heading are the fee charged by our independent examiner, and the costs of producing and distributing the newsletter. The newsletter is a vital part of the Association’s work, being one of the few means people have of finding out about the church in the Congo. This year there is an additional charge for redesigning the website.

Assets

Investments are stated at their market value on the balance sheet date (30[th] June 2023). The only investments which have to be valued as a result of this policy are those in the CBFCE Investment Fund. These investments have increased in value by about £617 as share prices have moved upwards.

Reserves

The statement of funds (note 6) shows how our assets may be used, the General Fund representing that portion which can be used for any purpose which falls within the Association’s objects. The Kisangani Clergy Children’s Fund represents shares and moneys deposited in CBF Funds on behalf of the Diocese of Kisangani, together with income on these investments. Income from the General Endowment is credited to the General Fund as in previous years. Interest received on the UACThF Endowment is used as a contribution towards our UACThF bursaries.

Poverty in the Congo makes it vital that the Church gives support to retired clergy. Until recently, the Association held two pension funds. Firstly, one for the ordinary clergy (Clergy Pension Fund) which is funded both by special donations and from general funds. By agreement with Archbishop Masimango and the House of Bishops, this fund was distributed to Province in June 2020 to enable a house to be purchased in Goma, the income from which will be used to support retired clergy. The second pension fund is for three bishops, who have themselves contributed to it – one bishop took his entitlement during 2015/16 and one during 2016/17.

4

This Trustees’ Report was approved by the Trustees on 7[th] October, 2023 and signed on their behalf by:

Julia Dickens (Hon Secretary)

CONGO CHURCH ASSOCIATION YEAR ENDED 30[TH] JUNE 2023 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Congo Church Association for the year ended 30[th ] June 2023.

Responsibilities and Basis of Report

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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.

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 charity 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.

A P Williams FCCA CTA A J Carter & Co Chartered Accountants

22b High Street Witney Oxon OX28 6RB

…………………………………………….. 2023

5

CONGO CHURCH ASSOCIATION ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE 2023 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES


Notes
INCOMING RESOURCES

Voluntary income

General Donations & Subscriptions
Other Specific Donations
Total voluntary income
Investment income – bank interest/dividends
Total incoming resources
1

RESOURCES EXPENDED

Charitable activities
Project grants to the Dioceses and
Province
UACThF Bursaries
Other UACThF support
Other donations
Admin/publicity/governance costs
3
Total charitable activities
2 & 6

Net incoming resources

Transfers
2
Increase in value of Investments
Total Funds brought forward
Total Funds carried forward		 2022- 2023
2021-2022
General
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
£
19,530.20
0.00
19,530.20
26,715.30
0.00
110,360.94 110,360.94
82,199.00
19,530.20
110,360.94 129,891.14
108,914.30
117.41
817.11
934.52
813.15
19,647.61
111,178.05 130,825.66
109,727.45
17,000.00
0.00
17,000.00
8,200.00
12,462.96
0.00
12,462.96
12,193.23
0.00
3,000.00
3,000.00
2,750.00
242.72
117,029.78 117,272.50
98,991.67
2,940.24
0.00
2,940.24
1,336.48
32,645.92
120,029.78 152,675.70
123,471.38
(12,998.31)
(8,851.73) (21,850.04)(13,743.93)
445.07
(445.07)
0.00
0.00
0.00
617.68
617.68
(1,033.62)
28,696.29
50,041.93
78,738.22
93,515.77
16,143.05
41,362.81
57,505.86
78,738.22

6

CONGO CHURCH ASSOCIATION ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE 2023 BALANCE SHEET



ASSETS
Investments
4


Cash at Bank and in hand
Current (Santander & CAFCash)
Deposit (CAFGold)
Debtors
5

Creditors - (independent examiners)
TOTAL NET ASSETS

STATEMENT OF FUNDS
Kisangani Clergy Children's Fund
Bishops’ Pensions
Gen. Endowment
Other restricted funds
General fund *
TOTAL
6

Approved by the Trustees on 7thOctober, 2023
and signed on their behalf by:		 30/06/2023
30,148.81


24,915.27


3,131.78
58,195.86
(690.00)
57,505.86
17,015.30
826.64
17,104.67
6,416.20
16,143.05
57,505.86		 30/06/2022
29,436.53
46,113.88
3,865.81
79,416.22
(678.00)
78,738.22
16,438.55
732.04
16,786.30
16,085.04
28,696.29
78,738.22

Martin Jennings (Trustee)

[The notes on pages 9 to 11 form part of these accounts ]

7

ACCOUNTING POLICIES for the year ended 30[th] June 2023

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgments and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

a) Basis of Preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

b) Income Recognition Policies Items of income are recognised and included in the accounts when all of the following criteria are met:

c) Interest Receivable Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

d) Fund Accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the Charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the Charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for the particular areas of the Charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the Charity.

e) Expenditure and Irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

f) Stock

Stock is included at the lower of cost or net realisable value. Donated items of stock are recognised in income when the items are sold.

g) Debtors

Debtors and prepayments are recognised at the settlement amounts.

h) Cash at Bank and in Hand Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

i) Creditors and Provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the Charity has an obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably.

8

CONGO CHURCH ASSOCIATION ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30[TH] JUNE 2023 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

1. INCOMING RESOURCES

Income includes tax recoverable (but not recovered) from the Inland Revenue for the current year ( £3,131.78 ).

The aggregate of donations made to the Association during 2022/23 by its Trustees is £2,615.00 .

2. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES - GENERAL FUND
Grants for Diocesan and Provincial projects (new system) 17,000.00
UACThF – student bursaries and other support 12,462.96
Emergency funds for Diocese of Kamango for replacement computer 242.72
TOTAL 29,705.68
Transfers from restricted/designated funds to General Fund: 445.07
Interest from General Endowment

9

CONGO CHURCH ASSOCIATION ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30[TH] JUNE 2023 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

3. GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COSTS

AGM costs
Financial/Independent Examiner’s fees payable (2022/23 year)
Independent Examiner excess over estimate
40thAnniversary event & Bishops’ UK travel
Newsletters and postage
Bank charges
Internet service provider & Webmaster
Gift Aid adjustment		 2022-2023

37.50
690.00
12.00
1,370.39
119.35
63.00
498.00
150.00
2,940.24		 2021-2022
130.49
678.00
150.00
219.75
96.00
62.24
1,336.48
4. INVESTMENTS
CBF Church of England Deposit Fund
CBF Church of England Investment Fund		 2022-2023
£
10,321.14
19,827.67
**30,148.81 **		 2021-2022
10,226.54
19,209.99
29,436.53

Our investment in the CBF Church of England Investment Fund includes £9,607.84 held on behalf of the Kisangani Clergy Children’s Fund. The remainder is allocated to our General Endowment.

5. DEBTORS

5. DEBTORS
Taxation recoverable
FY 21-22
Taxation recoverable
FY 22-23		 30/06/2023
0.00
3,131.78
3,131.78		 30/06/2022
3,865.81
0.00
3,865.81

10

CONGO CHURCH ASSOCIATION ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE 2023 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
6. STATEMENT OF FUNDS
Restricted and Designated funds
Kisangani Clergy Children's Fund
Bishops’ Pensions
Gen. Endowment
Other restricted funds
Aru Diocese Gifts
Aru Theological Resources_(Note A)
Boga Diocese Gifts
Kamango Diocese Gifts
Provincial Youth Office Gifts
Rev. Bisoke personal support
Rev. Bisoke Peace Centre
Rev. Bisoke Building
Goma Diocese Gifts
Bp’s orphaned children education
(Note A)
Bp’s widow & children gen. support
(Note A)
DR Congo Displaced people
UACThF Gifts
Kisangani Diocese Gifts(Note B)
PEAC HQ in Kinshasa
Rev. Barozi studies
Rev. Gisore student studies
Bukavu Asst. Bishop support
Kindu Diocese Gifts
Kalima Diocese Gifts
Katanga Diocese Gifts(Note A)
Aru Archdeacon’s grandchildren
Chantal (Aru)
Aru Computers
Aru Palliative Care(Note A)
Aru Medical Resources(Note A)
Aru Service Medical Palliative care
Aru Lingala books
Draru studies(Note A)
Service Medical (Aru)
Service Medical house
Compassion Orphanage General
Chester Crisis Appeal (Note A)
General Fund(Note C)_		 Opening
Gain/
Closing
Balance at
Incoming
Expended
GF T/F out
loss
Balance at
01/07/22
30/06/2023
£
£
£
£
£
£
16,438.55
277.44
0.00
299.31
17,015.30
732.04
94.60
0.00
826.64
16,786.30
445.07
0.00
(445.07)
318.37
17,104.67

0.00
6,439.68
6,183.43
256.25
1,854.99
383.12
1,221.21
1,016.90
0.00
7,252.68
7,252.68
0.00
0.00
600.00
600.00
0.00
0.00
4,025.06
4,025.06
0.00
0.00
200.00
200.00
0.00
0.00
4,334.68
4,334.68
0.00
0.00
3,000.00
3,000.00
0.00
0.00
40,659.53
40,639.53
20.00
150.00
1,055.00
1205.00
0.00
2,267.02
7,761.00
10,028.02
0.00
0.00
4,000.00
2,000.00
2,000.00
0.00
3,000.00
3,000.00
0.00
500.00
0.00
0.00
500.00
0.00
125.00
0.00
125.00
24.00
48.00
72.00
0.00
0.00
1,100.00
1,100.00
0.00
0.00
3,076.25
2,881.25
195.00
0.00
331.50
319.50
12.00
0.00
3,543.00
3,543.00
0.00
37.50
450.00
487.50
0.00
0.00
300.00
300.00
0.00
0.00
200.00
200.00
0.00
0.00
100.00
0.00
100.00
8,930.23
934.38
9,864.61
0.00
87.83
156.25
0.00
244.08
0.00
2,881.25
2,881.25
0.00
0.00
7,250.00
7,250.00
0.00
468.75
0.00
0.00
468.75
96.50
2,658.00
2,754.50
0.00
0.00
1,000.00
1,000.00
0.00
420.00
3,496.56
3,686.56
230.00
1,248.22
0.00
0.00
1,248.22
28,696.29
19,647.61
32,645.92
445.07
16,143.05
78,738.22
130,825.66
152,675.70
0.00
617.68
57,505.86

Note A Funds held back at donor’s and/or donee’s request

Note B Retained pending decision by donor as to how the money is to be used Note C General Fund balance of £16,143.05 includes £5,000 reserves and £11,400 in agreed but as yet unpaid grants.

11