2022-07-31-annual-report

Covenant Love Church

Registered Charity Number NIC100940

Annual Report & Statement of Accounts

For the year to July 31st 2022

ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED JULY 31st 2022

The Trustees for Covenant Love Church are pleased to submit their report and accounts for the period 1st August 2021 to 31st July 2022.

Achievements and Performance

The Year in Statistics:

• [52 Regular Sunday Meetings incorporating worship, prayer, and sermons. ]

• [Midweek Bible Studies and Prayer meetings continued as normal. ]

• [Additional via livestream digital events were held with members and guests joining. ]

• [The congregation is excellent at meeting needs by offering prayer support and practical ] assistance where appropriate.

• [Scheduled seminar days to equip people to live the Christian faith and facilitate emotional ] healing were largely transferred to zoominars during lockdown.

• [Several guest speakers joined us via zoom ]

• [On going outreach into the community including and supply of hampers to homes and those in ] need at Christmas.

• [This reporting year also saw us host in an open air event in celebration of HM The Queen’s ] Jubilee, with live music and tables were set out with party food as a service to the local community. There was a good attendance and a strong family atmosphere of celebration. Prayers were made.

• [Pastoral care to local community demonstrating the love of Christ, including prayer for sick and ] visitation continues.

• [Visitation of congregants housebound and in nursing home is carried out regularly. ]

• [Covenant Love Pastors continued to be available for weddings, funerals and baby dedications ]

• [Development and maintenance of friendly and cooperative relations with other Churches and ] ministries remain a valuable priority.

Meeting Schedule

We continue to gather twice weekly, Sunday mornings and midweek Wednesday evenings, to meet the ongoing spiritual and practical needs of the congregation and pray for the needs in the community. As noted above under the constrained conditions of Covid lockdown these were transferred to live-streaming. When it was permissible to meet publicly during the Covid 19 crisis this was done by implementing strict social distancing measures and providing sanitisation stations. Lockdown officially ended 19 July 2021. Since then public meetings have continued as normal.

Impact

The Church continues to have a valuable presence in the community making a positive contribution to the lives of those in the area as we provide spiritual guidance and emotional support to the unchurched in times of difficulty or everyday life. Our approach remains flexible to reflect our resources and membership. The Church’s presence is welcomed by the community even by those who do not attend regularly but just to our special events. It remains a valuable point of social contact and our members frequently stop to chat to familiar faces from the local community.

Membership

There are approximately around 30 people that form part of our growing Church life together.

Assets

The Church rents it’s property at the continuing cost of £700 per month. Assets are minimal and include around 100 chairs, sound and music equipment, 3 computers with 2 printers, 2 vacuum cleaner, cutlery and china. Combined value under £2000.

Maintenance and use of Building

Remains the Landlords responsibility. In good and serviceable repair. CLC rented premises comprise the ground floor of King Building divided into a sanctuary, a hospitality area and a quiet room. Highly adaptable in its use.

Financial Review

Expenditure for the year was £27,173 compared with £18,159 the previous year.

The year concluded with cash funds of £-1,275 compared with £-615 previous year.

Donations were £26,513 and compared with £19,263 respectively for the previous year.

A full breakdown is included in the Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31st July 2022 provided by the Independent Assessor, A Burton & Co included in this Trustees Report.

No major risks identified and no concerns registered by the Independent Assessor

The Churches Financial Policy complies with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, the Charity Commission guidelines “Internal Financial Controls for Charities” and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement for Recommended Practice (Revised 2005).

The General Fund is unrestricted and used for the daily running of the Church.

Reference and Administrative Details

Charity Name: Covenant Love Church

Charity Number: 100940

Principal Address: 156-164 Albertbridge Road , Belfast, BT5 4GS.

Charity Trustees as of 31st July 2022:

• [Mr Gary Roy Chettleburgh ]

• [Mrs Liz Moffat ]

• [Dr Sharon Stone ]

• [Mr Greg Black ]

• [Pastors/Senior Leaders ]

• [Pastor Kevin Sambrook ]

• [Pastor Rose Sambrook ]

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document and Constitution

Covenant Love Church is a Trust functioning as a Church for the purposes of the Advancement of Religion in The Christian Faith. It is Governed by a Declaration of Trust dated 14 September 2004. Original document held by Hewitt & Gilpin Solicitors, Thomas House, 14-16 James Street South, Belfast, BT2 7GA.

Trustee Management and Selection

Day to day running of the Church is overseen by the two Senior Leaders, Kevin & Rose Sambrook and a small leadership team drawn from its membership. The Trustees formally meet annually to receive the report of Finances and activities during the reporting year. Last meeting was in May 2023. In addition regular contact is maintained and feed back given on progress of The Church’s operation and ministry throughout the year for monitoring, assessment and input.

New Trustees must be approved by the unanimous consent of the Continuing Trustees under the powers give them in the Declaration of Trust.

Objective and Activities

Charitable Objectives

Covenant Love Church is a local Church meeting the spiritual and pastoral needs of the local community and society at large. Our purpose is to, advance the Christian Religion,to provide and promote pastoral care and compassionate support within the local community, to carry out such other charitable purposes as the trustees in their discretion determine.

Public Benefit Statement

The Trustees of Covenant Love Church confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 17(5) of the Charities Act 2012 to have regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and that the public benefit requirement has informed the activities of the Church in the year to 31st July 2021.

In assessing the benefit the Trustees have observed that Covenant Love Church has continued to function according to the three principle purposes outlined below:

Purpose 1. For the local community and society at large, benefits include a better understanding of who God is through the work and person of the Lord Jesus Christ, including the relationship between God and people, spiritual and emotional well-being which can have a positive effect on overall health. Other benefits include finding purpose and meaning in life, peace of mind, healthier interaction with others and the ability to make a positive contribution to society by recognising the values of honesty, integrity and compassion when dealing with others.

Purpose 2. The benefits that flow from this purpose include the conducting of weddings and funerals, baby dedications ( conducted in accordance with the principles of the Christian faith), prayer for a visitation of the sick, relief of hardship according to the Charity’s purpose and capability, parent and toddler groups, a place to talk through personal problems or concerns, and any other acts or services provided in the spirit of Christian compassion. The Charity’s beneficiaries are the community and society at large.

Purpose 3. The benefits that flow from this purpose can include support of Christian missions work at home or abroad financially or practically.

Summary of Main Activities

The Core Activities of the Church are:

• [ Weekly services on Sundays and Wednesdays which include worship, prayer and instruction ]

• [ On going prayer and practical support for Church members and members of the community. ]

• [ Hosting of special meetings with visiting speakers to encourage people in their walk of faith ]

• [ Holding seminars for training and equipping people in Christian life skills. ]

• [ Outreach at community events. ]

• [ Conducting of Weddings, funerals and baby dedications. ]

Our aim is to continue to provide opportunity for all people to learn about the Christian faith and for those who are Christians to grow and mature in their walk with God and become responsible members of their community. The ethos of the Church is to be accessible to people whilst providing a Biblical model for life and living.

Approved and adopted by the Board of Trustees and signed on their behalf on 25 May 2023.

Kevin Sambrook

Kevin Sambrook For The Board of Trustees