**BELVOIR CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND** **Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023** **Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC104242)** ## **BELVOIR CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT** The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023. ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** **BELVOIR** congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (Belvoir Presbyterian Church) 24C Dunseverick Avenue, Belfast, BT8 7EA Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC104242) ## **CHARITY TRUSTEES** The Charity Trustees who served during the year 2023 were: Rev Ben Walker Mr Brian Dunwoody Mr Harvey Glenn Mr William McClune Mr Robert Clarke ## **PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS** Minister: Rev Ben Walker Clerk of Session: Mr Brian Dunwoody Treasurer: Miss Catherine Riddell ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER** Mr. Ian Wright ## **BANKERS** Danske Bank Ltd, Forestside Branch, 27 Upper Galwally, Belfast BT8 6FX. ## **BELVOIR CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND** **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** ## **STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **The Kirk Session** The charity trustees of the congregation are the members of its Kirk Session. Under the congregation’s governing document, The Code, the book of the constitution and government of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Kirk Session seeks to watch over and promote the spiritual interest of the congregation and of persons not connected with any congregation who are within its bounds. It ensures pastoral care is in place in the congregation and seeks to further the contribution of the Church to Christian witness and service in the local community. The Kirk Session has delegated to its Congregational Committee the temporal affairs of the congregation including administering all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Members of the Kirk Session are ex-officio members of the Congregational Committee. The Kirk Session consists of the ordained minister and the ruling elders of the congregations. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the minister in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk session are held several times each year as required. To be chosen for the office of the eldership in the congregation a person must be a voting member and a regular attendant on its ordinances. The selection of those proposed to be called to the office can be either by the congregation or by the Kirk Session. Members are elected if they obtain the votes of two-thirds of those who vote. ## **Presbytery** Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland form of governance the corporate oversight of a congregation is the responsibility of a Presbytery which superintends generally the spiritual and temporal affairs of the congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Belvoir congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the South Belfast Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The membership of the Presbytery consists mainly of the active ministers of congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly, ministers who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by each of the Kirk Sessions of the congregations. ## **BELVOIR CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** ## **The General Assembly** The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church, representing in one body the whole Church and acting as its supreme legislative, administrative and judicial authority, in dealing with all matters brought before it. The General Assembly is normally constituted during the first week in June for worship and to conduct its business. At the end of business it is dissolved. The membership of the General Assembly consists mainly of the active ministers of each congregation, retired ministers and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. ## **DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE** The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion. Belvoir congregation of the Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, as a Reformed Church within the wider body of Christ is grounded in the Scriptures, and exists to love and honour God through faith in His Son and by the power of His Spirit, and to enable our members to play their part in fulfilling God’s mission to our world. ## **ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES** Sunday worship is at the heart of the life of the church family with services being held every week. Belvoir Presbyterian Church aims to provide a welcome for all. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is observed on several occasions during the year and baptisms are administered to children of believing parents and adults upon profession of faith. A Prayer and Bible Study meeting is held each Wednesday evening. On Friday evening the church operates a youth club which is well attended with young people from the surrounding community. In addition, a lunch is provided every month on a Tuesday for anyone who would like to come along. There church also runs an indoor Bowling group. Visits are made to those connected with the church who are sick or in need of friendship or pastoral support. ## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11:00 am; and also at 6:30pm. During the year the nature of the evening gathering has changed, often using video-based courses and providing refreshment, but continues to happen every week. The average weekly attendance at morning worship is 23. The mid-week meeting provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to study the scriptures and for a time of prayer. The youth group on Friday evenings remains very popular particularly with younger teenagers and primary school-aged children. The Tuesday lunches and bowling club continue to welcome people from across the community. ## **BELVOIR CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** Members of the congregation are visited by the minister and elders and church visitors. Those who are sick, elderly, the bereaved and those facing difficult circumstances are given special attention through regular visits and the provision of support, friendship and prayer. The congregation became vacant (without a minister) from the end of September 2017 and since then first, Rev Barry McCroskery and, more latterly, Rev Ben Walker have convened the vacancy providing preachers to cover for Sunday Services. The convener of the vacancy, along with Presbytery and the neighbouring congregation of Saintfield Road Presbyterian, has continued to explore various options for future ministry in Belvoir Presbytery which will be both sustainable and seek to reach out in new ways into the local community. ## **MISSION AND OUTREACH** The church continues to see its Tuesday Lunches, Youth Club, Bowling Club, as well as links with the local Primary School all as ways of reaching out into the local community and wider afield. The church is represented on the Board of Governors of Belvoir Park Primary School and there is regular attendance and participation by one of the trustees in the Wednesday school assembly. A special Harvest service was held in the church hosting the local Primary School choir and their family members. This year, the congregation marked it’s 60[th] anniversary. Literature and personal invitations were distributed and extended to many local residents, as well as past connections, to attend celebratory services in September. These were well attended. Belvoir congregation supports a number of missionaries and charities. It contributes to the denomination’s United Appeal and annual World Development Appeal, and the occasional special appeal for disaster relief. ## **PRESBYTERY** The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our vacancy convener and one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregation and the wider structures of the church. ## **GENERAL ASSEMBLY** The minister and one of our elders attended the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June. ## **PROPERTY** During 2023 the church manse was rented out and the income from this is being intentionally allocated towards both necessary work to the manse and potential future mission work in keeping with the charity’s purposes. ## **VOLUNTEERS** The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by serving on committees and helping with various church groups and weekly activities. ## **BELVOIR CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** ## **PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT** The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by providing benefit to its members and the general public by making known the Christian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of religion. The direct benefits which flow from the purposes of the Church include the gaining of an understanding in Christian beliefs as set out in the Bible and in the Church’s subordinate standards (the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Shorter and Larger Catechisms) leading to spiritual and moral development and opportunities for response to Bible teaching. In turn, this framework leads to practical expressions of Christian beliefs and standards in the local community such as through the care of those in need (including the sick, disabled and bereaved). Generally the above benefits are delivered locally by congregations and their members, or are facilitated through presbyteries or are organised and delivered centrally. Local delivery is facilitated by central resources in almost all cases. Public access is made known through the use of noticeboards, printed material, press advertisement, websites, and social media or in other ways. The benefits are demonstrated through regular evaluation of the services and informal and ad-hoc feedback from members, their families, and members of the public. The purpose does not lead to harm. The only private benefit flowing from our purpose is related to Ministers, Missionaries, Deaconesses, Irish Mission workers and Lay Agents who receive benefits as a result of their holding office or employment. However, this is incidental and necessary in order to further our charitable purpose. There are no other private benefits. The beneficiaries of this purpose are members, their families, other individuals that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is in direct and indirect contact with, the community in which pastoral services are provided and other communities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and worldwide which benefit from our engagement with and support for both Christian and other secular organisations, charities and individual members of the public. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance. ## **BELVOIR CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** The congregation’s main source of income is members’ contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 35 contributing families during the year. Please see accompanying financial report for details. ## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES** The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements of the congregation in conjunction with the treasurer and in accordance with applicable law and generally accepted accounting practice. As the congregation’s total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 64(3) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to prepare a receipts and payment account and a statement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the congregation’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time its financial position. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the congregation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES** In terms of assets, Belvoir Presbyterian Church has funds carried forward at the end of 2023 totalling £56,315 and owns the church building and halls at 24C Dunseverick Ave, Belfast BT8 7EA; and the manse, 10 The Beeches, Belfast, BT8 6PP. It has no liabilities in terms of loans, overdrafts, creditors or bank overdrafts. Signed on behalf of the Trustees: Rev Ben Walker 29[th] October 2024