Presbyter an WestKir Looking upwords. inwords ond outwo West Kirk Presbyterian A congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees. Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 Registered wlth the Charlty Commlsslon for Northern Ireland Charity Commission NI Registration No: 104287
West Kirk Presbyterian Church Contents Page Conterits Trustees, Annual Report Independent Examiner's report Statement of Financial Activities io Statement of Assets and Liabilities li Notes to the Financlal Statements 12-15 Page I
West Kirk Presbyterian Church Trustees. Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINisfRATIVE DETAILS West Kirk Congregation of the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland 234 - 236 Shankill Road Belfast BT13 2BL Registered Charity In Northern Ireland (NIC104287) CHARrrY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who were trustees at the date of this report were: David Clawson Peter Burke Joseph Cummings Kenneth Davidson Noel Hunter Davld Kane Fred Maglnnis Vincent Shortt Patrick Smyth George Stewart Roy Thompson Mlchael Waddell Desi Williams Norman Windrum PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister.. Rev. David Clawson Associate Mlnister: Rev. Peter Burke Clerk of Session.. Mr. George Stewart TreaSur.. Mr. Davld Rltchle INDEPENDENT EXAMINER FPM Accountants Ltd. Chartered Accountants & Statutory Audltors Unit I, Bullding 10 Central Park Mallusk BT36 4FS BANKERS Ulster Bank Shankill Road Branch 185 - 189 Shankill Road Belfast BT13 IFH SOLICITORS Hewitt & Gilpin Solicitors Thomas House 14 - 16 James Street South Belfast BT2 7GA Page 2
West Kirk Presbyterian Church Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 STRucfuRE AND MANAGEMENT The Kirk Session The charity trustees of the congregatlon are the members of the Klrk Session, Under the congregation's governlng document, The Code, the Book of the Constitution and Government of the Presbyterian Church In Iland, the Kirk Sesslon seeks to watch over and promote the splritual Interest of the congregation and of persons who are not connected with any congregation 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 congregatSon. Members of the Klrk Sesslon are also members of the Congregational Committee and the other members are elected by the votlng members of the congregation and serve for a period of 3 years. The present Congregational Committee took up office In January 2019. Followlng the amalgamation of West Kirk and Crumlin Road Presbyterian Church, the Committee was enlarged by the inclusion of 6 members of the former Crumlln Road congregation. To give sufficlent tlme for this enlarged commlttee to functlon well the Kirk Session has decided to delay the electlon of a new Congregatlonal Committee until 2024, The Kirk Session consists of the ordained mSnister and the rullng elders of the congregation. All members are entitled to make proposals, speak and exercise equal voting rlghts at meetlngs, except that the Moderator, the minster In actlve duty In the congregatlon, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Klrk Session are held normally elght tlmes In each year, and in 2023 we have been pleased to keep to that pattern, To be chosen for the office of the eldershlp In the congregatlon a person must be a votlng member and a regular attendant on Its ordlnances. The selectlori of those proposed to be called to the office can be either by the congregation or by the Klrk Sesslon. Normally we have adopted the former method. Members proposed are elected If they obtaln the votes of two thirds of the voting members present at a meetlng of the congregatlon. Presbytery Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland form of governance the corpofate oversight of a congregation is the responsibility of a Presbytery which superintends generally the spiritual and temporal affairs of the congregations asslgned to it by the General Assfimbly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. West Kirk congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been asslgned to the North Belfast Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The mernbership of the Presbytery consists mainly of the active mlnisters of congregatlons assigned to It by the General Assembly, ministers who have retired from active duty and elders appointed by the Kirk Sessions of the congregations In the Presbytery. Page 3
West Kirk Presbyterian Church Trustees. Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 The General Assembly The General Assembly Is the supreme court of the Church, representinq 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 congregatlon, retired ministers and a representative elder appolnted by the Kirk Session of each congregation. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregatlon Is the advancement of religion. West Kirk congregation Is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presbyterlan Church in Ireland, as a Reformed Church withln the wider body of Chrlst is grounded In the Scriptures, and exists to love and honour God through falth In HIS Son and by the power of His Splrlt, and to enable her members to play their part In fulfilling God's mission to our world. The pUoSe and vlsion of the congregation of West Klrk can be expressed In 3 words: Maturity , Ministry and Mission. Our aim Is to help our members towards maturity of Chrlstlan falth through worship and teaching, so that they express that faith in a mlnistry of support, encouragement and Ca for one another, and in mlssion to the communlty and world around us as we help In practlcal ways and share wlth others the Chrlstlan gospel to whlch we are committed. The congregation alms to fulfll our Purpose and Vision as a famlly of God's people by ensuring that our commltment and faithfulness to God and our relatlonships wlth each other are bullt upon the Word and promises of God. As a famlly we seek to care well for the young among us as we engage wlth them, encourage and nurture them in the falth of Jesus Chrlst. We seek, in ways whlch wlll be descrlbed later, to be an outward looklng fellowship concerned for the wellbeing of the community In our parish area. As a congregation of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland we believe the Bible to be our supreme authority In what we believe and in how we act. We are committed also to the subordinate standards of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, confident that they set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian falth and practice. ACTIVITIES AND OBJEcfIvES In our last report we stated that in 2022 we were able to resume many aspects of our congregational program step by step. We are happy to report that in 2023 our program of activities is now operating as normal. We have even been able to add a "Youth Group for young people of secondary school age on Sunday evenings. We have also added some new leaders to som.e. of our groups. This has in part allowed us to set up the new youth group, and also helped Lo take the pressure off existing leaders through the welcome extra help. The activities which we run each week during the church year will be described in more detail further on in this report. Page 4
West Kirk Presbyterian Church Trustees. Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and Prayer The congregation meets normally for worship each Sunday at 11.30am and 6.00pm in the Church building. Tea and coffee is available prior to the morning service. . and following the evening service we stay for tea and coffee discussing around tables questions relating to the theme of the sermon. and praying together. We held some services of Thanksglving for the life of members who dled durlng the year; services In which we sought to comfort the bereaved families and friends. On Wednesday evenlngs a small group meet together for prayer. As yet we have not resumed our Home Bible Study Groups. At 31 December 2023 there were 92 communlcant members of the congregation; we held 4 mornlng and 2 evening communion seniices. 250 families have currently some level of connertlon wlth our congregation. The average attendance at morning worshlp during the year was 100, wlth between 30 and 35 attending evening worshlp. Pastoral Care Pastoral care visltation whlch was Impossible durlng the Covld-19 pandemic has resumed Increasingly as we moved through 2023. It Ss carrled out mainly by our mlnlster, the Rev. David Clawson, and our assoclate mlnlster, Rev. Peter Burke Some elders and others within the congregatlon help to some extent wlth this Important mlnistry. We make every effort to support our elderly members who are no longer able to attend worshlp and those members who are unwell or rentlY bereaved. Mission and Outreach The congregation of West Klrk is commltted to, and active in, outreach to our local communlty. Communication of the Christian gospel Is a vltal part of the programme of our organlsations. In addition we have other actlvitles whlch have an Intentional outreach emphasis. A very Important and useful part of our weekly programme is our Thursday MornSng Outreach when each week we Invite local people in for tea or coffee and the opportunlty to chat. This helps us to get to know the people of the local area and in turn helps them to get to know us. We can use thls tlme to communicate the various activities and events with people who wouldn't normally attend Sunday worshlp. Another means of outreach in the past were the Men's Breakfasts and Ladies, Breakfasts held on several Saturday mornings during the year. These have proved very popular in the past. It is our intention to resume these in 2024. As a congregation we support many charities throughout the year. Most of these are local Northen Ireland based charities but some are from further afield. An example of this is when we host a coffee morning as part of our Thursday Outreach and all proceeds go to Macmillan Cancer Support. We also support the Presbyterian Childrens Society which provides help for famllles throughout Ireland who are going through tough times. The congregation supports the Unlted Appeal for Misslon which is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enables congregations to support the wlder mission of the denominatlon carried out on a scale beyond whlch any congregation could do on its own. The United Appeal Fund provides financial support for mission personnel at home and overseas, assists congregations with the deployment of locally based staff, enables church pl?.nting, provides grant support for the upkeep of church premises and assists with the running costs of Union Theologlcal College, the Church's training college for ministry students. Page S
West Kirk Presbyterian Church Trustees. Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 Presbytery The congregation was represented at the meetings of Presbytery in 2023 by our 2 ministers and 2 of our elders who played their part on some of the the Presbytery's Commlttees and Panels. The General Assembly At the 2023 General Assembly we were represented by our 2 mlnisters and 2 of our elders. In addition, one of our senlor elders was appointed as a member of Assembly by its Nomlnation Committee. Property The oversight of our property is the responsibility of one of the sub-committees of our Congregatlonal Committee. During 2023 some Important improvements were carried out In our manse and routlne work in our church buildings. We also contlnue to look after the buildings of the former Crumlin Road Presbyterian Church, and will do so until this building is sold. Organisations We give thls brief summary of the actlvltles carrled out durfng the year In some of our organlsations. Children's Church . Durlng mornlng worship children up to the age of about 9 years old move into the Church Hall at the point when the sermon wlll begin and they recelve Blble teaching. The Monday Club . This club meets every Monday night and caters for children of prlmary school age, The children enjoy a programme designed to encourage thelr educational, physical, recreatlonal, social and spiritual development. In August of 2023 some of our leaders, along with a PCI team of Young People, ran a 3-day Holiday Bible Club attended by about 60-70 mainly local children. As we hoped would happen, some of these girls and boys then joined the Monday Club. Presbyterian Women . Thls group meets monthly dulng the autumn and wlnter for a programme designed to stimulate interest in and support for the mlsslon of the Church at home and overseas, so many of their guest speakers will represent such work. Members also enjoy day trlps to places of interest. Girls, Brlgade Company . Thls Chrlstlan organlsatlon meets each Tuesday evening In several sections catering for girls, ages 3-18. They carry out a varled programme as devised by the central GB organisation. Guide Company . The various sectlons of the Guldes meet on a Thursday evening. They are registered separately with the Charlty Commisslon and will submlt their own report. Alcoholics Anonymous Group . While this organisation is not under the oversight of our congregation, we are glad to accommodate this local group in our Halls each Wednesday evening. Youth Group This group, for children of secondary school age, was formed In the second half of 2023 mainly due to the number of children moving into this age bracket and also because the young people themselves really wanted a Chrlstian fellowship group which they could call their own. This group meets in oijr Community Project building where they can make use of the various facilities such as table tennis, pool and the kitchen but they primarily meet to read the Blble and discuss what they have learned. They also had a fun trip to a local activities centre. It is hoped that this group will expand In both number and in Its features in the coming year. Volunteers The Trustees acknowledge wilh gratitude the invaluable service given by those members of the congregation who lead with great dedication the range of activities described in thls report. Page 6
West Kirk Presbyterian Church Trustees. Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 The Church Plant at Carlisle Circus Our Church plant, Grace and Hope, continues to go from strength to strength. As mentioned in our 2022 report, the congregation had grown and required a larger space with provision for a creche and hoped to be able to move into the larger facilities In the neighbouring Hopelink Centre. This became a reallty in 2023 and has made worship more practical and comfortable for everyone Involved. Numbers attending worshlp during 2023 have remained steady. As in 2022, a large portion of the congregation Is made up of people from lots of different natlonalities. Many of these people have been forced out of thelr own countries and have ended up In Northern Ireland. There Is also, however, an increase in the number of local people who are interested in, or attending Grace and Hope. Two babies, from familles who are church members, were baptised in 2023 which shows that the Church is literally growing from withln. In 2023 the leadership of Grace and Hope has began running the Alpha course for Church members or any local people who may wish to attend. They are also runnlng weekly Blble studles for those who are more advanced in thelr Christlan life. They regularly have Church lunches which helps to bring the congregation together socially. 2023 has been a year of growth and consolldation for Grace and Hope. The leadershlp of the Church plan, with God's help, to build on thls solld foundatlon in 2024 by addlng more activities both Spiritual and physical to further enhance Church Ilfe and attract new members. In the near future the North Belfast Presbytery wlll be be looking at Grace and Hope in detail to ascertain how this Church can move forward, possibly as a stand-alone Church in its own right, This is a very real possibility if it contlnues to grow at it's current rate. PUBLIC BENEFrr srATEMENT The Presbyterian Church In Ireland meets the publlc beneflt requlrement by provldlng beneflt to Its members and the general publlc by maklng known the Chrlstlan Gospel of the Lord Jesus Chrlst through the advancement of rellglon. The dirert benefits whlch flow from the purposes of the Church Include the galnlng of an understandlng In Christian bellets as set out In the Blble and In the Church's subordlnate standards (the Westmlnster Confesslon of Falth and the Shorter and Larger Catecilisms) leading to spirltual and moral development and opportunities for response to Bible teaching. In turn, this frarnework leads to practical expressions of Christian beliefs and standards in the local communlty 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 tlieir members, or are facilitated through Presbyteries or are organised and delivered centrally. Local delivery is facilitated by central resources in almost all cases. Publlc access is made known through the use of notlce boards, printed material, press advertisement. websites. and soclal 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, Irlsh Mission workers and Lay Agents who receive benefits as a result of their holding offlce 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 dirert and indirect contact with, the communlty In which pastoral services are provided and other communities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republlc of Ireland, and worldwlde which benefit from our engagement with and support for both Chrlstian 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 guidan. Page 7
West Kirk Presbyterian Church Trustees. Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2022 FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregatlon's maln source of income Is members. contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offerlng , and in recent year5 members have been encouraged to donate directly to the Church's bank account using a Dirett Payment scheme. There were 98 contrlbutlng famllles durlng the year [113 In prevlous year, 2.022] donating a total of £69,001 (£69,927 in previous year. 2022). In addition, an amount of £12,291 was received In respect of the Grace and Hope church plant (£9,147 In 2022). Total Receipts of the congregatlon durlng the year were £150,282, compared to £316,449 In the previous year which had included £177,613 from the bank account of Crumlin Road Presbyterian Church following It's amalgamatlon wlth West Kirk. A flnal balance of £2,553 was transferred to close the ROC Bank Account. Total expenditure decreased from £215,507 to £177,343, malnly because we paid a loan of £48,253 In respect of our Asslstant Mlnlster's salary, once the Crumlln Road funds became avallable, In 2022. In addition, the rising costs of heatlng oil and elettricity added to our expenditure, along wlth further necessary repalrs to the upkeep of the Manse and Crumlln Road premlses. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES. RESPONSIBILITIES The purpose of thls statement Is to dlstlnguish the Trustees, responslbllltles for the accounts from those of the Independent Examiners as stated In thelr Report. The Trustees are SponSible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements of the congregatlon in accordance wlth applicable law and generally accepted accountlng practlce. As the congregatlon's total Income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Sectlon 64(3) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to prepare a Receipts and Payments Account and a Statement of Assets and Llabllltles. The Trustees are responslble for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufflclent to show and explain the congregation's transactlons and dlsclose with reasonable accuracy at any time its financial position. They a also sponsible for safeguardlng the assets of the congregation. and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detettion of fraud and other Irregularitles. Signed to signify approval on behalf of the Kirk Session , by Mr Geo Stew Tntstee & Clerk of Session Mr David Kane Trustee 20th. Februa 2024 20th. February 2024 Date Page 8