CASTLEREAGH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Congregatlon of The Presbyterran Church In Ireland TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Tnjstees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2020 including a Balance Sheet a5 at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Castlereagh Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 79 Church Road Castlereagh Belfast BT6 9SA Registered Charity in Northern [land (NIC 104335) CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were: May Anderson Trevor Busby Phyllis Grier Rev. Mervyn Burnside John Hanna Andrew Mccann PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Accounts prepared by Rev. Mervyn Burnside Andrew Mccann PGR Accountants, 21 Old Channel Road, BT3 9DE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Peter Greene, FCA, 21 Old Channel Road, Belfast, BT3 9DE BANKERS Dan5ke Bank, Donegall Square West, Belfast, 8T1 6JS SOLICITORS W. G. Maginess & Son Ltd, 68 Bow Street, Lisburn, BT28 IAL. Charity Trustee5 Annual Report
an CASTLEREAGH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (continued) STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Kirk Sesslon 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 Klrk Sesslon 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 Sessions 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 Kii'k Sessioii coiisists of tlie oi'daiiied Iniiiistei- and the ruliiig elders of tlie congregations. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the ministers in active duty In the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk session are held at least four times each year or as appropriate. 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 Se55ion. Members are elected if they obtain 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. Castlereagh Presbyterian Church ha5 been assigned to the East Belfast Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in [land. The membership of the Presbytery consists mainly of the active ministers of congregations assigned to it by the General Assemblyi minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. Charity Trustees Annual Report
an CASTLEREAGH PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (continued) 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, administration 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 con5ISts mainly of the active ministers of each congregation, retired minsters and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE Castlereagh Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, a5 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 her members to play their part in rulfillii)g GOLI'S ITllSSlUlI tu uur wurld. The congregation's mission purposes is by the grace of God, to help people of all ages become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Our vision is, by the grace of God, to be an inclusive, welcoming community of Christ's people of all ages, which.. is increasingly characterised by love for God, and love and concem for others,. Is committed to the historic Christian gospel as revealed in the Bible,. is relevant to people of this time and place. The congregation aims to live out its Mission and Vision as a family of God's people by being: A Covenant Community.. where our latIOnshIpS are rooted in the promises of God by living faithfully toward him and toward one anottier An Intergenerational Community." where adults intentionally take the lead to engage with, encourage and nurture younger members to maturity in Christ. An Outward looking Community.. Whe we want the blessings of God that belong to us in the gospel to become blessings for others beyond the bounds of our community. As a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, we believe that the Bible 15 the supreme authority over all we do, and that the Westminster Confession of Faith, along with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Chnstian faith and practice. Charity Trustees Annual Report
an CASTLEREAGH PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (continued) ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is observed on several occasions during the year and all those who have been baptised and who have made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted to the Lord's Supper. The congregation holds regular bible study meetings and has a wide range of organisations including: Sunday School Choir Boys, Brigade (B.B.) Girls, Brigade (G. B.) Hilltop Group (Senior Citizens) Presbyterian Women (P. W.) Manna for Men Playroom (Mothers and Toddlers) Bowling Club The Girl's Brigade Company closed permanently at the end of the session in March. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer In a year of unprecedented upheaval due to the outbreak of Covid we are thankful that in Spite of all the changes to the pattems of Congregational life, we were able to maintain some informal means of communication and fellowship. We are thankful for those who worked hard to make a return to in person gathering for worship possible, and for the compliance with required changes to Sunday services, we are thankful for God's continued faithfulness in the midst of so much uncertainty- The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at Il'.00am and 6.'30pm. Every other week our Small Groups (Bible Study) provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowshipi to study the scriptures and for a time of prayer. As well as our regular services during the year, thanksgiving services were held for those deceased and we sought to comfort those bereaved during the year Owirsg to Covid Guidance, in-person gatherings for worship ceased from the end of March until September. Organisations did not meet in person from the outbreak of Covid for the remainder of the year. Where possible printed weekly worship resources were distributed by email or hard copy. At 315t December 2020 there were 105 communicant members and 171 families connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship post Covid is 55 people. Charity Trustees Annual Report
an CASTLEREAGH PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (continued) Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are visited on a regular basis by the minister, elder5 or by one of the congregation's pastoral visitor5. Misslon and outreach The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mission which is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enables congregations to support the wider mission of the denomination and to do mission and outreach on denominational basis beyond what the congregation could do on it5 own. The United Appeal Fund provides ftnanclal support for mission personnel at home and overseas, assists congregations withthe deployment of locally based staff, enables church planting, provides grant supportfor the upkeep of church premises, asSlSt with the running costs of Union Theological College, the Church'5 training college for ministry students, and finar)cially sUPPOrts congregation in the ai-eas of wor sliip, di5Liplesliip, ylul)eil iiii55iuiI, i>uLrgdil), lèa(1é1 sliip aiid pastor-al iai-e. Presbytery The congregation was presented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and/or one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider struttures of the church. General Assembly The tninister and one of our elders were nominated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June, Organisations The congregation supports a number of organisations who attively make use of both the Church and Hall facilities, including Girls. Brigade and Boys. Brigade for children and you ng adults, Playroom for toddlers, Hilltop group for older members of the congregation, Manna for Men, Church Choir, Presbyterian Women and more. No in-person meetings of organisations were possible in the period March to December. Necessary leadership meetings were held by zoom and a meeting for prayer. Charity Trustees Annual Report
an CASTLEREAGH PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (continued) Property There were no major property repairs during 2020. Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by serving on committees and helping with organisations and other church activities. PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by providing benefit to its members and the general public by akIng known the Christian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of religion. The dirert 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 Confe55ion 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 (includingthe 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 notice boards, 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, Misslonaries, 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 dirett 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. Charity Trustees Annual Report
an CASTLEREAGH PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (continued) FINANCIAL RÉVIEW The congregation's main source of itFcome is members, contributions through the Weeklv Freewill Offering with donations totaling £40k. There were 142 contributors during the year, a similar number to the previous year., donating a total of £48k to the funds. The total Income of the congregation during the year was £IOOk, which was lower than the previous year (£119k). Total expenditure decreased from £116k to £IIOk. RESPONSIBILfTIES IN RESPEcf OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. The Tnjstees are required to prepare tinancial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the congregations and the financial attivities for that year. In preparing the financial statements the Trustees are requiredto.. select Sultable accounting policies and then apply them consistently make judgements and estimate5 that are reasonable and prudent prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappmpriateto presume that the Funds will continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the funds transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the congregations and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities (FRS 102 1 January 2019)". They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the congregation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of frèud and other irregularities. Charity Trustees Annual Report
CASTLEREAGH PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH a COngreatIon of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (continued) GOING CONCERN The activities of the congregation are dependent on ongoing contributions frorn it5 member5. The Trustees are of the oplnion that the congregatlon has sufficient resources at the date of approval of these financial statements to meet commitments which will arise in the year from the date Df signing this report and subject to the continuing 5UPPOrt from members to fund on an ongoing basis the congregation's current activity and other financial commitments. RESERVES POLICY The Trustees have considered the level of unrestricted reserves that it is appropriate to hold taking account of current and ongoing commitments. It is the policy of the TrLJStees to hold at least one month's normal expenditure. At the year-end unrestricted reserves were £146,312 which represents a higher level of reseNe5. The Trustees however, consider it prudent to hold reserves at this level as the funding of its present activities is dependent of the ongoing financial support of membei"s. RISK REVIEW A revlew of major rlsk5 has been undertaken by the Trustees and the system and procedures implemented to manage identified rlsks. The principal risks are in relation to the likelihood of reputational damage and financial risks associated with the expertatlon of ongoing financial support from members. These risks are mitigated by the Trustees, and the Congregational Committee, regularly monitorlng the various activitles of the congregation at stated meetings and by enccuraging members in their regular giving. Approved by the Kirk Sesslon at a meeting on 2nd June 2023 and Signed on Its behalf by: Rev. Mervyn Burnslde Minister Andrew Mccann Clerk ofsession 2fJort