## **NEWINGTON CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND** # **Trustees Annual Report (Receipts and Payments Account) for the year ended 31 December 2023** **Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC104581)** 2 ## **NEWINGTON 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 202 3 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** NEWINGTON congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 136 LIMESTONE ROAD, BELFAST, BT15 3AL Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC104581) ## **CHARITY TRUSTEES** The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were JOHN LYNASS[THOMAS McWATTERS ] WILLIAM McDOWELL ## **PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS** Minister (convener) Rev Dr IVAN NEISH Clerk of Session MR JOHN LYNASS Treasurer MISS MOLLY VANNAN ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER** ## **MR ROY EAKIN** **18 FARM LODGE ROAD, GREENISLAND, BT38 8XH** ## **BANKERS** **DANSKE BANK DONEGALL SQUARE WEST, BELFAST, BT1 6JS** ## **SOLICITORS** **REAVEY & CO** **22 THE DIAMOND, RATHCOOLE ,NEWTOWNABBEY, BT37 9BJ** 3 ## **NEWINGTON 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 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 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 ministers in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk session are held when required, at least twice a year. 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 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. NEWINGTON congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the NORTH 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, minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation. 4 ## **NEWINGTON 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, 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 consists 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** The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion. NEWINGTON 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 her members to play their part in fulfilling God’s mission to our world. The congregations 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 concern 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 relationships are rooted in the promises of God by living faithfully toward him and toward one another_ - _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: where 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 is 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 Christian faith and practice_ ## **NEWINGTON CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** ## **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 four 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. Our church organisations and activities include - Girls Brigade - Friends Together ## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** ## **Worship and prayer** The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 10.45am. We sought to provide comfort and support to those who were bereaved. At 31 December 202 3 there were 20 communicant members and 52 of families connected with the congregations. The average week attendance at morning worship is 25. ## **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 convener and clerk of session. ## **Mission and outreach** At a local level the congregation seeks to reach out to the local community with outreach ev ents t hroughout the year and supports mission further afield both with finance and practical gifts. Our Harvest Appeal was shared between Project Romania and The United Appeal of PCI as well as a collection for the North Belfast Food Bank. 6 ## **NEWINGTON CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** 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 a denominational basis beyond what the 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 planting, provides grant support for the upkeep of church premises, assist with the running costs of Union Theological College, the Church’s training college for ministry students, and financially supports congregation in the areas of worship, discipleship, global mission, outreach, leadership and pastoral care. The congregation also contributes to the denominations annual World Development Appeal, Sunday School project and any other special appeals. ## **Presbytery** The congregation was represented 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 structures of the church. ## **General Assembly** The minister and one of our elders are usually nominated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June . ## **Property** Essential maintenance carried out to the suite of church halls. ## **Organisations** Girls Brigade used the minor and main halls each Tuesday throughout the session . There were up to 12 girls in attendance. The ladies meetings continue on a monthly basis from September to May. They have a varied programme of speakers, crafts and other activities. One of the halls was used in a limited way to store items for the community shop of International Meeting Point 2 and The council of Social Witness of PCI. ## **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. 7 ## **NEWINGTON 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. 8 ## **NEWINGTON 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 36 contributors during the year, ( 40 in previous year, 202 2 ) donating a total of £2 4,780 (£2 3,925 in previous year, 202 2) Total Income of the congregation during the year 202 3 was £ 59,989 compared to £4 4,820 in the previous Ye ar 202 2 . This increase was due to the rental of the church manse for a full year, and also an insurance claim. Total expenditure de creased from £3 8,717 in 202 2 to £3 4,366 in 202 3 . ## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES** The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements of the congregation in accordance with applicable law and generally accepted accounting practice. As the congregations total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 64(3) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 208 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. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 28 /0 7 /2 4 and signed on its behalf by [Name] John Lynass [Name] Thomas McWatters [Date] 28 /0 7/ 2 4 [Date] 28/07/24 9