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Second Ballyeaston Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Financial Report and Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC 131363)
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SECOND BALLYEASTON 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 2022 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Second Ballyeaston congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland [19 Trenchill Road, Ballyeaston, Ballyclare, Co Antrim, BT39 9SJ]
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC 131363)
CHARITY TRUSTEES
The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were
Revd Chris Glover (Mod) Mr Malcolm Cloke Mrs Ruth Stephenson Mr Wilbert Hollinger Mr Ray Howie Mr Geoff Jamison Ms Margaret Boyd Dr Robert McMillen Mr Simon Harkness Mr Derrick Murphy Mr Eric Cooper Mrs Susan Drummond Mr David Craig Mrs Meta McIlwaine Mr Jim Reid Mr David Beattie (resigned on 26/06/21) Session records its gratitude for his service.
PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS
Minister The Revd CM Glover Clerk of Session Dr R McC McMillen Hon Treasurer Mr M Cloke Hon Secretary Mrs Ruth Stevenson
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Simon Hopper FCA 6 Doagh Road Ballyclare BT39 9BG
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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)
BANKERS
Danske Bank Ballyclare Branch 18 The Square Ballyclare BT39 9BB
SOLICITORS
J W McNinch & Son 5 The Square Ballyclare BT39 9BB
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SECOND BALLYEASTON 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 [at least twice in 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 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. SECOND BALLEASTON congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Templepatrick Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The membership of the Presbytery consists mainly of the active ministers of
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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)
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.
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.
SECOND BALLYEASTON 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 [Enter your local mission statement e.g., 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:
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is increasingly characterised by love for God, and love and concern for others;
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is committed to the historic Christian gospel as revealed in the Bible;
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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:
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A Covenant Community: where our relationships are rooted in the promises of God by living faithfully toward him and toward one another
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An Intergenerational Community: where adults intentionally take the lead to engage with, encourage and nurture younger members to maturity in Christ.
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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.
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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]
ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES
The congregation meets for worship as indicated below. Visitors are always welcome to join.
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was observed on five occasions during the year. All those who have been baptised and who love the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted to the Lord’s Supper. Those who have made a profession of faith are admitted to the Roll of Communicants and, if contributors to the funds of the Congregation are eligible to vote in its decision making.
The congregation has a wide range of organisations including -
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Boys’ Brigade
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Presbyterian Women
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Moms and Tots
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Bowling Club
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Badminton Club
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Worship and prayer
The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11.30am between September and June, 11am in June and July, and 5,30 or 7pm on the third Sunday of each month (September-June). Additional Services are shared with our neighbouring congregation (First Ballyeaston), giving 72 services during the year.
As well as our regular services during the year we acknowledged God’s gift of new life at 6 Sacraments of Baptism, we conducted 2 marriage services and gave thanks for faithful service of 10 of our parishioners and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year.
At 31 December 2022 there were 160 communicant members and 260 families connected with the congregation. The average week attendance at morning worship is 143.
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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, elders or by one of the congregation’s pastoral visitors. The Minister also deals with many other instances of confidential pastoral need.
Mission and outreach
A Service for the Farming Community held each year draws over 300 worshippers from a wide area representing all aspects of the Industry. The Offering contributes to our response to needs at a local and world level. Other evening services have been tailored to suit young families, through being held at an earlier time and with a themed meal. The Christmas Eve midnight service has become a focus for many from other (and no) congregations in the area.
Christian Aid benefits (£1,000) from a lunch held in the hall after Worship. All of our organisations are open to everyone and have attracted others into a warm fellowship.
The congregation contributes through gifts to the Newtownabbey Food Bank and to the Belfast City Mission’s Christmas Appeal.
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 denomination’s annual World Development Appeal (£853), Youth and Moderators Appeal. (£2,233) and any other special appeals such as Boys Brigade (£470), Children’s Hospice (530), Corrymeela (£360), and The Trussell Trust (£510).
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Presbytery
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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 were nominated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June.
Property
The carpet in the Minister’s room was water damaged due to flooding in 2021. An insurance claim was made in December 2021 and the carpet was replaced at a cost of £510. A cheque for reimbursement minus £100 excess (£410) was received from the Insurers in 2022.
Organisations
During the period September 2021 to April 2022 our organisations have started to try and return to the new normal following the restrictions since the start of the pandemic. We have several organisations providing outreach to our congregation and the local community. On a Sunday we have our Sunday Club which meets during our Sunday Worship Service and caters for Primary 1 to Year 14 children and teenagers and involves Bible stories, games and crafts.
On a Monday and Friday our halls host our Boys Brigade Company, First Ballyeaston Company, which caters for Primary 1 to Year 14 and this year had 36 members from across the local community. This year with the relaxation of rules we were able to host our Battalion Badminton Competition for the Year 8 to 14 age group.
On a Tuesday our Indoor Bowling Club meets during the afternoon and evening. This caters for all age groups and welcomes members from across the community, not just our own congregation. On a Tuesday evening, once a month, our PW group meets. This is a group for ladies within the congregation and their friends who regularly met this year e.g. for a demonstration in flower arranging or to hear from ‘Hope and Light’ to hear of the dangers from trafficking for women and children.
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Thursday mornings host our Mums and Tots group which welcomes parents, grandparents and childminders with their toddlers from the local area and is open to everyone. This is an opportunity for the children to meet and interact through toys and games and allows the adults to have a chat over a cup of tea and refreshments. This regularly has over 15 children in attendance.
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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 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
SECOND BALLYEASTON CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)
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.
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The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
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SECOND BALLYEASTON 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 (WFO). There were 169 contributors to WFO during the year (171 in previous year, 2021) donating a total of £64,546 (£61,639 in previous year, 2021).
Total Income of the congregation during the year was £143,526 compared to ££112,375 in the previous year. The main reason for the increase was due to increased donations to special funds such as music ministry, organ repair and roof repair; and from church events.
Total expenditure increased from £115,915 to £126,952 mainly due to organ repair, increased electricity and oil usage and costs,
RESERVES POLICY
The policy of the trustees is not to accumulate reserves but to use reserves in the promotion of the Charity’s objects, and maintain a balance on unrestricted funds that equates to at least six months’ unrestricted payments (£49,199) to cover unforeseen situations that may arise from time to time. The current level of reserves are £16,970. The trustees continue to monitor their reserves levels on a periodic basis.
FUTURE PLANS
In March 2020 the church took steps (in line with government advice) to help contain the outbreak of COVID-19. This included the temporary suspension of all physical gatherings and the church had to curtail, or change, how it operates; the church has now been able to resume all of its activities while also using online media. The trustees are monitoring income and expenditure and, if it becomes necessary, will take measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the church’s free reserves.
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 congregation’s 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.
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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 [enter date] and signed on its behalf by
Revd C M Glover
7 May 2023
Dr R M McMillen 7 May 2023
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