Raloo Presbyte.rian Church a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023 Registered with the charlty Commission for Northern Ireland NIC 104916
RALOO PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 The Trustees present thelrAnnual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 Includlng a Balance Sheet as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Raloo Congregatlon of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland 72 Raloo Road Larne Co. Antrlm BT40 3DU Reglstered charlty In Northern Ireland INIC 1049161. CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charlty Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were; Roy Beggs (Junl Robert Campbell Sandra Graham William Holllnger Geoff McBrlde Bryans Mcllroy JIM Rlce PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Vacancy Convenor Supply Mlnlster Clerk of Sesslon Treasurer Rev. Dr Cecll Grant Geoff McBride Helen Rlce INDEPENDENT EXAMINER MBS Chartered Accountants 3 High Street LARNE BT40 IJN BANKERS Danske Bank Llmlted 8-9 Donegall Square North BELFAST BTI 5GB First Trust Bank Llmlted 322 Antrim Road Glengormley NEwfowNABBEY BT36 SEQ Ulster Bank Llmlted 9 Upper Cross Street LARNE BT40 ISZ
RALOO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TRUSTEES ANNIIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED YI DECEMBER 2023 STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Klrk Sesslon The charlty trustees of the Congregatlon are the member5 of Its Klrk Sesslon. Under the congregatlon's governlng document, The Code, the book of the constltution and government of the Presbyterian Church In Ireland, the Klrk Sesslon seeks to watch over and promote the splrltual Interest of the congregatlon and of persons not connected wlth any congregatlon who are wlthln Its bounds. It ensures pastoral care is in place In the congregatlon and seeks to further the contrlbution of the Church to Christian wltness and seIce in the local community. The Kirk Sesslon has delegated to its Congregational Commlttee the temporal affalrs of the congregatlon Including admlnlsterlng all funds and property belongln8 to the congregatlon. Members of the Klrk Sesslon are ex-offlclo members of the Congregatlonal Commlttee. The Klrk Session conslsts of the ordained minlster and the rullng elders of the congregations. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exerclse equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the mlnlsters In actlve duty In the congregatlon, has no dellberatlve vote only a casting vote, Stated meetlngs of the Klrk Sesslon are held at least twlce In each year or as approprlate. To be Chosen for the offlce of the eldershlp in the congregatlon a person must be a votlng member and a regular attendant on Its ordinances. The selectlon of those proposed to be called to the offSce can be elther by the congregation or by the Klrk Sesslon. Members are elected ifthey obtain two-thlrds of those who vote. Presbytery Under the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland form of governance the corporate overslght of a congregation Is the responslbillty of a Presbytery whlch superlntends generally the splrltual and temporal affairs of the conBregatlons assigned to It by the General Assembly of the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland. Raloo conBregatlon of the Presbyterlan Church has been asslgned to the Carrlckfergus Presbytery of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland. The membershlp of the presbytery consists malnly of the actlve mlnlsters of congregations asslgned to it by the General Assembly, mlnisters who have retired from actlve duty and an elder appolnted by the Kirk Sesslon of the congregation. The General A$5embly The General Assembly Is the supreme court of the church, representlng In one bodythe whole church and actlng as Its supreme leglslatlve, admlnlstratlon, and judlclal authorityp In dealin8 With all matters brought before It. The General Assembly Is normally constStuted during the flrst week In June for worshlp and to conduct its business. At the end of buslness, 5t Is dissolved. The membershlp of the General Assembly conslsts malnly of the actlve mlnlsters of each congregation, retlred mlnlsters and the representatlve elder appolnted by the Klrk Session of each congregation.
RALOO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregatlon15 the advancement of rellgion. Raloo congregatlon of the Presbyterlan Church Is a congregatlon of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland. The Presbyterlan Church In Ireland, as a reformed church wlthln the wlder body of Chrlst,1s grounded In the scrlptures, and exlsts to love and honour God through falth In HIS Son and by the power of His Spirit, and to enable her members to play thelr part In fulfllllng God's mlsslon to our world. Raloo con8regatlon's mlsslon purpose and statement is, by the grace of God "to encouragement people of all ages to make a professlon of faith and become fully devoted followers of Jesus Chrlst." Our vlslon is, by the grace of God, to be an incluslve, welcomlng communlty of Christ's people of all ages, whlch: Is Increasingly characterlzed by love for God, and love and concern for others; Is committed to the hlstorlc Chrlstlan gospel as revealed in the Blble; Is relevant to people of thls time and place. The congregatlon alms to1Sve out Its Mlssion and Vision as a famlly of God's people by belng: A Covenant Communlty: where our relationships are rooted In the promises of God by livlng falthfully toward hlm and toward one another An Intergeneratlonal Communlty: where adults Intentlonally take the lead to engage wlth, encourage, and nurture younger members to maturlty in Chrlst. An Outward looklng Communlty: where we wantthe blesslngs of God that belong to us In the gospel to become blessings for others beyond the bounds of our communlty, As a congregation of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland, we belleve that the Blble 55 the supreme authorlty over all we do, and that the Westmlnster Confesslon of Falth, along with the Larger and Shorter Catechlsms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Chrlstlan falth and practlce. ACTIVITIES AND OBJEcfivES The Congregatlon meets for worshlp every Sunday and vlsltors are always welcome. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is observed on several occaslons during the year and all those who have been baptised and who have a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are admltted to the Lord's Supper. The con8regatlon holds regular prayerlbible study meetlngs and has a wlde range of organlsations Includlng Sunday School, Toddlers, Glrls Brlgade, Boys Brlgade, Youth Fellowshlp, Frlendship Club, Bowllng Club & PW (Presbyterian Women). The maln church, church halls and facllltles are also used on a regular basls for fund ralslng towards varlous mlssions, good causes and fund-ralslng. The local prlmary school also makes use of the facilitie5 for services and concerts. External youth and communlty groups and other rellglous fraternltles, whose alms and objectlves are not In confllct wlth those of Presbyterlan Church In Ireland, also make use of the facllltles at Raloo Presbyterian Church.
RALOO PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worshlp and Prayer The congregatlon normally meets forworshlp each Sunday at 11.30am and Sunday evenlngs as announced. Durlng the week the Prayer/Bible Study provides an opportunlty for members to meet together for fellowshlp, to study the scrlpts and for a tlme of prayer. At 31, December 2023 there were 112 communlcant members and 196 famllSes connected with Raloo Presbyterlan Church. The average weekly attendance at Sunday mornlng worshlp 80. Pastoral Care Members of the Congregatlon who are unable to attend church due to slckness or age are vlslted on a regular basi5 by the mlnlster, elders or by one of the congregatlon's pastoral vlsltors/commlttee members. Mlsslon and Outreach At a local level the congregation exlsts to love and honour God through falth In HIS Son and by the power of His Spirit, and to enable members to play thelr part in fulfllllng God's mlsslon locallv. The congregatlon supports the Unlted Appeal for Mlsslon whlch Is a central fund of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland. Thls fund enables congregatlons to support the wlder mlsslon of the denominatlon and to do misslon and outreach on a denomlnatlonal basis beyond what the congregation could do on Its own. The United Appeal Fund provldes financlal support for mlsslon personnel at home and overseas, asslsts congregations wlth the deployment of locally based staff, enables church plantingi provldes grant support for the upkeep of church premlses, assists wlth the runnlng Costs of Unlon Theologlcal College, the church's tralnlng college for mlnlstry students, and flnanclally supports congregatlons In the areas of worshlpi dlsclpleshlp, global mlsslon, outreach, leadershlp, and pastoral care. When practlcal, the congregatlon also contrlbutes to the denominations annual World Development Appeal and other speclal appeals, The congregation supports local and overseas mlsslon and Christlan charities on a regular basls. Presbytery The congregatlon was represented at the regular meetlngs ofthe Presbytery by our Mlnlster and one ofthe Elders. Thls provldes an Important Ilnk between the congregations and the wlder structure5 of the Church. General Assembly The mlnister and one of our elders were nominated to attend the meetlng of the General Assemblv of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland held Assembly Bulldlngs, Belfast, In June.
RALOO PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Property The property conslsts of a maln church bulldlng wlth tollet facllltles & offlces, 2 maln halls In separate bulldlngs each wlth their own meetlng rooms, toilets and caterlng facllltles. The church manse is In close proxlmlty to the maln church and halls. There Is also a large adjacent car park and graveyard. Organlsatlons The followlng Is a brlef summary of the organlsatlons wlth average attendances (pre COVID restrlctlons) In brackets: Sunday School - durlng Sunday mornlng worshlp durlng school term tlme for chlldren 4-11 years (29) Toddlers- pre-school aged Chlldren on a Tuesday morning durlng the school term {20 + mlnders} Girls Brlgade- unlform organlsatlon held on a Monday evenlng from Septemberto March for glrls aged 3 to year 14 {601 Boys Brlgade- unlform organlsatlon held on a Frlday evenlng from September to March for boys of prlmary and secondary school age {40) Youth Fellowshlp- flrst and last Sunday evenlng of the month for young persons of secondary school age (181 Frlendshlp (Thursday Club) - held durlng the day on Thursdays for adults {301 Bowllng Club-Tuesday and Wednesday evenlngs from September to June for all ages (131 Hollday Bible Club- Monday to Friday evenlngs for one week In August {30) Presbyterlan Women IPWI- held once a month on Tuesday afternoon from September to March for women of all ages (61 You can vlslt our webslte at www.raloo c.com or call us for further Informatlon. Volunteers The Trustees wlsh to acknowledge thelr deep appreclatlon of those who glve freely of thelr tlme by servSnB on commlttees and helpin8 With organisations and other church activities.
RALOO PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church In Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by provlding benefit to Its members and the general public by maklng known the Chrlstlan Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of rellglon. The dlrect beneflts whlch flow from the purposes of the Church include the gainlng of an understandlng In Chrlstlan beliefs as set out Sn the Blble and In the Church's subordinate standards (the Westminster Confesslon of Falth and the Shorter and Larger Catechlsms) leadSng to splrltual and moral development and opportunlties for response to Bible teachlng. In turn, thls framework leads to practlcal expresslons of Chrlstlan beliefs and standards in the local communlty such as through the care of those In need {includlng the slck, dlsabled, and bereaved). Generally the above benefits are delivered locally by congregations and thelr members, or are facllStated through presbyterles or are organlsed and delivered centrally. Local dellvery is facllltated by central resources in almost all cases. Public access is made known through the use of notlceboards, printed materlal, press advertlsement, websltes and soclal medla or in other ways. The beneflts are demonstrated through regular evaluatlon of the servlces and Informal and ad-hoc feedback from members, thelr famllles, and members ofthe publlc. The purpose does not lead to harm. The only prlvate beneflt flowlng from our purpose Is related to Mlnlsters, Misslonarles, Deaconesses, Irlsh Misslon workers and Lay Agents who recelve beneflts as a result of thelr holding office or employment, However, thls is incidental and necessary In order to further our charitable purpose. There are no other private beneflts. The beneficiarles of this purpose are members, thelr famllles, other indlvlduals that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is in dlrect and indlrect contact with, the communlty In whlch pastoral servlces are provlded and other communltles throughout Northern Ireland, the Republlc of Ireland, and worldwide whlch benefit from our engagement with and support for both Chrlstlan and other secular organisatlons, ¢harltles and Individual members of the publlc. The Klrk Sesslon has had regard to the Charlty Commissions publlc benefit requlrement statutory guidance.
RALOO PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregatlon's main source of income Is members, contrlbutions throuEh the Weekly Freewlll Offering. There were 152 contrlbutors durlng the year1146 In previous year, 20221 donatlng a total of £56,379 (£55,822) in prevlous year, 20221. Total Income of the congregation durln8the year was £111,218 compared to £117,463 In the previous year, excludlng bequests, No bequests were recelved durlng the year. Total expenditure Increased to £78,099 from £77,921. RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPEcf OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the flnanclal statements In accordance with applicable law and Unlted Kingdom Generally Accepted Accountlng Practlce. The Trustees are requlred to prepare financlal statements for each flnanclal year whlch give a true and falr vlew of the state of affairs of the congregatlons and the flnan¢lal actlvitles for that year. In preparlng the flnanclal statements the Trustees are required to: Select sultable accountlng pollcles and then apply them conslstently Makejudgements and estlmates that are reasonable and prudent Prepare the financlal statements on the going concern basis unless It is inapproprlate to presume that the funds wlll contlnue In operatlon. The Trustees are responslble for keeping adequate accountlng records that are sufflclent to show and explaln the funds transactions and disclose wlth reasonable accuracy at any tlme the flnan¢lèl posltlon of the congregatlons and enable them to ensure that the flnanclal statements comply wSth the Statement of Recommended Practlce"Accountlng and Reportlng by Charltles (l January 20151" They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the congregatlon and hence for taklng reasonable steps for the preventlon and detectlon of fraud and other irregularltles.
RALOO PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 GOING COhtCERN The activltles of the congregatlon are dependent on onEolng contributlons from Its members. The Trustees are of the oplnlon that the congregatlon has sufficlent resources at the date of approval of these flnanclal statements to meet commltments whlch will arlse In the yearfrom the date of signing thls report and subject to the contlnulng support from members to fund on an ongoing basss the congregation's current actlvltles and other flnanclal commitments RESERVES POLICY The Trustees have consldered the level of unrestrlcted reserves that It Is appropriate to hold taking account of current and ongolng commStments. It Is the policy of the Trustees to hold at least I month's normal expenditure from unrestricted funds. At the year end unrestrlcted reseNes were £114,418 whlch represents a higher level of reSeeS. The Trustees however, conslder It prudent to hold reserves at thls level as the fundlng of Its present actlvltles Is dependent on the ongolng flnanclal support of members. RISK REVIEW Flnanclal risks are kept under revlew by the Trustees and systems and procedures Implemented to manage Identlfled rSsks. The prlnclpal rlsks are in relation to the Ilkelihood of reputational damage and flnanclal risks assoclated wlth the expectatlon of ongolng flnanclal support from members. These rlsks are mitigated by the Trustees, and the Congregatlonal Commlttee, regularly monltorlng the varlous a¢tlvlties of the congregatlon at stated meetings and by encouraglng members in thelr regular glvlng. th Approved on behalf of Klrk Sesslon on 24 September 2024 and slgned on Its behalf by Rev Andrew Watson Chair/Moderator & Vacancy Convenor Geo Clerk of cBri ion at Raloo Presbyterlan Church Date." 29 September 2024 Date: 29 ' September 2024