an GLASCAR CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statemen+s for the year ended 31 December 2022 Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC 104942)
Presbyter an GLASCAR CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN 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 Glascar congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 12 Glascar Road, Milltown, Banbridge BT32 5DT Registered Charity in Northern Ireland NIC 104942 CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Francis Little Jennifer Reynolds Brian Mcclelland Alan Little Mark Elliott PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Raymond McKibbin Jim Waddell Lloyd Toal INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Mr William Irwin 7 Dublin Rd, Loughbrickland Banbridge. BT32 3NW BANKERS SOLICITORS Gordon Bell & Son 9-11 Newry Street Rathfriland Ulster Bank Hill Street Newry
an GLASCAR CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) 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 consist5 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 monthly. 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 gener311y the spiritual and temporal affairs of the congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Glascar congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to tbp Iveagh 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, ministers who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation.
Presbyter an GLASCAR CONGREGATION OF THE PP.ESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) 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 dis501ved. The membership of the General Assembly consists mainly of the attive ministers of each congregation, retired ministers 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. Glascar 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 ancl 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 congregation5 mission purposes is: by the groce of God. to help people of oll ages become fully devotedfollowers of Jesus Christ. Our vision is, by the groce of God, to be an inclusive, welcoming community of Christ's people of all ages. which.. is increasingly characterised by lovefor God. and love ond concern for others.. is committed to the historic Christian gospel as revealed in the Bible,. is relevant to people of this time ond ploce. The congregotion aims to live out its Mission and Vision as afomily of God's people by being.. A Covenant Community." where our relationships are rooted in the promises of God by livingfalthfully toward him and toward one another An Intergenerationol Community.. where adults intentionolly take the lead to engage with, encourage ond nurture younger members to maturity in Christ. An Outward looking Community.. where we want the blessings of God thot belong to us in the gospel to become blessings for others beyond the bounds of our community. As o congregation of the PresbyLerion Church in Ireland, we believe that the 8ible 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 ChristlGn faith and practice.
Presbyter an GLASCAR CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (conyd) ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welr.ome to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is observed on several occasion5 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 midweek/bible study meeting5 and has a wide range of organisations including Sunday School Mothers and Toddlers Bowling Club Boys Brigade Girls Brigade Presbyterian Women Ignite Youth Organisation Teens & Twenties Lads, Dad and Grandads ACHIEVEMENTSAND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11am. Our fortnightly Bible Study provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to >tudy tne scriptures and for a time of prayer. As well as our regular seNices during the year we acknowledged God's gift of new life at I Sacrament of Baptism, we conducted I marriage service and gave thanks for faithful serrfices and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2022 there were 165 communicant members and 126 families connetted with the congregation. The average week attendance at morning worship is 70 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'5 pastoral visitors. Mission and outreach At a local level the congregation ran special services inviting the local community as well as a BBQ and provided donations to external missions and agencies.
Presbyter an GLASCAR CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (conva) 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 premise5, 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 mi55ion, 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 were nominated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June. Property There were no major repairs or refurbishment projects during the year. Organisations The following organisations recommended after restrictions were lifted post Covid 19 Mothers and toddlers group (Thursday morning meetings) Girls Brigade (Wednesday evenings, excluding summer) Boys Brigade (Friday evenings, {excluding summer) Youth group {Ignitel (monthly meetings) Presbyterian Women { PWI (monthly meetings) Sunday school {meet 10 am Sunday morning) . Teens & Twenties (meet 10 am Sunday morning). Mens Group- Lads Dads and Grandads- 4 nr evening meetings were organised in 2022
an GLASCAR CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conVd) Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by serving on committees and helping with organizations and other church activities. PUBUC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the public benefit requireme.nt by Pi oviding 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 resource5 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 serrfices 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 floi*iing from our purpose is related to Ministers, Missionaries, Deacone55es. Irish Mission workers ar.d 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.
Presbyter an GLASCAR CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conVd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income 15 members, contribution5 through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 187 contributors during the year1184 in previous year, 2021] donating a total of £33,759.441£34,430.64 in previous year, 2021) Total Income of the congregation during the year was £85,082.46, compared to £73,952.42 in the previous year. (The main reason for the change was increased giving to missions and charities, fund raising events and resumption of church organi5ations post Covid 19.) Total expenditure increased from £62,117.19 to £70.787.40 (Due to increased giving to Charities and running costs of church organisations) 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 congregation5 total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 64(3) of the Charities Act {Northern IrL,land) 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 detettion of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on nd signed on its behalf by: IName] MR ALAN LIThLE [Name] REV ARK MCMAW (Convenor of Vacancy) IDatel 11 /blo3 [Date] 11/1423