LISLOONEY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC1049451
LISLOONEY CONGRAGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Lislooney congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Derryhaw Road, Tynan, Co Armagh Registered Charity in Northern Ireland INIC1049451 CHARifi TRUSTEE5 The Charity Trustee5 who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Mr Harry Ounwoody Mr Ivor Berry Mr Thomas Taylor Mr David Mccrea Mr George McAree Mr Jim Scott PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurers Reverend Ivan Thompson Mr Harry Dunwoody Mr Geor8e McAree/Mr Philip Ewart INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Mrs 5 Speer5 BANKERS UlsterBank Armagh First Trust Danske Bank Armagh Dungannon SOLICITOR JJ Taylor & Co Solicitors l Mallview Terrace, Armagh BT60 9AN
LISLOONEY CONGREGATION OF THE PREsB£R1AN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Klrk 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 Kirk Session seeks to watch over and promote the spiritual interest of the congregation and of persons not connetted with anv congregatlon who are withln 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 member5 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 con8re8ation a person must be a voting member and a regular attendant on its ordinances. The selection of those proposed to be called to the olce can be either by the congregation or by the Kirk Session. Members are elected ifthey 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 superintend5 generally the spiritual and temporal affairs of the congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbwerian Church in Ireland. Lislooney con8re8ation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Armagh Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The membershlp 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 Sesslon of the congregation.
LISLOONEY CONGREGATION OF THE pRE5BERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'dl The General Assembly The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church. representing in one body the whole Church and actirbg 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 consist5 mainly of the active ministers of each congregation, retired minster5 and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each con8regation. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congre8ation 15 the advancement of religion. Llslooney congregation of the Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Pre5berIan Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland. as a Reformed Church within the wider body of Christ is 8rounded 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, rni55ion purposes is by the grace of God, to help people of all ages become fully devoted followers ofjesus Christ. Our vision is, by the grace of God, to be an inclusive, welcoming community of Chrisvs people of all ages. which: Is Increosingly charocteri5ed by lovefor God, and love and concern for other5,. 15 committed to the historic Christion gospel as revealed in the Bible.. Is relevant to people of this time and place. The congregGtion aims to live out its Mi55ion ond Vislon as o fomily of God'5 people by belng.. A Covenont Community.. where our relationships ore rooted in the promi5e5 of God by livingfoithfully toword him ond toward one onother An Intergenerationol Community.. where odults intentionally toke the lead to engage with. encouroge and nurture younger members to maturity in Christ. An Outward looking Community" where we wont the blessings of God thot belong to us in the 905pel to become blessings Jor other5 beyond the bounds of our community. A5 0 congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Irelond. we believe that the Bible is the supreme outhority over oll we do, and that the Westminster Confession of Foith, olong with the Larger and Shorter Cotechi5ms set out what we understand the Bible teoches on key motters of Christionfaith and practice.
IISLOONEY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Icont'd) AcfiviTIES AND OBJEcfivES The con8fegation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is observed on three occasions during the year and all those who have been baptised and who have made a profession offaith in the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted to the Lord'5 Supper. The congregation holds weekly bible study meetin85 and has a wide range Df organisations including Sunday School Badminton club ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worshlp and prayer The con8re8ation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 10.30am. Durin8 the week the Bible Study provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to studv the scriptures and for a time of prayer. As well as our regular services during the year we acknowledged God's gift of new life at I Sacraments of Baptism. we conducted marriage services and gave thank5 for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2024 there were 132 communicant members and 96 families connected with the congregations. The average week attendance at morning worship is 80 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 or an elder. Mlssion and outreach At a Ioc31 level the congregation reaches out through an annual holiday bible club and church services which are open to all the community.
LISLOONEY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'dl The congre8ation supports the United Appeal for Mlsslon 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 provldes 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 runnin8 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 c3re. 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 minlster and / or one of the elders. This provides an important link between the con8regations and the wider structure5 of the church. General Assembly The mlnister and one of our elders were nominated to attend the meetin8 of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June. Propertv There were no major repairs carrled out during the year. Organlsatlons The badminton club meets weekly with approx. 15 attendin8 ageing from 10 to 60 years of age. The PW meets monthly and depending on the topic, numbers can ran8e from 15 to 40 women ofvarious age groups. Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who glve freely of their time by servlng on committees and helpln8 With or8anisations and other church activities.
LISLOONEY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conVd) 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) leadin8 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 congre8ations and their member5 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 service5 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 thelr holding office or employment. However, this is incidental and necessary in order to further our charitable purpose. There are no other private benefits. The beneficiarie5 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 communitles throughout Northern Ireland. the Republic of Ireland. and worldwide whlch benefit from our en8agement with and support for both Christian and other secular or8anisatlons, tharities and individual members of the public. The Kirk Sesslon has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
LISLOONEY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'dl FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 100 contributors during the year donating a total of £39,247. £37,842 in previous year. 2023 Total Income of the congregation during the year was £68.288. £68,250 in previous year 2023 Total expenditure of the congregation during the year was £53,852. £45.158 irb previous year 2023. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIE5 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 prattice. As the congregation's total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 64131 of the Charities Act INorthern 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'5 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 25 March 2025 and signed on its behalf by IH3rry Dunwoodyl Ilvan Thompso [25103/2025} 125/0312025}