BELLVILLE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report Year ended 31 December 2022 Registered Charity In Northern Ireland (NIC104958) REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Bellville congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 130 Derrytrasna Road, Lurgan. Co. Amiagh. BT66 6QP Registered charity in Northern Ireland {NIC1049581 CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the dote of thi5 report were. Rev. Fmnk Gibson Mr. Thom(JsJohn Park5 Mr. Mervyn King PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Rev. Fronk Gib50n Treasurer I clerk of Session Mr. Mervyn King INDEPENDENT LXAMINER BANKERS ....... (new address due to Lurgun bronch closure I souaTORS Mccleary & CompanyLtd. Danske Bank Ltd. Walker McDonald Quaker Buildings 45 - 48 High street 2- 6 Edward street High Street Portadown Portadown Lurgan Co. Armagh Co. Armagh BT66 8BB BT62 ILB BT62 3LX STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Kirk Session The charitytrustees of the congregation are the members of its Kirk Session. Underthe congregation's governing document, The Code, the book of the constitution and governmentof the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Kirk Session seeks to watch over and promotethespirf(ual interest of the congregatlon and of persons not connetted with any congregation who are within its bounds. It ensure5 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 it5 Congregational Commtttee the temporal affairs of the congregation including administering all fund5 and property belonging to the congregation. Mernbers of the Kirk 5e5sion are ex-oiTicio 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. ha5 no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meeting5 of the Kirk session are held as appropriate. To be chosen for the office of the eldership in the congreEation a person must be a voting member and a regular attendant on its ordinance5. 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 15 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. Bellville congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Armagh 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 retlred from artive duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Sesslon of the congregation. The General Assembly The General Assembly is the supreme court of the church, representing in one body the whole Church and arting a5 its supreme legislative, adminrstration and judicial authority. in dealing with all matters brought before it. The General Assembly 15 nomially constituted during the first week in June for worship and to conduct Its business. At the end of busine5S, It is dissolved. The membership of the General Assembly consists mainly of the actlve min15ters of each congregation. retired mirt5ters 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. Bellville congregation of the Presbyterian church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, a5 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 congregation's mlssion purpose is bythe grace of God. to help people of all ages become fully devoted followers of Je5U5 christ. Our vision Is, by the grace of God, to be an Inclusive. welcoming cornmunity 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 hi5torlc Christlan gospel as revealed in the Bible and is relevant to people of this tiTne and place. The congregation aims to live out its Mi55ion 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 Intergenerotionol 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 blessing5 of God that belong to us in the gospel to become blessings for others beyond the bound5 of ourcommunity. 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 teache5 on key matters of christian faith and prattl￿. A￿1VITIEs AND OBJEalVES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitor5 are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is observed on two occasions during the year and all those who have been baptised and who have made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesu5 Christ are admitted to the Lord's Supper. The congregation holds regular bible study and prayer meetings and has re-cornrnenced Sunday School after the removal of covid restriction5. We a150 avail of other outreach opportunities induding.. - Qulz night5 Local Historical Lectures Gospel Musical Evenings Other one-off events as agreed with session and commtttee. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 10.30am. During the week the Bible Study provides an opportunity for rnernbers to meet togetherfor fellowship, to study the scriptures and for a time of prayer. At 31 December 2022 there were 19 cornmunicant rnembers and 17 families connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship wa5 13. Pastoral care All members of the congregation. including those who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are vlstted on a regular basis by the minister or elders. Those who are in care } residential home5 also recelve regular pastoral visits. Mission and outreach The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mlssion which is a central fund of the Presbyterian church in Ireland. This fund enable5 congregations to support the wider mission of the denomination and to do mission and outreach on a denorninational basi5 beyond what the congregation could do on its own. The United Appeal Fund provides financial support for rrission personnel at home and overseas. assists congregations with the deployment of locally based staff, enables church plantin& provides grant support for the upkeep of church prernises. a5515t wlth the running costs of Union Theological College, the Church'5 training college for ministry students, and financially supports congregation in the areas of worship. dlscipleship, global mission. outreach. leadership and pastoral care. The congregation also donate5 to other mission and emergency appeals wheneverthey arise. Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and l or one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregation5 and the wider structures of the church. Property A5 all unused property has now been sold, the Church and grounds IntludinE the cemetery are now in the care of the trustees ie: The Education Board of Armagh Presbytery. Organisations Everysabbath we have oursundayschool from 11am in the adjoining Church Hall. Ourairn isto help ouryoung people togrow in their knowledge and understanding of the scripture5 and to equip them spirituallyfor the challenges which life will bring. Our attendance figures have sadly declined during the Covid pandemic but are slowly rising again and it is hoped to get back to pre-pandemi leve15 in the near future. Volunteers The Tru5tee5 wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of thelr time by serving on commlttees and helping with organisations and other church activities. PUBLIC BENEFITSTATEMENT The Presbyterian church in Ireland meet5 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 incllrde the gaining of an understanding in Christian beliets as set out in the Bible and in the Church's subordinate standards Ithe Westminster Confession of Faith and the Shorterand Larger Catechismsl leading to spiritual and moral development and opportunities for response to Bible teaching. In turn, this framework leads to practical expressions of Chr15tian beliefs and standards in the local community such as through the care of those in need lincluding the sick. disabled and bereavedl- Generally, the above benefits are delivered locally by congregation5 and their members or are facilitated through PreSb￿erieS 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 noticeboard5, printed material, pres5 advertisement, websttes. and social media or in other way5. The benefits are demonstrated through regular evaluation of the service5 and InforJnal and ad-hocfeedback from member5, their familie5. and members of the public. The purpose does not lead to harm. The only private beneftt flowing from our purpose is related to Ministers. Missionaries, Deaconesse5, Irish Mission workers and Lay Agents who receive benefits as a result of their holding office or employment. However, this is incidental and ne￿SSary in order to further our charitable purpose. There are no other private benefits. The beneficiaries of this purpose are member5. their farnilies, other individuals that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is in direct and indirect contatt with, the community in which pastoral services are provided and other communities throughout Northern Ireland. the Replrblic of Ireland, and worldwide which benefrtfrom ourengagernent with and support for both Christian and other secular organisations. charities and individlral members of the public. The Klrk Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefst requirement statutory guidance. FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members. contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 22 contributors durlng the year {a decrease of 2 on the previous yearl donating a total of £9,8991£9,465 in previous year, 2021) Total Income of the congregation duringthe year was £16,696 compared to £16.252 in the prevlous year. Total expenditure increased to E16.041 from £14.009. As in previous years. standard income and expenditure streams remain steady. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILMES TheTrustees are responsiblefor preparingthe annual report and the finanual statement5 of the congregation in accordance with applicable14w and generally accepted accounting prartice. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are Sufficient to show and explain the congregation's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracyat anytime its financial position. They are also responsible for safeguardingthe assets of the congregation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularitle5. Approved bythe Kirk Session at a meeting on .IS...M.: .13 and signed on its behalf by