Charity No: NIC104961 Drumhillery Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees Report and Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31 December 2023
Drumhillery Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees, Annual Report Year Ended 31" December 2023 The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statement for the year ended 3151 December 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Lia bilities as at that date. Charity trustees The Charity Trustees who served during the year and are trustees at the date of this report were Ms. Caroline Hopps Rev. Alan Marsh M r. Alistair Mitchell Mr. Ashley Mitchell Mr. George Mitchell Mr. Howard Mitchell Mr, Ivan Orr Principal office bearers Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Rev. Alan Marsh Mr, Ivan Orr Mr. Derek Robinson Independent examiner, Mr Andrew Gilpin WHR Accountants Limited Chartered Certified Accountants 56 English Street Armagh BT617LG Bankers Danske, 78 Scotch Street, Armagh, BT617DJ First Trust, 18-20 Scotch Street, Dungannon BT70 IAZ Solicitors John Taylor & Co, l Mallview Terrace, Armagh, BT619AN
Drumhillery Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees, Annual Report (cont'dl........ Structure and management The charity trustees of the congregation are the members of its Kirk Session. Under the congregations governing documents, 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 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 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 conslsts 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 Drumhillery Presbyterian Church at least twice in each year and, in addition -lal the Moderator may convene the Session on his own authority and shall do 50 upon the written request of any two members of Session,. and -Ib) the Session shall meet when directed to do so by the Presbytery or General Assembly. To be chosen for the office of the eldership in the congregation a person must be a voting member and a regular attenda nt on it 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 Sf they obtain two- thirds of those who vote. Presbytery- Armagh 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 congregation assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Drumhillery 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 ministers who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation.
Drumhillery Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees, Annual Report Icont'dl........ 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 a uthority 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 15 dissolved. The membership of the General A55embly consists mainly of the active 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. Drumhillery congregation of the Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presbyteria n Church in Irela nd, 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 congregation mission purposes is that we may by the grace of God, help people of all ages become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Our vision is, that we by the grace of God, would be an inclusive, welcoming community 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 historic Christia n gospel as revealed in the Bible,, 15 relevant to people of this time 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 towards him and toward one another An intergenerational 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 blessings of God that belong to us in the gospel to become blessings for others beyond the bounds of our community. As a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, we believe that the Bible is the supreme authority over all that 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 fa ith and practice
Drumhillery Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees, Annual Report Icont'dl........ Activitie5 and Objectives The congregation meets for worship every Sunday at 12.00 noon and visitors are always welcome, and are encouraged to join for Worship. The Sacrament of the Lords supper is obseNed on several occasions 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 Bible study meetings and has a wide range of fellowship opportunities, and meetings for the purpose of discipleship and community. Achievements and Performance Worship and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 12.00 noon. During the week, we meet for Fellowship, including Bible Study and Prayer. As well as our regular services during the year we acknowledge God's gift of new life as we celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism. There were no communicant members formally welcomed in this past year. At 31, December 2023 there were 110 communicant members and 63 families connected with the congregation. The average week attendance at morning worship 15 50. Pastoral ca re Members of the congregation unable to join on a Sunday due to sickness or age are visited on a regular basis by minister, elders and by other members of the Church Family. Pastoral care is also encouraged between members as we seek to 'bear one anotherfs burdens, (Galatians 6v2) Mission and outreach God calls us to mission as witnesses to Christ through both evangelism and social witness challenging the values of the world in which we live, with the values of God's kingdom and winning men and women for Jesus. We do this though seeking ways that we can love our neighbours, and witness for Christ in our family, work, and friendship circles. We are proactive in seeking new ways to share the reason for the hope that is ours, in Christ {1 Peter 3v15} The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mission which is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enables congregation5 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 oversea5, assists congregations with the deployment of locally based staff, enable5 church planting, provides grant support for the upkeep of church premises, as515t 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 m ission, outreach, leadership a nd pastoral care,
Drumhillery Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees, Annual Report (cont'dl........ The congregation also contributes to the denominations annual World Development Appeal, Presbyterian Children's Society and any other special appeals. Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and one of our elders. This provides an important link between the congregation 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. Property There has been only routine service and maintenance carried out on the Church Property, in this past year. Organlsations Sunday school Our Sunday School provides younger people and teenagers, the opportunity to engage with the message of the gospel and learn what it means to follow God in their lives. This is an essential part of the life and witness of the church. G irls Brigade The aim of the Girls Brigadels to help girls become followers of the Lord Jesus Christ through self- control, reverence and a sense of responsibility to find true enrichment of life. The motto of the Girl's Brigade is Seek, Serve and follow Christ. The GB is a key way, that we encourage evangelism and Discipleship in the lives of young women. Boys Bible Club This year, we began a new ministry to young boys, alongside our discipleship provision to girls through the Girls Brigade. The Boys Bible Club has grown from the legacy of Christian Endeavour within the congregation, and meets on a similar night a5 the GB. The Boys Bible Club has at its core, the goal of making and maturing young disciples of Jesus. This is done through Bible stories, and engaging with them creatively. Youth Fellowship Youth Fellowship provides opportunities for our young people to engage with the Gospel Message, to which they are encoura8ed to personally respond, and to grow and mature in their faith. There is a freedom offered at YF, to confront concerns and worries that they have, and to consider teenage struggles from a Biblica I standpoint.
Drumhillery Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees, Annual Report (cont'dl........ Youth Club This year our Youth Club continued to meet in Keady on Friday evenings. This has been a helpful way to engage with teenagers, a5 well as providing them an avenue to express themselves safely, with friends, giving them an opportunity to invite friends along. There have also been the opportunity for trips out during the year with the teenagers. Presbyterian Women The aim of Presbyterian Women are to encourage all women to become disciples of Christ and seek to fulfil the motto of the organisation 'Living for Jesus, and highlight the need for: l. Love and unity, 2. Obedience to God, 3. Christia n living a nd spiritual maturity, 4. Service, using gifts, time and money, 5. Local and global mission. Men's Fellowship The Men's Fellowship met during 2023, for the purpose of encouraging men, and following the principal of Proverbs 27v17 as 'lron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another,. During the year, the Men met up a variety of themed evenings, ranging from considering challenges for Christian men in the workplace, to social trips, as well as welcoming guest Speakers to share how the Gospel transforms how we are to live as Men. HOPE café HOPE café continues to meet in the centre of Keady Town on a Thursday Morning. At it's heart, HOPE café is not an event to come to, but a community to belong to, and motivated by I Peter 3vlS, a place where the reason for Hope is shared with all. This past year has seen many discover a welcome, many of whom had never entered a Presbyterian Church previously. Gospel Witness During the year, we are equipped, and encouraged to witness for Christ in our 'everyday' life. During the past year, we have also had opportunities to organise a Summer Holiday Bible Club, with support of our Partner Church in Second Keady, as well as supporting an Easter Holiday Bible Club, in Keady. At Christmas, members of our Church produced gifts for our neighbours, and organised a Community Carol Service, in the Housing Estate opposite our Meeting house.
Drumhillery Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees, Annual Report Icont'dl........ Service 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 Irela nd 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 understa nd ing in Christian beliefs as set out in the Bible and in the Chu rch'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 standa rds 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 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 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 thei r hold ing office or employment. However, this is incidenta l and necessary in order to further our charitable purpose. There are no other private benefits. The beneficiaries of this purpose are members, their fa milies, 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 complies with the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirements statutory guidance.
Drumhillery Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees, Annual Report (cont'd)........ Finance Review The congregation's main source of income is members, contribution5 through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 54 contributors during the year donating a total of £22,196. 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 total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 6413) of the Cha rities Act {Northern Ireland) 2016 to prepare a receipts and payments account and a statement of assets and labilities. 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 ta king reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularitie5. th Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 8 May 2024 and signed on its behalf by Name Name gLI, Mr. Ivan Orr Mr. Alastair Mitchell Date 2010512024 Date 20/0512024