an CLONDUFF CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Flnancial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINisfRATIVE DETAILS Clonduff congregatlon of the Presbyterian Churth in Ireland 51 Bannfield Road, Rathfriland, BT34 5HQ Reglstered Charity in Northern Ireland {NIC104968) CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Cecil Brown David Harmon lan Megaw William Walsh Joe McKnl8ht Aubrey Stewart Joseph B Moorhead Robert Graham PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Convenor Clerk of Sesslon Treasurer Ken Nelson Cecil Brown Brian Magennls INDEPENDEKf EXAMINER SM Vlnt & Company 8 Newry Road, Banbrldge, BT32 3HN BANKERS Danske Bank Donegall Square West, Belfast, BTI 6JS SOLICITORS Fisher & Fisher l Newry St, Rathfriland. Newry, BT34 SPY
an CLONDUFF CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) srRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Klrk Sesslon The charity trustees of the congregation are the members of its Klrk Session. Under the congregation's govemlng document, The Code, the book of the constitutlon 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 congregatlon who are wlthin its bounds. It ensures pastoral care is in place In the congregation and seeks to further the contributlon of the Church to Christlan wltness and service in the local community. The Kirk Session has delegated to Its Congregational Commlttee the temporal affairs of the congregation includlng admlnlsterln8 all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Members of the Kirk Session are ex-officio members of the Congregational Commlttee. The Kirk Session consists of the ordained minister (currently Vacant) and the ruling elders of the congregation. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the mlnlster In actlve duty in the congregatlon, has no deliberative but only a castlng vote. Meetings of the Kirk sesslon are held on a regular basis. usually at least 4 times a year, 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 offlce can be either by the congregation or by the Kirk Session. Members are elected If they obtain two-thirds of the votes cast. Presbytery Under the Presbyterian Church In Ireland form of governance the corporate oversight of a congregation is the responsibility of a Presbytery whlch superintends generally the spiritual and temporal affalrs of the congregations asslgned to It by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Clonduff congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been asslgned to the Iveagh Presbytery of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland. The membershlp of the Presbytery consists mainly of the active ministers of congregations assigned to it by the General Assemblyi minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregatlon In the Presbytery,
an CLONDUFF CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd> The General Assembly The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church, representlng in one bodythe whole Church and actlng as its supreme legislative, administration and judiclal authority, in deallng with all matters brought before it. The General Assembly is normally constltuted during the first week In Juneforworshlp and to conduct its business. At the end of buslness it is dissolved. The membership of the General Assembly conslsts mainly of the active ministers of each congregation, retired mlnsters and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregatlon. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregatlon Is the advancement of religion. Clonduff Presbyterlan Church 15 a congregatlon of the Presbyterian Church In Ireland. The Presbyterlan Church in Ireland, as a Reformed Church wlthln the wider body of Christ is grounded In the Scriptures, and exists to love and honour God through falth In HIS Son and by the power of HIS Spirit, and to enable her members to play their part in fulfilling God's misslon to our world. Our mlssion statement is simply summed up In the opening answer of the Westminster Shorter Catechlsm, which states that our 'chlef end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever,. All our services, activltles and organisations have thls overarchlng purpose.
an CLONDUFF CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) ACTIVITIES AND OBJEcfivES The congregation meets for worshlp every Sunday and vlsltors are welcome to Join. The Sacrarnent of the Lords Supper Is observed 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 admltted to the Lord's Supper. The congregation holds regular bible study rneetin8s and has a wide range of organisations including Sunday School Youth Club Youth Fellowshlp Girl's Brigade Presbyterlan Women 'Refresh' (young parents group) 'Daniel's Band, (primary school aged chlldren's ministry) ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregatlon normally meets for worship each Sunday at 10:45am and 6.30pm. The evening service is shared with Hilltown Presbyterian, our sister congregation, and the venue alternates accordingly. During the weekthe Bible Study provldes an opportunityfor members to meet together for fellowshlp, to study the scriptures and for a time of prayer. 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(currently vacant), elders or Indeed by members of the congregatlon at large.
an CLONDUFF CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) Mlsslon and outreach All our servlces and organlzations have a consclous focus on mlsslon. We Ilkewlse engage In a number of activities that are Intentionally almed at sharlng the love of Jesus with people outslde our own congregatlon, Including chlldren's ministry In Hllltown vlllage and a Blble study in the local hotel. One of the key elements of our mlsslon work Is to encourage and support our members In the unique mlsslon God has glven them as Indlviduals. As part of thls we have glven prayerful and financlal asslstance to some of our members undertakln8 misslon work elsewhere (on thls Island or overseas). We keenly support a number of charltable works, perhaps most notably Tearfund.
an CLONDUFF CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) The congregatlon supports the United Appeal for Mission whlch Is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enables con8regations to support the wider mission of the denominatlon and to do mission and outreach on a denominational basls beyond what the congregation could do on its own. The United Appeal Fund provides financial support for mission personnel at home and overseas, assists congregatlons with the deployment of locally based staff, enable5 church plantln& provides grant support for the upkeep of churth premlses, assists with the running costs of Unlon Theological College, the Church's training college for ministry students, and financlally supports congregatlons in the areas of worship, discipleship, global mission, outreach, leadership and pastoral care. Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by one of the elders. Thls provides an Important link between the congregatlons and the wider structures of ;he church. Property No major property work wa5 carried out in 2022. We are thankfijl to be able to keep our property well maintained. Organlsatlons Our various organisations Includlng Sunday School, Danlel's Band, GB, Youth Club, Youth Fellowshlpp PW and the bowllng aub have now all returned to normal following the pandemic, Volunteers We are deeply grateful to all who enthusiastically and consistently serve the Lord in various ways wlthln our congregatlon.
Presbyter an CLONDUFF CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) PUBUC BENEFITsfATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by providing benefft to its members and the general publlc by making known the Christlan Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of religion. The direct beneflts which flow from the purposes of the Church Include the galning of an understanding in Christlan beliefs as set out in the Bible and in the Church's subordinate standards (the Westmlnster Confession of Faith and the Shorter and Larger Catechisms) leading to splrltual and moral development and opportunlties for response to Bible teaching. In turn, this framework leads to prartical expressions of Chrlstlan beliefs and standards in the local community such as through the care of those in need {includlng the sick, disabled and bereaved). Generally the above benefits are delivered locally by congregatlons and their members, 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 rnade known through the use of notlceboards. printed materlal, press advertisement, websites, and soclal media or in other ways. The benefits are demonstrated through regular evaluation of the servlces and Informal and ad-hoc feedback from members, thelr families, and members of the public. The purpose does not lead to harm. The only private benefrt flowing from our purpose Is related to Ministers, Missionarie5, Deaconesses, Irish Mission workers and Lay Agents who receive benefits as a result of thelr holdlng ofFice or employment. However, this is incidental and necessary In order to further our charitable purpose. There are no other private beneffts. The beneficiaries of this purpose are members, their families, other Individuals that the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland Is In dlrect and Indirect contact with, the community in which pastoral servlces are provlded and other communities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republlc of Ireland, and worldwide whlch benefit from our engagement wlth and support for both Chrlstlan and other secular organisations, charities and Individual members of the public. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commlsslons Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
an CLONDUFF CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's maln source of Income is members. contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offerlng. There were 79 contrlbutors durin8 the year donating a total of £33,338. Total Income of the con8re8ation during the year was £74,839 compared to £63,588 In the previous year. Total expendlture decreased from £64,889 to £50,995. srATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILMES The Trustees are responslble for preparlng the annual report and the financlal statements of the congre8atlon In accordance wlth applicable law and 8enerally accepted accountln8 practlce. As the congregatlons total Income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Sectlon 64(3) of the Charltles Act (Northern Ireland) 208 to prepare a recelpts and payment account and a statement of assets and Ilabllltles. The Trustees are responslble for keeping adequate accountlng records that are sufflclent to show and explaln the con8regatlon's transactlons and dlsclose wlth reasonable accuracy at any tlme its flnanclal posltlon. They are also responslble for safeguardlng the assets of the congregatlon and hence for takln8 reasonable steps forthe prevention and detectlon of fraud and other Irre8ularities. Approved by the Klrk Sesslon at a meetlng on 27th March 2023 and signed on Its behalf by Cecll Brown Joseph McKnlght Clerk of Sesslon Trustee