an CLONDUFF 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 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Llabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTrATIVE DEfAILS Clonduff congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 51 Bannfield Road, Rathfriland, BT34 5HQ Registered Charity in Northem 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 McKnight Aubrey Stewart Joseph B Moorhead Robert Graham PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Convenor Clerk of Session Treasurer Ken Nelson Cecil Brown Brian Magennis INDEpENDEr EXAMINER SM Vint & Company 8 Newry Road, Banbridge, 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) STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Klrk Sesslon The charity trustees of the congregation are the member5 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 connerted 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 Session has delegated to its Congregational Committee the temporal affairs of the congregation including administering all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Mernbers of the Kirk Session are ex-officio members of the Congregational Committee. The Kirk Session consist5 of the ordained minister (currently Vacantl and the ruling elders of the congregation. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meeting5, except that the Moderator, the minister in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Meetings of the Kirk se%sion are held on a regular basis. usually at least 4 tlmes a year. To be chosen for the office of the elderS1p 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 the votes cast. Presbytery Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland form of governance the corporate oversight of a congregation is the responsibiltty of a Presbytery which Superintends generally the spiritual and temporal affairs of the congregatiors assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Clonduff congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Iveagh Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The membership of the Presbytery consists mainly of the artive ministers of congregations asslgned to it by the General Assembly, minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appolnted by the Kirk Session of each congregation in the Presbytery.
an CLONDUFF CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (conVd} The General Assembly The General Assembly isthe supreme court of the Church, representing in one bodythe 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 forworship and to conduct its business. Atthe end of business it 15 dissolved. The membership of the General Assembly consists mainly of the active ministers of each congregation, retired minsters 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. Clonduff 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 ir fulfilling God's mission to our world. Our mission statement is simply summed up in the opening answer of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. which states that our 'chief end 15 to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.. All our services, activities and or8anisations have this overarching purpose.
Presbyter an CLONDUFF CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper 15 observed on several occasions duringthe 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 organisations includin8 Sunday School Youth Fellowship Girl's Brigade Presbyterian Women Daniel's Band (primary school aged children's ministry) Bowling Club ACHIEVEMENTSAND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normally meet5 for worship each Sunday at 10:45am and 6.30pm. The evening service is shared with Hilltown Presbyterian, our sister congregation, and the venue alternate5 accordingly. During the week the Bible Study p", ovides an opportunityfor members to meet together for fellowship, to study the scriptures and for a time of prayer. Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to 51ckness or age are visited on a regular basis by the mini5ter(currently vacant), elders or indeed by members of the congregation at large.
Presbyter an CLONDUFF CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) Mission and outreach All our services and organizations have a conscious focus on mission. We likewise engage in a number of activities that are intentionally aimed at sharing the love of Jesus with people outside our own congregation, including children's ministry in Hilltown village and a Bible study in the local hotel. One of the key elements of our mission work is to encourage and support our members in the unique mission God has given them as individuals. As part of thiswe have given prayerful and financial assistance to some of our members undertaking mission work elsewhere (on this island or overseas). We keenly support a number of charitable works, perhaps most notably Tearfund. The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mission which is a central fvnd of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enables congregations to support the wider mission of the denomination and to do mi55ion and outreach on a denorninational 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 congregationswith the deployment of locally based staff, enables church plantin& provides grant support for the upkeep of church premises, assists With the running costs of Union Theological College, the Church's training college for ministry students, and financially supports congregations in the areas of worship, discipleship, global mission. outreach, leadership and pastoral care.
an CLONDUFF CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) Presbytery The congregation wa5 represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church. Property During the year the P'all Kitchen was replaced at a total cost of £26519. This will be an Invaluable asset to the congregation going forward. We are thankful to be able to keep our property well maintained. Organisations Our various organisation5 including Sunday School, Danlel's Band. GB, Youth Fellowshipi PW and the Bowling Club continue to meet as nonnal. Volunteers We are deeply grateful to all who enthusiastically and conslstently serrfe the Lord in various ways within our congregation.
an CLONDUFF CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meet5 the public bencfit requirement by providin8 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) leadingto 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 communty 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 centra15y. 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, arbd 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 their holding office or employment. However, this is incidental and necessary in order to further our charitable purpose. There are no other private benefit5. 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 benefrt from our engagement with and support for both Christian and othersecular or8anisations, charities and individual members of the public. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefrt requirement statutory guidance.
Presbyter an CLONDUFF CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 79 contributors during the year donatin8 a total of £31.949. Total income of the congregation during the year was £73,100 compared to £74,839 in the previou5 year. Total expenditure increased from £50,995 in 2022 to £70,540. 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 accountin8 practice. As the congregations total income does not exceed £250,0(K), the Trustees have elected under Section 6413) of the Charitie5 Act {Northern 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's transactions and disc105e with reasonable accuracy at any time its financial position. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the congregation and hence fortaking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session at 3 mpptin8 nn 22rd April 2024 and signed on its behalf bv Cecil Brown Joseph McKniglit Clerk of Session Trustee