an FIRST RATHFRILAND CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT STRucfuRE AND MANAGEMENT The Klrk Session 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 connected 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 sepiice 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 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 five times each year or as appropriate. 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 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 is 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. First Rathfriland 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 active ministers of congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly, minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation.
an TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd) 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 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 consists mainly of the active ministers of each congregation, retired minsters and representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion. First Rathfriland congregation of the Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, 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 playtheir part in fulfilling God's mission to our world. The congregations mission purposes is - Committed to the weekly worship of the Lord. Dedicated to learning and obeying the Word of God. Motivated to witness to our community by word and action that Jesus is the only way to Salvation. Encouraging support and prayer for mission in our world. Our vision is, by the grace of God, to be an inclusive, welcoming community of Christ's people of all ages. The congregution aims to live out its Mission and Vision as afamily of God's people by being.. A Covenant Community.. where our relationships ore rooted in the promises of God by living faithfully toward him and toward one another An IntergenerGtional Community.. where adults intentionolly take the lead to engage with. encourt7ge and nurture younger members to maturity in Christ. An Outword looking Community.. where we want the blessings of God that belong to U5 in the gospel to become blessings for others beyond the bounds of our community. A5 0 congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Irelond, we believe that the Bible is the supreme authority over all we do, ond that the Westminster Confession of Faith, along with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understond the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith ond proctice]
an TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (conyd) AcfiviTIES AND OBJEcfivES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament 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 admitted to the Lord's Supper. The congregation holds regular bible study meetings and has a wide range of organisations including Sunday School Young Fellowship Boys Brigade Girls Brigade Presbyterian Women M.en'5 FÈllowship Thursday Fellowship ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11.30am and 7.00pm. During the week the Bible Study provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to study 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 2 Sacrament of Baptism's, we conducted 2 marriage services and gave thanks for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2023 there were 202 communicant members and 235 families connected with the congregations. The average weekly attendance at morning worship is 125. 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. elders or by one of the congregation's pastoral visitors. Mlsslon and outreach At a local level the congregation gave £9,029 to United Appeal and approx. £4,000 to local charities.
an TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd) The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mission 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 provides financial support for mission personnel at home and overseas, assist5 congregations with the deployment of locally based staff, enables church planting, provides grant support for the upkeep of church premise5, assist 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 mission, outreach, leadership and pastoral care. 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 Presbycery by our minister and / or one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church. General Assembly The minister and one of our elders were norninated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June. Property During our vacancy the Congregation sold the manse {£265,000) and purchased a new one at 6 Finnard Road, Rathfriland (£394,500). Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by serving on committees and helping with organizations and other church activities.
an TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) 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) 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 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 congregations 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 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 their holding office or employment. However, this is incidental and necessary in order to further our charitable purpose. There are no other private benefits. The beneficiaries of this purpose are member5, their families, other individuals that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 15 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 has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
an Arst Rathfrlland CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTEftIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) FINANCL4I REVIEW The congregation's main source of Income is members. contrlbutlon5 throu8h the Weekly Freewill Offerln8. There were 170 contrfbutors during the year [168 In previous year, 2022] donatln8 a total of £71.021. {£70.596 In previous year, 2022) Totsl Income of the congregation during the year was £154,041 compared to £146,277 in the previou5 year. Total expenditure during the year was £130,$80 compared to £128,418 In the previous year. STATEMEt4T OF TRusfEE RESPON51BILmES The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements of the con8regation in accordance wlth applicable law and generally accepted accounting practice. As the conBregatlon's total income does not exceed £250.000. the Trustees have elected under Sertlon 64(3) of the Charltle5 Art (Northern Ireland) 208 to prepare a receipts and payment account and ststement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees are responslble for keeplng adequate accounting records that are sufflclent to show and explain the congregation's transartions and disdose with reasonable accuracy at any time its finandal position. They are also responsible for safe8uardlng the assets of the congregatlon and for taklng reaSOrb1e steps for the prevention and detectlon of fraud and other irregutarities. Approved by the Kirk Sesslon at a meetlng on 19th February 2024 and signed on its behalf by Mlnlster TreasUr