an BENBURB CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022 Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105061)
an BENBURB 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 2022 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilitles as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Benburb congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Main Street Benburb Dungannon BT717LA Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105061) CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Graham Mullan Raymond Pogue Alan Martin Janice Allen PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Graham Mullan Clerk of Session Raymond Pogue Treasurer Roberta Mcmullan INDEPENDENT EXAMINER W M Coutney & Co 26 The Square Moy Dungannon BT71 7SG
an BANKERS Danske Bank 7 Scotch Street Armagh BT61 7DJ SOLICITORS Blair & Hanna Solicitors 11 Mallview Terrace Armagh BT61 9AN
an BENBURB CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Kirk Session The charity tru5tee5 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 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 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 se55ion are held at least twice in 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. Benburb 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 congregation5 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 BENBURB CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND 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 minister5 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. Benburb 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 congregations mission purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, In worship that is sincere, heartfelt and God honouring. In preaching and teaching that takes us into God's word in an accessible and relevant way. In fellowship that is Christ centred, genuine and practical as we support one another. In outreach that is compassionate and clear as we serve our community. We do these things in the prayer that men, women, young people and children wouLd come to put their trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord of their lives. The congregation aims to live out its Mission and Vision as a family o[ God s people by beins." A Covenant Community.. where our relationships are rooted in the promises of God by living faithfully toward him and toward one another An Intersenerational Community.. where adults intentionally take the lead to engase 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 sospel to become blessings for others beyond the bounds of our community. As a consresation 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, alons with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith and practice.
an BENBURB CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN 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 Lord'5 Supper is observed twice 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 includTng Sunday School Mothers and Toddlers Badminton Club Women's Group ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 12noon. During the week the Bible Study provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to study the scripture5 and for a time of prayer. As well as our regular services during the year we acknowledged God'5 gift of new life at three Sacraments of Baptism, we conducted one marriage service and gave thanks for faithful service and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2022 there were 67 communicant members and 48 families connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship is 24. 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 or eLders. Mission and outreach At a Local Level the congregation supports the Smiles Foundation and Southern Area Hospice.
an BENBURB PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND 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 basls beyond what the congregation could do on its own. The United Appeal Fund provides financial support for rnission personnel at home and overseas, assists congregations with the deployment of locally based staff, enables church planting, provides grant support for the upkeep of church premises, 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 J global mission, outreach, leadership and pastoral care. The congregation a150 contributes to the denominations annual World Development AppeaL, Sunday School project and any other special appeal5. 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 congregations and the wider structures of the church, General Assembly The mlnlster 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, in June. Property Renovation of church kitchen, Organisations Each Wednesday our haLI is used by our mother5 and toddlers group. Twenty children and their carers were regular attenders. Sunday School meets on Sunday morning5 at which there would be ten in regular attendance. At the end of the year, in June, the chiLdren take part and Lead the Sunday morning worship service.
an The Badminton Club meets on a Monday evening. Attendance wouLd average around thirteen people of all ages who play for pleasure and enjoy spending time in the company of others from the church and community. Our women's group (known a5 Presbyterian Women) meets on a Thursday evening on a monthLy basis. Attendance at these meetings average about thirteen. They organise meetings with visiting speaker5, Outings and Lead worship on a Sunday morning once a year. Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by serving on committees and helping with organisatlons and other church activities.
an BENBURB CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by providing benefit to its member5 and the general public by making known the Christian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of religion. The direct benefit5 which flow from the purposes of the Church include the gaining of an understanding in Christian be17ef5 as set out in the BibLe and in the Church'5 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 aLm05t all cases. PubLic access is made known through the use of noticeboard5, 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 beneficiarie5 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 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 BENBURB CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN 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 63 contributors during the year donating a total of £26,983 (£27,768 - 2021) Total Income of the congregation during the year was £68,522, compared to £46,107 in the previous year. Total expenditure for the year was £50,609 (£34,451 2021). 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 congregations total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 64(3) of the Charities 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 disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time its financial position. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the congregation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 18 June 2023 and signed on its behalf by Trustee Trustee Date: 18 June 2023 Date: 18 June 2023