an Drumlee DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022 Reglstered Charity In Northern Ireland (NIC105080)
an DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IREIAND 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 Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DEfAILS Drumlee Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 128 Lackan Road, Ballyward, Castlewellan. County Down, BT319RX Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105080} CHARrrY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Rev. Andrew Boreland (Convener of the Vacancy until 3014123) Rev George Mcclelland {Convener of the Worthing Anderson Vacancy from 11512023) Derek Bingham Graham Truesdale Ivan Mccready Victor Weir PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Vacant Graham Truesdale Belinda Mccaughey INDEPENDEKf EXAMINER Kevin Quigley BANKERS Danske Bank, 58-60 Market Street, Downpatrlck, BT30 6LX SOLICITORS Gordon Bell & Son, 9-11 Newry Street, Rathfriland. BT34 SPY
an DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMEKr The Klrk Sesslon 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 constÉtution 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 contrlbution of the Church to Christian witness and servlce 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 Congregatlonal Committee. The Kirk Session currently consists of the convener of the vacancy and the rullng elders of the congregatlons. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exerclse equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, currently the convener, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Klrk session are held a minimum of three 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 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 congregatlon 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. Drumlee 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, min5ter5 who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation.
an DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Iconvd) The General Assembly The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church, representin8 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 for a week duringjune for worship and to condurt its busines5. 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 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. Drumlee congregation of the Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, as a Reformed Church withln 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's mission purpose is to minister to the rural community in which we are embedded with the truth of the Gospel of Christ, providin8 teachin& fellowship and pastoral care. ACTivrriES AND OBJECTIVES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is observed on four occasions during the year (one of which is joint with our neighbouring congregation of Ballyroney) and all those who have been baptised and who have made a professlon of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted to the Lord's Supper. The congregation holds regular bible study meetings and has a range of organisations including Sunday School Youth Club Presbyterian Women Group
an DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT Iconvd) ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worshlp and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 10.30am. 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 gave thanks for faithfvl services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved duringthe year. At 31 December 2022 there were 59 communicant members and 51 families connected with the congregations. The average week attendance at morning worship is 50 Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are visited on a re8ular basis by the minister and elders. At a local level the con8regation organised the followlng events: _ Harvest Celebratlons The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mission which is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Thls fund enables congregations to support the wider mission of the denomination and to do mission and outreach on a denominational basis beyond what the congre8atlon 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, assist with the running costs of Union Theological College, the Church's trainin8 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 Presbytery by one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church.
an DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) General Assembly One of our elders was nominated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings. Belfast, in June. Property In the last year the church committee has undertaken to upgrade our current AV system in both the Church meeting house and halls. Or8anlsatlons Blble Study We have held fortnightly joint midweek meetings with our neighbouring congregation of Ballyroney, which have been conducted by a local retlred minister. In the other weeks, joint mldweek meetings are held in our neighbourin8 congregation of Ballyroney. Presbyterlan Women Duringthe 2022123 PW session we were encouraged to have around 15 ladies attending each ni8ht. We joined wlth Ballyroney Female Focus on two occasions and had a speaker for our Joint meetln8. On other nights we used info from the PW pack and utilised the skills of our members to lead the meetings. We used Facebook and WhatsApp to advertise our meetin8S and keep in touch wlth our ladies. Sunday School Drumlee Sunday School meets 38 Sunday momings each year from September to June, from 9.45 - 10.30 am. We cater for children from school years 1-10. There are 4 class groups - 'Beginners', (Year 1-3), 'Primaries', (year 4-5), 'Juniors', (year 6-7) and 'Bible class,, (year 8+). We are delighted to have just completed our first year without Covid 19 restrictions, opening with a welcome breakfast for the 24 children enrolled. This allowed the children to meet the Sunday School team in a fun and informal way. While every child is welcome. regardless of their abilities or attendance, we were very pleased that the average attendance was 84.5%. There were 8 children who received IIXM attendance for that year. The aims of Sunday School are to provide an age-appropriate bible based knowledge of Christianity. through the use of the 'Go Teach'/ 'Come Learn resources,. Children are helped and encouraged to learn a short bible verse each week. Notable events in our calendar include the Christmas service, Christmas party, the Bible Class Christmas Outin& Fundraiser breakfast. Children's Day services and supper, and our family outing at the end of the year. We were delighted to be able to open up all of our events this year to include parents, grandparents and the
an DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conVd} congregation. We were generously supported with our fundraiser breakfast and at our services. This enables us to purchase teaching materials and resources to finance outings for the children, and support three charities each year. Our Charities for this year were: Livingstonia Hospital Partnership. the Presbyterian Children's Society and B Positive. Each child received a Christmas, Easter and birthday gift. We receive interest each year from a bequest. Youth Club The Youth Club meets from 7pm to 9pm on alternate Saturday evenings from September to May. It has about 20 children from Primary I to Year 8, a number of who are frorn outside the congregation. Activities include games nights, craft nights, film nights and baking nights. Covld-19 Response All church actlvities had re-opened by September 2022 following the Covid pandemlc. We continue to put services online via YouTube and provide a CD ministry to those who are unable to attend meetings. The church WhatsApp group and Facebook page continue to enable members to keep in contact with each other. Volunteers 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 actlvltles.
an DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) PUBLIC BENEFIT sfATEMEKr The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the public benefft 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 indude the gaining of an understanding in Chrlstlan 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) leadin8 to spiritual and moral development and opportunities for response to Bible teaching. In turn, this framework leads to practical expression5 of Christian beliefs and standards in the local community such as through the care of those in need lincluding the sick, disabled and bereaved). Generally the above benefrts are dellvered locally by con8re8ations 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 materiall press advertisement, websites, and social media or in other ways. The benef 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 benefrt flowing from our purpose is related to Ministers, Missionaries, Deaconesses, Irish Mission workers and Lay Agents who receive benef 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 members, their families, other individuals that the PreSberlan Church in Ireland is in direct and indirect contact with. the community in which pastoral servlces are provided and other communities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and worldwlde which benefrt from our engagement with and support for both Christian and other secularorganisations, charities and individual members of the public. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefrt requirement statutory guidance.
an DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewlll Offering. Contributions during the 2022 year totalled £17,536.80 (compared with £16,714.00 in 2021). Total Income of the congregation during the year was £37,472 compared to £39,622 In the previous year. Total expendlture decreased from £35.833 to £24,433.
an Registered Charfty In Northem Ireland (NIC105080) srATEMENT OF TRusfEE RESPONSIBILMES 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 totsl income does not exceed £250,(, the Trustees have elected under Sertion 64(3) of the Charities Att (Northern Ireland) 208 to prepare a receipts and payment account and a ststement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees are responsible for keeplng adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explaln the congregation's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time its financial position. They are also responsible for safe8uardin8 the assets of the congregation and hence for tsking reasonable step5 for the preventlon and detertion of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on13ék 01 l and signed on its behalf by Rev. George Mcclelland (Convener) Mr. Graham Truesdale (Clerk of Session)
an INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND (To be provided by the Independent Examiner)