an Drumlee DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financlal Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105080) Presbyter an DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REpoKr The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMIN15fRATIVE DEfAILS Drumlee Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 128 Lackan Road, Ballyward, Castlewellan, County Down, BT319RX Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105080) CHARITY TRusfEES 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 WorthingAnderson Vacancy from V512023) Derek Bin8ham Graham Truesdale Ivan Mccready Victor Weir PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Vacant Graham Truesdale Belinda Mccaughey INDEpENDE￿r EXAMINER Kevin Quigley BANKERS Danske Bank, 5&60 Market Street, Downpatrick, BT30 6LX SOLICITORS Gordon Bell & Son. 9-11 Newry Street, Rathfriland, BT34 SPY an DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Kirk Se55ion 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 service in the local communlty. 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 currently consists of the convener of the vacancy and the ruling elders of the congregations. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, currently the convener, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetlngs of the Kirk sesslon 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 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. 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. minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation. an The General Assembly The General Assembly isthe 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 for a week during 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 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 presb￿erlan 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 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, providing teaching, fellowship and pastoral care. AcfiviTIES 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 durin8 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 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 range of organisations including Sunday School Youth Club Presbyterian Women Group an DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship 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 duringthe year we gave thanks for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2023 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 regular basis by the minister and elders. At a local level the congregation organised the following events: _ Har4est Celebrations 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, 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, 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 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 ear the church committee has undertaken to u both the Church meetin house and halls. rade our current AV 5 stem In Organisatlons Blble Study We have held jolnt midweek meetings with our neighbouring congregation of Ballyroney, some of which have been conducted by a retired ministers and some by our Conveners. Presbyterlan Women Durlng the 2024124 PW session we were encouraged to have around 15 ladies attending each night. We joined with Ballyroney Female Focus on two occasions. 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 meetings and keep In touch with our ladies. Sunday School Drumlee Sunday School meets 38 Sunday mornin85 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 'Blble class,, (year 8+>. We were delighted to welcome the children to a 'meet the leaders, opening breakfast for the 23 children enrolled. This allowed the children to meet the Sunday School team in a fun and informal way. While each and every child is welcome. regardless of their abilities or attendance, we were very pleased that the average attendance was 86%. There were 8 children who received 100% attendance for that year, with one child receiving a 10 year full attendance award, with their perfect attendance only being broken by Sunday School not meetin8 during Covid. The aims of Sunday School remain unchanged: 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 with the response to all of our events thi5 year having been supported by parents. grandparents and the congregation. We were an DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (conVd} generously supported with our fundraiser breakfast and at our services. This enables us to purchase teaching materials and resource5 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 meet5 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 from outside the congregation. Activities include games nights, craft nights, film nights and baking nights. Onllne actlvltles 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 wlsh to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by serving on committees and helping With organisations and other church attivities. an DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Iconvd) PUBUC BENEFITSTATEMENT 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 beliets 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 lincluding 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 benefrts 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 benefits as a result of their holding office or employment. However, this is incidental and necessary in orderto further our charitable purpose. There are no other private benefits. 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 Republlc 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 benefrt requirement statutory guidance. an DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members. contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. Contributions during the 2023 year totalled £17,640.25 (compared with £17,536.80 in 2022). Total Income of the congregation during the year was £37,324 compared to £37,472 In the previous year. Total expenditure increased from £24.433 to £31,733. an DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) STATEMENT OF TRusfEE RESPON51BILmES The Trustees are responsible for preparin8 the annual report and the financial statements of the con8re8ation in accordance with applicable law and generally accepted accounting practice. As the congregations total income does not exceed £250,OCK), the Trustees have elected under Sertion 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 fortaking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meetin8 on LS 14IEPi 6 al and signed on its behalf by Rev. Geor8e Mcclelland (Convener) Mr. Graham Truesdale (Clerk of Sessionl an INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF DRUMLEE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND (To be provided by the Independent Examiner)