an GILFORD CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBIYERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2019 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DAlL$ Gilford congregation of the Presbyterian Church In Ireland 66 Dunbarton Street, Gilford. BT63 6HJ Registered Charity in Northern Ireland INIC1051091 CHARITY TRUSTEES The CharityTrustees who served duringthe year or who were trustee5 at the date of this report were Paul Cochrane Reginald McElroy Albert Kinnear William Allen Raymond Edgar Herbert McNellis PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Convenor Clerk of Session Treasurer Rev Andrew Conway Paul Cochrane Ruby Hamilton INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Barry Thompson and companv 76-78 Church Street Portadown BT62 3EU BANKERS Danske Bank 37-39 Bridge Street Banbridge BT32 3JL SOLICITORS
an Thompson Mitchell Solicitor5 12-14 Mandeville Street Portadown BT62 3NZ
an GILFORD CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Icont'd) STRucfuRE AND MANAGEMENT The Kirk 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 person5 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 alternate months 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. Gilford congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Ivea8h 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 retireij from attive duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Sesslon of the congregation.
an GILFORD CONGREGATION OF THE PREsBERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) 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 it5 business. At the end of business it is dissolved. The membership of the General Assembly consists mainly of the artive 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. Gilford congregation of the Presbyierian 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 play their part in fulfilling God's mission to our world. The congregation'5 mission purpose is to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Soviourjesus Christ both through our individual lives and through our corporote worship on Sunday mornings. AcfiviTIES AND OBJEcfivES The congregation meet5 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 number of organisations including Sunday School Bowing Club Presbyterian Woman's meeting
an GILFORD CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Iconvd) 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 during the year we celebrated the blessing of one marriage and gave thanks for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2019 there were 50 communicant members and 74 families connected with the congregations. The average week attendance at morning worship is 55. Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to sicknes5 or age are visited on a regular basis by the minister or by one of the elders. Mlsslon and outreath At a local level the congregation has supported the following charities and appeals. Some of these are by purely financial support, however we also support a local Scout Troup in our buildings which helps us reach out to young people In our community. Presbyterlan Children's Sotlety British Legion Poppy Appeal Klds4Schools Moderators Appeal Spud Bear Ministries Arniy Benevolent Fund Belfast City Mission
an GILFORD CONGREGATION OF THE pREsBER1AN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convdl The congregation support5 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 congregation5 With the deployment of locally based staff, enables church planting, provides grant 5UPPOrt for the upkeep of church premise5, 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 our minister and l or one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider struttures of the church. General Assembly The minister and one of our elder5 were nominated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June. Organisations Our Sunday School and Bible class meet each Sunday during our morning worship service. The children are taught from a varied curriculum appropriate to their age group. On the third Thursday evening of each month. our Presbyterian Woman meet and after a time of worship and prayer an invited guest speaker will bring a gospel centred message through their chosen topic or testimony. On Wednesday evenings we join with members of our sister church in Tullylish for a time of bible study and prayer.
an GILFORD CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Iconvdl Every Wednesday evening our bowling club meets in hall for a time of fun and friendship as they enjoy a game of bowls together. Again this club attracts members from the congregation and elsewhere as well. They a150 enjoy hosting visiting teams for matche5 and travelling to other church halls to play. On Thursday evening a group of beavers from the local Scout Troup meet in our halls. Whilst we have no direct role in the leadership of this, it provides a safe and enjoyable environment for young people from all sections and backgrounds in our local community. On Friday evenings the bowling club meets for a night of 'fvn bow15' which attracts people from the surrounding area and further afield. 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 activities.
an GILFORD CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) 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 dirert benefits which flow from the purpose5 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 linclLbding 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 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 ptjrpose 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 ha5 had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefrt requirement statutory guidance.
an GILFORD CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Iconvd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members. contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 57 contributors during the year {ICQ in previous year, 20181 donating a total of £19,0661£18,268 in previous year, 20181 Total Income of the congregation during the year was £50,313 compared to £49,900 in the previous year. 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 8enerally accepted accounting practice. As the congregations total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 64131 of the Charities Act INorthern Ireland) 2008 to prepare a receipts and payment account and a statement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adeqvate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the congre8ation's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time its financial position. They are a150 responsible for safeguarding the a55ets of the congregation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved bythe Kirk Session at a meeting on .. and signed on its behalf bv Rev Andrew Conway Paul Cochrane Date: 1s/q12 Date: