Presbyter an ¢HUP¢H IM IRELINO SECOND DROMARA 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: NIC105110
SECOND DROMARA CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT 2022 The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Second Dromara Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 4 Begney Hill Road Dromara Dromore Co Down BT25 2AT Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105110) CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were Trustees at the date of this report were,. Mr Les Carson Mr Herbie Chambers Mr Wilby Hanna Mr Alan Marshall Mr Richard Kernaghan PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister: Vacant Clerk of Session: Mr Herbie Chambers Treasurer.. Mrs Margaret Wilkinson Mrs Roberta McDowell Secretary: INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Kelly Gillespie, Chartered Accountants Ireland (Ivan Shannon & Co, Chartered Accountants, 39 Church Street, Ballynahinch, Co Down, BT24 8AF) BANKERS Danske Bank, 62 - 66 Bow Street, Lisburn BT28 1YS SOLICITORS W G Maginness & Son Ltd, 68 Bow Street, Lisburn, BT28 1 AL
SECOND DROMARA CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT 2022 STRUCTURE 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 interests 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 Session has delegated to its Congregational Committee responsibility for handling the temporal affairs of 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 congregation. All members are entitled to propose, speak, and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the minister in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative, but only a casting, vote. Meetings of the Kirk Session are held at least twice in each year or as required. To be chosen for the office of the eldership in the congregation a person must be a voting member and a regular attendant of 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 the support of two-thirds of the those who vote, Presbytery Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland form of governance corporate oversight of 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. Second Dromara congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Dromore Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The congregation was represented at regular meetings of the Presbytery by the Convenor and one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregation and the wider structures of the church. 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, administrative 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 ministers and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation.
SECOND DROMARA CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT 2022 DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion. Second Dromara 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. Second Dromara congregation's mission is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever as we point people to Jesus so that, by God's grace, they will come to follow Him and live all of life for Jesus. Our vision is to be a welcoming church family to all people of all backgrounds who will: love God with all our hearts and love others as much as we love ourselves clearly teach and joyfully grow in the truth of God's word, the Bible make disciples of Jesus who are equipped to live out their faith in the real world, day by day. In Second Dromara congregation we seek to live out our mission and vision as Jesus, followers as we.. reach out to the world with the gospel of Jesus. We do this through our words and actions so that others will see and hear Jesus through us build up disciples of Jesus so that Jesus, followers "become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4.13). We do this through teaching God's word in a variety of settings, both formal and informal., as we meet to pray together; and as we walk with one another through the joys and sorrows of life send out disciples of Jesus, whom he will "equip.. for works of service" in the world (Ephesians 4'.12). We do this through ongoing training and support to equip us to be Jesus, servants who are a blessing to the world. ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday at 11 .30am (11.00am from June to the end of August) and everyone is welcome to attend whether members of the congregation or not. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was observed on four occasions during the year. All who have been baptised and who have made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted to the Lord's Supper. In addition to services each Sunday, the congregation holds weekly Bible study and prayer meetings and has a wide range of organisations, which are open to anyone of appropriate age and / or gender to attend. These include..
SECOND DROMARA CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT 2022 Sunday School for children of nursery I primary school age Sunday Bible Class for young people of secondary school age Holiday Bible Club for Children of primary school age Dromara Kid's Club A Youth Group, known as BANG (Building a New Generation) Girls, Brigade Boys, Brigade Little Lambs - a group for parents I carers and toddlers The Living Room Afternoon Drop-ln Presbyterian Women Bowling Club. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer During 2022 the congregation met for worship each Sunday morning at 11.30am (11 .00am from June - August inclusive). Mid-week prayer and Bible Study meetings, which had been held virtually on Wednesday evenings during the pandemic, recommenced 'in person, during the year, with the opportunity for people to continue to participate virtually if they so wished. At 31 December 2022 there were 183 families under the pastoral care of the congregation and 143 communicant members. The average weekly attendance at morning worship during the year was seventy-five. Pastoral care Members of the congregation, including those who are unable to attend church due to sickness, age or infirmity were visited by the Convenor and l or one of the elders. Outreach During 2022 Second Dromara congregation contributed financially to 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 undertake mission and outreach on a denominational basis beyond what the congregation would do on its own. Second Dromara congregation has also continued to participate in Dromara Connect, the Christian outreach group, comprising a number of local churches from the village and surrounding area. The group, which is volunteer run and led by committed Christians holds regular prayer meetings and other Christian gatherings and organises events and activities which senie the needs of the local community.
SECOND DROMARA CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT 2022 Ongoing financial pledges from members of the congregation, together with a generous grant (£43,000 from July 2021- June 2023) from The Henry Smith Charity has enabled the continued employment of a part-time Community Outreach Worker. We are grateful to The Henry Smith Charity for its financial support for this important work. Key elements of the Outreach Worker's role during 2022 included reinforcing connections within the local community as well as restarting Café Hope and, working alongside volunteers, to restart various organisations and activities for children and young people, all of which had been suspended due to Covid restrictions. At the start of 2022, a three week Hope Explored Course was held, looking at the hope we have in Jesus, with that theme being continued in Café Hope, our Sunday evening Outreach programme, which met on the first and third Sundays of each month from September onwards in the Connect Hall. Café Hope provides a relaxed and informal atmosphere where people of all ages can meet, chat and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee or a milkshake, listen to live Christian music and hear about the hope found in Jesus. The average attendance on Sunday evenings was thirty-four, with up to fity attending on a few occasions, including a small number of young people from the village. The Shine Holiday Bible Club is an important means of reaching out to children within the wider community. It met from 27th June_ 1st July 2022 from 6.45pm- 8.15pm each evening with approximately eighty-five children, aged 4 - 11 years, in attendance throughout the week. This year's theme was Spy Academy, which explored the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, as told in Luke's Gospel, through drama, song, memory verses, talks and quizzes. On Friday evening a Family BBQ and Challenge Games Night was held in Dromara Community Hall and Lagan Park Complex with over one hundred children and adults attending. On Sunday 3rd July an all-age service was held in the church hall in which members of the church and wider community participated. Alongside adult leaders, seven young people helped run the Holiday Bible Club. Ten young people and three leaders met in June 2022 to plan summer activities for themselves and other teenagers from the community. Following on from this meeting we were able to organise three events exclusively for young people and include them in a planned trip to Dublin Zoo which was open also to adults from the church and the village. Nineteen different young people attended at least one of the four outings (Let's Go Hydro, Crawfordsburn, the Beach and the Dublin Zoo trip). Fity-five people from the church and the community travelled to Dublin Zoo by coach for a day out in August and a number of BBQS and a quiz were also held during the year which were enjoyed by people from the church and the community. Four young people attended one day of the Summer Madness festival that brings together young people and groups from across Ireland and from every background to celebrate, connect and explore the significance of faith in their culture and community.
SECOND DROMARA CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT 2022 Property The Church Committee continues to provide oversight, maintenance and development of the congregation's buildings to ensure they remain fit for purpose. In addition to routine servicing of fire alarms, fire extinguishers and boilers some minor repairs to the manse were undertaken during the year. Organisations Shine on Sunda and Bible Class At the mid-point in the Sunday morning service, from September to May children and young people leave the service for age-appropriate activities. Children from 3- 10 years attend Shine on Sunday, where the Bible is taught in creative ways and the children learn memory verses and praise God using child-friendly worship songs. Eight children registered with Shine on Sunday in 2022. During the summer month Children's Church replaces Shine on Sunday. Young people from Year 7 upwards attend Bible Class where they have the opportunity to discuss the Bible in a warm, relaxed setting. Four young people registered for Bible Class in 2022. Girls, Bri ade The Girls, Brigade meets from September to March on Tuesday evenings from 6.30pm- 8.30pm. To end the 202112022 session a very successful beetle drive was held in March, with the hall filled with parents and girls for an enjoyable night. Finan was secured through Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee anniversary and a special afternoon tea party took place in June 2022. The Mayor, Mayoress, local Councillors and ladies from both church and community attended. Our new session commenced in September with thirty-three girls and leaders. For our opening night we had a visit from Go Fly My Kite. All the girls had the opportunity to design and decorate their own kites. The annual enrolment service was held in October with a good attendance of girls, parents, and friends of the company. A variety of activities was undertaken during the year. These included Bible study, cookery, flower arranging and various crafts. A Christmas party was held in December to finish off the year. Bo s, Bri ade 1st Dromara Boys, Brigade is under the oversight of the four Dromara churches, namely First Dromara Presbyterian, Second Dromara Presbyterian, Dromara Reformed Presbyterian and St John's Church of Ireland. The Junior Section of the Company meets in Second Dromara church hall on Wednesday evenings from mid-september to the end of March. Thirty-six boys attended on a regular basis and enjoyed a range of
SECOND DROMARA CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT 2022 activities including drill, physical recreation, games, and craft, with teaching by various methods to explain the basics of Christianity as we seek to fulfil the Boys, Brigade objective i.e. 'the advancement of Christ's Kingdom among boys. Dromara Kids, Club Dromara Kids, Club meets every Monday evening during term time from September - May, the younger age-group (Years 3 and 4) from 6.30 - 7.30pm and the older age group (Years 5 - 7) from 7.30pm- 8.30pm. In total thirty children were registered during 2022. The aim of the Club is to give children a safe and fun pla to spend time with their friends and to communicate the good news of Jesus to them. Each evening there are fun group games followed by a 3-week rotation of crafts, games and baking in the hall kitchen while football takes place in the main hall. Parents joined the group on the last evening before Christmas where they participated in some of the games and enjoyed Christmas nibbles. The Livin Room The Living Room, a drop-in for parents with their primary-aged children (and toddler siblings) re-opened in September, running on Tuesdays from 2pm - 4pm during term- time in the Connect Hall. It provides a safe, dry, and warm Spa where children and parents can meet with others. As well as toys and games the is space for the children to do homework and tea, coffee, milkshakes, and nibbles. Every week between twenty-five to thirty adults and children attend not just from Dromara Primary School, but also Fairhill Primary School, and St Michaels Primary School, located in neighbouring settlements. Afternoon Youth Dro -in During term-time we have also been able to open the Connect Hall on Thursday afternoons for secondary age young people to 'hang out, together in a relaxed and welcoming space after a busy day at school with toast and tea or hot chocolate available. Eight individual young people have made use of this facility. BANG Youth Grou BANG met on seventeen occasions during the year with an average attendance of 6-8 young people. Meetings are usually held in the Connect Hall where the young people enjoy some fun activities and consider what God says in His Word, the Bible. A team from Logos Ministry International delivered the programme on two evenings. Other events enjoyed by the group included a number of night-time walks and trips to the beach. Four members of BANG are involved as junior leaders in Dromara Kids, Club and helped produ five short videos for a QR Christmas Trail. Little Lambs In September 2022 Little Lambs Parents and Toddlers Group recommenced on Tuesday mornings during term time in our church hall. The aim of the group is to help
SECOND DROMARA CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT 2022 babies and toddlers develop social and physical skills through play, craft and singing and to provide opportunities for parents and carers to meet, chat and relax in a Christian environment. With 50 children registered and an average attendance of 30+ babies and toddlers each week it is a busy and purposeful morning, enjoyed by parents, children and volunteers alike. At the last meeting prior to Christmas, the children were entertained by Jo Jingles and received gifts from Father Christmas, including a book telling the story of the Nativity. Presb erian Women The PW re-commenced in October, with 15 - 18 women attending meetings held on the second Monday of each month. Our first speaker was Elaine Elliott from Operation Christmas Child, previously known as The Shoe Box Appeal, which has been supported over several years by members of the PW and the wider congregation. This year 64 boxes were suitably filled and sent for distribution. As God has blessed us, we feel privileged to be able to show our love and care for others. In November a number of members shared their favourite hymn and the reason for their choice and as we sang those hymns which demonstrated God's love and care, we shared His love as a group. In December we enjoyed a time of fun and fellowship together with a lovely Christmas supper provided by members. Bowlin Club September 2022 saw the resumption of the Bowling Club on Thursday evenings after a break of 2 years, with fourteen members returning. the youngest is 11 years old and the oldest is 90 years of age. September to December was spent with Club play among the members. Plans were made, however, for four friendly matches to be played against local clubs from January onwards and to finish the season with Club Cup competitions and an Awards Night Dinner. Volunteers The Trustees wish to express their sincere appreciation to those who give freely of their time and talents to serve Jesus e.g. through work on committees, leading and helping with organisations, meeting and greeting visitors, helping with refreshments after church services, at Café Hope and other events, cleaning and caretaking duties and many other related and equally important activities. 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 advanment 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
SECOND DROMARA CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT 2022 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 congregation 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 using noticeboards, printed material, press advertisements, 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 relates 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 members, their families, other individuals with whom the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is in direct and indirect contact, 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 Commission's statutory guidance on the public benefit requirement. FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the weekly Freewill Offering. In 2022 127 families contributed to the Freewill Offering (2021.116) and contributions increased by £1,999 (2022: £53,293, 2021: £51,294). The congregation's total income in 2022, including restricted and unrestricted funds, was £124,741 (2021: £112,202), an overall increase of £12,539. Unrestricted funds totalled £77,648 (2021: £76, 830) and restricted funds totalled £47,093 (2021: £35,372). The overall increase in income for restricted is due largely to receipt of the second year of a 2-year grant from The Henry Smith Charity (£23.000 for the period July 2023- June 2023) to continue the employment of a Community Outreach Worker and some income received from letting the manse during the pulpit vacancy, transferred to the Property Account to be available when required to carry out necessary refurbishment. Total expenditure, including of organisations in 2022 was £77,863 (2021: £98,916) a decrease of £21,053. Payments from the General Fund (unrestricted) totalled £39,504
SECOND DROMARA CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT 2022 (2021.. £73,769), with the reduction resulting, for the most part, from the pulpit vacancy. Payments from restricted funds, which include the funds of the various organisations linked to the church as well as the Outreach Fund totalled £38,359 (2021: £25,147), with the majority of spend associated with the Outreach Fund. GOING CONCERN The activities of the congregation are dependent on ongoing contributions from its members. The Trustees are of the opinion that the congregation has sufficient resources at the date of the approval of the financial statements to meet commitments which will arise in the year from the date of the signing of this report and, subject to the continuing support from members, to fund on an ongoing basis the congregation's current activities and other financial commitments. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements of the congregation in accordance with the applicable law and generally accepted accounting practice. As the congregation's total income does not exceed £250,000 the Trustees have elected under Section 64(3) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to prepare a receipts and payments 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. This report and the accompanying accounts were approved by the Trustees at a meeting held on /f & 14,¥¥, Signed on behalf of the Trustees by Herbie Chambers Clerk of Session Les Carson Trustee io