Presbyter an Creggan Presbyterlan Church a congregation of the Presbyterian Church In Ireland Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 Re8lstered wlth the Charfty Comm1$51on for Northern Ireland NIC105118 Presbyter TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present thelr Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023, REFERENCE AND ADMINISTrATIVE DETAILS Creggan Con8re8atlon of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 20 Cloghoge Road, Cullyhanna, Newry, BT35 OLS Registered Charlty in Northern Ireland (NIC105118) CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served durlng the year or who were trustee5 at the date of thls report are: Rev. Robert Mcclure Mr. Cyrll Feely Mr. David Smyth Mr. Philip Johnston PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Mlnister Rev. Robert Mcclure Clerk of Session Mr. Cyrll Feely Church Secretary Mr. Jonathan McBlrney Treasurer Mr. Nigel Robb Presbyter an TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) STRucfuRE AND MANAGEMENT The Klrk Sesslon The charity trustees of the congregation are the members of its Klrk Sesslon. Under the congregation's governin8 document, The Code, the book of the constitution and government of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland, the Klrk Sesslon seeks to watch over and promote the spiritual interest of the con8re8ation and of persons not connerted wlth any congregatlon who are wlthln its bounds. It ensures pastoral care Is in place in the congregation and seeks to further the contribution of the Church to Chrlstlan wltness and servlce In the local community. The Kirk Sessions has delegated to its Congregational Commlttee the temporal affalrs of the congre8atlon Includlng admlnisterin8 all funds and property belon8lng to the con8re8atlon. Members of the Kirk Sesslon are ex-offlclo members of the Con8re8atlonal Commlttee. The Klrk Sesslon conslsts of the ordained mlnlster and the rulin8 elders of the con8re8atlons. All members are entltled to propose, speak and exerclse equal votes at meetlngs, except that the Moderator, the mlnisters In actlve duty in the congregation, has no dellberatlve but only a castlng vote. Stated meetlngs of the Klrk sesslon are held at least twlce In each year or as approprlate. To be chosen for the office of the eldershlp In the con8re8atlon a person must be a votln8 member and a regular attendant of Its ordlnances. The selection of those proposed to be called to the offlce, can be elther bythe con8re8atlon or by the Klrk Sesslon. Members are elected if they obtaln two-thlrds of those who vote. Presbytery Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland form of governance the corporate oversi8ht of a congregation is the responslblllty of a Presbytery which superintends generally the splrltual and temporal affairs of the congregations asslgned to It by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church In Ireland. Cre88an Congre8atlon of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Newry Presbytery of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland. The membership of the Presbytery conslsts mainly of the active ministers of congregatlons asslgned to it by the General Assembly, mlnlsters who have retlred from artlve duty and an elder appolnted by the Klrk Sesslon of each congre8ation. Presbyter 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 leglslatlve, admlnistratlon and Judlclal authority, in deallng wlth all matters brought before It. The General Assembly Is normally constituted during the first week in June for worshlp and to conduct its buslness. At the end of buslness It Is dlssolved. The membership of the General Assembly consists mainly of the actlve ministers of each congregatlon, retlred ministers and a representatlve elder appolnted by the Klrk Sesslon of each congregation. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE Cre8gan Congregatlon of the Presbyterlan Church Is a con8regatlon of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, as a Reformed Church wlthln the wlder body of Christ is grounded In the Scrlptures, and exlsts to love and honour God through falth In HIS Son and by the power of HIS Splrlt, and to enable her members to play thelr part in fulfilling God's mlsslon to our world. The con8re8atlons' mlsslon purpose is by the Brace of God, to help people of all ages become fully devoted followers of Jesus Chrlst. Our vision Is, by the 8race of God, to be an Inclu51ve, welcomln8 community of Christ's people of all a8es, which: Is Increasln8ly characterlsed by love for God, and love and concern for others: Is committed to the historic Christlan gospel as revealed in the Blble; is relevant to people of this time and place. The congregatlon alms to Ilve out Its Mlssion and Vlsion as a family of God's people by belng: A Covenant Community: where our relatlonships are rooted In the promises of God bv livin8 faithfully toward hlm and toward one another An Inter8eneratlonal Communlty: where adults intentlonally take the lead to engage with, encourage and nurture younger members to maturity In Chrlst. An Outward looklng Community: where we want the blesslngs of God that belon8 to us In the 8ospel to become ble5sin8s for others beyond the bounds of our communlty. As a con8regatlon of the Presbyterian Church In Ireland, we belleve that the Bible Is the supreme authorlty over all we do, and that the Westmln5ter Confession of Falth, alon8 with the Larger and Shorter Catechlsms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith and practlce. an TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) AcfiviTIES AND OBJEcfivES The congregatlon meets for worship every Sunday and vlsltors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is observed on several occasions durlng the year and all those who have been baptised and who have made a professlon of faith in the Lord Jesus Chrlst are admitted to the Lord's Supper. The con8re8atlon holds regular Bible studv meetin8s and has a wide range of organlsations includln8 Sunday School Presbyterian Women ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANce Worshlp and prayer The con8re8ation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 10.30am and 7.00pm. Durin8 the week the Bible Study/Prayer meetlng provldes an opportunlty for members to meet together for fellowshipi to study the scrlptures and for a tlme of prayer. At 31 December 2022 there were 22 communlcant members and 22 familles connected wlth the con8re8atlons. Partoral care Members of the congregatlon who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are vlslted on a regular basls by the mlnlster and elders. Presbyter TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (conyd) Mlssion and outreach At a local level the congregation held several special mldweek meetlngs during the year where mlsslonary speakers were Invited to come and speak to those present concernln8 thelr work. These meetln8s were supported by other local fellowshlps from the dlstrlct outside of our denomlnatlon. The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mlssion which Is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Thls fund enables congregatlons to support the wlder mlsslon of the denomination and to do mission and outreach on denomlnatlonal basis beyond what the con8re8ation could do on Its own. The United Appeal Fund provides flnancial support for mlsslon personnel at home and overseas, asslsts congregatlons wlth the deployment of locally based staff, enables church plantin8, provides grant support for the upkeep of church premlses, asslst wlth the runnlng costs of Unlon Theologlcal Colle8e, the Church's tralnln8 college for ministry students, and financlally support5 congre8atlons In the areas of worshlp, dlsclpleshlp, global mlsslon, outreach, leadershlp and pastoral care. Durlng 2023 the con8re8atlon a150 contributed to the work of: Unlted Appeal for Mlsslon Overseas. Presbytery The congregatlon was represented at the regular meetln8s of Presbytery by our mlnlster and / or one of the elders. Thls provldes an Important Ilnk between the con8re8ations and the wider structures of the church. General A55embly The minister and one of our elders were nomlnated to attend the meetlng of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church In Ireland held In Assembly Buildings, Belfast, In the month of June 2023. Property As our property Is In a 8ood 8eneral State of repair we had no major expenditure on property durin8 2023. TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Icont'd) Oryanlsatlons Sunday School met each Sunday mornlng during the months of January to June (10:15am until 11:OOaml and September to December (10:15am until 11:00am) durln8 2023. It was normally attended by 11 children from the age of 4 to 13 year5 and taught by 6 Sunday School teachers on a rota basls. The chlldren would sing blble songs as well as learn catechism and were taught Blble lessons by thelr teachers from the Go Teach series. All teachers had the approprlate child protectlon training. The PresbY(erian Women met monthly In 2023 and elected new office bearers. Meetln85 were held for fellowshlp, dlscussion and support of varlous mlsslonary organisations. Volunteers The Trustees wlsh to acknowled8e thelr deep appreciatlon of those who glve freely of thelr time by serving on commlttees and helpln8 With or8anisations and other church actlvities. TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterlan Church in Ireland meets the public beneflt requirement by providing benefit to Its members and the 8eneral public by makin8 known the Christian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of religlon, The direct beneflt5 whlch flow from the purposes of the Church Include the 8ainln8 of an understandlng In Christian bellefs as set out in the Bible and in the Church's subordinate standards (the Westmln5ter Confesslon of Falth and the Shorter and Larger Catechisms) leadln8 to Spiritual and moral development and opportunlties for response to Bible teachlng. In turn, this framework leads to practical expresslons of Christlan beliefs and standards in the local community such as through the care of those In need {Includln8 the sick, disabled and bereaved). Generally the above benefits are dellvered locally by congregatlons and thelr members, or are facllltated throu8h pre5byterles or are or8an15ed and delivered centrally, Local dellvery Is facllltated by central resources In almost all cases. Publlc access Is made known through the use of notice board5, prlnted materiali press advertisement, websltes, and soclal medla or In other ways. The beneflts are demonstrated throu8h re8ular evaluatlon of the servlces and Informal and ad-hoc feedback from members, their famllles, and members of the publlc. The purpose does not lead to harm. The only private benefit flowin8 from our purpose Is related to Ministers, Mlssionaries, Deaconesses, Irish Mlsslon workers and Lay Agents who receive beneflts as a result of thelr holding office or employment. However, thls Is Incidental and necessary in order to further our charltable purpose. There are no other private beneflts. The beneficiarles of thls purpose are members, thelr famllies, other Individua15 that the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland is In direct and IndSrect contact wlth, the community In which pastoral servlces are provided and other communltles throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and worldwide whlch benefit from our engagement with and support for both Christian and other secular organlsatlons, charltles and indivldual members of the publlc. The Klrk Sesslon has had regard to the Charity Commissions publlc benefit requirement statutory guidance. TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convdl an FINANCIAL REVIEW The congre8atlon's rnaln source of income Is members, contributions through the Weeklv Freewill Offerlng. There were 22 regular contributors durin8 the year 2023. The Con8re8ations total income for the year 2023 was £28,407 and the total expenditure was £31,396. RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPECT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financlal statements In accordance with appllcable law and Unlted Klngdom Generally Accepted Accountin8 Practlce. The Trustees are responsible for keeplng adequate accounting records that are sufflcient to show and explain the funds transactlons and disclose wlth reasonable accuracy at any time the financial posltlon of the con8regation. They are also responslble for safeguarding the assets of the con8re8atlon and hence for taklng reasonable steps for the preventlon and detertlon of fraud and other irregularities. As the con8regatlon's total Income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under section 64(3) of the Charitles Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 to prepare a recelpts and payments account. Thos Financlal Account, for the year 2023, has been adopted by the con8re8ation, approved by the Church Committee and audited by Mr, Colin Whlteside, Newry. A copy of this Financlal Account wlll be submitted to the Charlty Commisslon (Northern Ireland) wlth the Trustees Report Approved by the Kirk Sesslon at a meetlng o behalf b 2024 and slgned on its Rev. Robert Mcclure Mlnister Mr. Cyril Feely Clerk of Session