BROOKVALE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2021 Regr Charity In Northern Ireland (NIC105159)
BROOKVALE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAhlD TRUSTEES ANNUAL REporir The Trustees presenttheir Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2021 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINisfRATIVE DETAILS Brookvale congregation of the psbytenan Church in Ireland l Brookvale Road Rathfriland Newry BT34 5DA Registered CharÉty in Northem Ireland INIC1051591 CHARtfY TRU5fEES The Charity TnJstees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were.. Rev. Seamus Burke Mr. Norman Mccrum Mr. Alexander Groves Mr. Keith Spiers PRINapAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Rev. Seamus Burke Clerk of Session Mr. Nomian Mccrum Treasurer Mr. Andrew Groves INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Ms. Emma Blair 26 Weavers Lane Waringstown BT66 7UE
BAhlKERS Danske Bank Business Banking PO Box 183 Donegall Square West Belfast BTI 6JS SOLICITORS Fisher & Fisher I hlewry Street Rathfrlland Newry BT34 SPY BROOKVALE CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conVd) sTrucruRE AND MANAGEMEKr The Kirk Session The tharity 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 watth 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 community. The Kirk Session 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 eldets ofthe congregation. All members are entitled to propose, speak and eXeiSe equal votes at meetings. expt that the Moderator. the minister in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk session are held at least twice in eath year 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 it5 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 rf 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 affrdirs of the congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Brookvale 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 ministets of congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly, ministers who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. BROOKVALE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYtERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Iconvd) The General Assemblv The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church. representtng in one body the whole Church and acting as rts supreme legislative, administration and judicial authority, in dealing with all matters brought before it. The General Assembly is nonnally constrtuted 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 minsters and a representattve elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advanrnent of lIgIOn. Brookvale congregation of the Presbyterian Churth is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland. as a Refomied 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 wart in fiilfilling God's mission to our world.
The congregation's mission purpose is. by the grace of God. to help people of all ages become fully devoted followers of Jesu5 Christ. Our vision is. by the grace of God. to be an inclusive. welcoming community of Chrisvs people of all ages, which: is increasingly characterised by love for God and love and concern for others- is committed to the historic Christian gospel a5 revealed in the Bible," Is relevant to people of this time and place. The congregation aims to live out its Mission and Vision as a family of God's people by being.. A Covenant Community". where our relationships are rooted in the promises of God by living faFthfully towards Him and towards one another. An Intergenerational Community." where adults intentionally take the lead to engage with. encourage and nurture younger members to maturity in Christ. An Outward-looking Community: where we bvant the blessings of God that belong to us in the gospel to become blessings for others beyond the bound5 of our commut)ity. As a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, we believe that the Bible is the supreme authority over all we do and that the Westminster Confession of Faith, along with the Larger and Shorter Catechism5. sets out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith and practice. BROOKVALE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IREiAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) AcnviTIES AND OBJEcnvES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is observed on several occasions during the year and all those who have been bapttsed and who have made a profession of fatth in the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted to the Lord's Supper. The congregation holds regular Btble study meetings and ha5 a wide range of organisation5 including.. pw Tuuin LIUO Children's Club Touin reiiowsniD mldvek Ladies. Bible Study Men's Bible Study Bowling Club
ACHIEVEMEMfs AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 10.15am. Every other week, the Midweek 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 acknowledged God's gift of new life at one Sacrament of Baptism. We also conducted two dedications and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2021 there were 52 communicant members and 53 families connected with the congregation. Pre-Covid-19. the average weekly attendance at morning worship was 50 but this figure was reduced due to restrittions, including social distancing. Online servi5 were conducted during the period when congregations were unable to meet. Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are visited by the minister. elders or other members. Misslon and oUa(h At a local level. the congregation seeks to reach out into the community. Members of the local community attend special services. events and some of the organisations. The congregation responds positively to appeals and has made donations to a number of causes induding the United Appeal of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland which supports many facets of the church's work and the World Development Appeal. The congregation also supports members participating in mission trips and responds to emergenci disaster appeals as and when they arise.
BROOI(VAIE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) The congregation support5 the United Appeal for Mi55ion 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. assists with the running costs of Union Theological College. the Church's training college for ministry students, and financially supports congregations in the areas of worship, discipleship, global mission, outreach, leadership and pastoral care. The congregation also contributes to the denomination's annual World Development Appeal, Sunday School Project and any other special appeals. Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meeting5 of Presbytery by our minister andlor one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider strurtures of the church. General Assembly The minister and an elder are nominated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. Property No property projects were undertaken during the course of the year. Organisations The Sunday School met on a Sunday morning with an average attendance of 16 children. The PW met once a month on Thursday evenings with an average attendance of 14 members. The Youth Club met on Friday evenings with an average attendance of 12 children. The Youth Fellowship met on Sunday evenings wtth an average attendance of 6 members. The Ladies. Bible study met on alternate Wednesdays With an average attendance of 15 members. The Men's Bible study met on alternate Wednesdays with an average attendance of 12 members.
The Bowling Club did not meet during 2021. There was some disruption to the running of these organisation5 during the year due to the prevalence of Covid-19. 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. BROOKVALE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convdl 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 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 subordinate standards (the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Shorter and Larger Catechism51 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 congregations and their members, or are facilitated through presbyteries or are organised and delivered centrally. Local delivery 15 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-hocfeedback from members. theirfamilies 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 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 Presbyterian Church in Ireland is in dirett and indirect contart 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 has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
BROOKVALE 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 Weeklv Freewill Offering. There were 55 contributors during the year156 in 2020) donating a total of £270081£26,573 in 20201. Total Income of the congregation during the year was £42,866, compared to £31,582 in the previous year. Total expenditure increased from £22,065 to £35,183. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RE5PONSIBILITIE5 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 congregation's total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have eletted under Settion 64131 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 208 to prepare a receipts and payment account and a statement of assets and liabilitie5. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the congregation's transactions and disc105e with reasonable accuracy at any time its financial position. They are also responsible for safeguarding the asset5 of the congregation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by ession at a meeting on 10 October 2022 and signed on its behalf by ate: 10-10-22 Date: