BROOI(VALE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 Reglstered tharlty in Northern Ireland (NIC105159) BROOKVALE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANhlUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Ststements for the year ended 31 December 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DEfAILS Brookvale congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland l Brookvale Road Rathfriland Newry BT34 5DA Registered Charity in Northern Ireland {NIC105159) CHARITYTRusfEES The Charity Trustees who seNed during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were: Rev. Seamus Burke Rev. John Noble Mr. Alexander Groves Mr. Keith Spiers Mr. Norn)an Mccrum Mr. Melvin Spiers PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Rev. Seamus Burke Clerk of Session Mr. Norman Mccrum Treasurer Mr. Andrew Groves INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Ms. Emma Blalr 26 Weavers Lane Warfngstown 8T66 7UE BROOKVALE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTW CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSfEES ANNUAL REPORT (conyd) BANKERS Danske Bank Business Banking PO Box 183 Donegall Square West Belfast BTI 6J5 sOUc￿oR5 Gordon Bell & Son 11 Newry Street Rathfriland Newry BT34 SPY srRucfuRE AND MANAGEMEKr The Klrk Session The charity trustees of the congregation are the members of its Kirk Session. Under the congregation's governi￿ document. The Code. the book of the constitution and govemment 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 fvrther 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 belon8ing 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 rulin8 elders of the congregation. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderdtor, the minister in active duty in the congregation. has no deliberative but only a casting vote. BROOKVALE CONGREGATION (kc THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRusfEESANNUAL REPORT (convd) Stated meetings of the Kirk Session are held four times each 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 ordinartss. The selection of those proposed to be called to the ofFice can ￿ either by tho congregation ar by the Kirk Session. Members are elected if they obtsin two-thirds of those who vote. Presbytery Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland form of govemance the corporate oversight of a congregation is the responsibility of a Presbytery which superintends. generdlly. the spiritual and temporal affairs 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 ministers 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 corEregation. 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 month of June for worship and to conduct its business. At the end of business. It is dlssolved. 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 charitsble purpose of thè congregation is the athiancemerrt of religion. Brookvale congregation of the PrEsbyterlan 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 BROOKVALE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) 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, by the grdce of God. to help people of all ages become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Our vision is, by the grace of God, to be an inclusive. welcoming community of Chrisys people of all ages, which: is increasingty characterised by love for God and love and concern for others; is committed to the historic Christian gospel as 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: wherè our relationships are rooted in the promises of God by living faithfijlly towards Him and towards one arH)ther. An Intergenerdtional Comrnunity: wheré adults intentionally tske the lead to engage with. encourage and nurture younger members to maturity in Christ. An Outward-lookin8 Community: where we want the blessings of God that belong to us in the gospel to become blessings for others beyond the bounds of our community. 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 Catechisms, sets out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith and practice. AcfiviTIES AND OBJEcnvES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrdment of the Lord's 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 wlde rd￿e of organisations including: Midweek Ladie￿ Bible Study pw Men's Bible Study Sunday School Youth Fellowshlp Children's aub Youth Club Bowling aub BROOKVALE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TrUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) ACHIEVEMENTS 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 prdyer. One marriage service was conducted during the year. We also sought to comfort those who had been bereaved. On 31 December 2023 there were 61 communicant members and 55 families connerted with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship was 70. Moming services are available to view online. Pastoral care Members of the corvdregation who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are visited by the minister, elders or other members. Mlssion and outreach At a local level, the con8regation seeks to reach out into the community. Members of the local community attend special services, events and some of the organisation& 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 plantin& 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 supports members participating in mission trips and contributes to the denomlnation's annual World Development Appeal and any other special appeals as and when they arise. The Presbyterian Women's Group (PW) of the congregation has contributed generously to the PW Mission Fund and other organisations. BROOKVALE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and/or one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures 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 duriT￿ the course of the year. Organisatlons The Sunday khool met on a Sunday morning with an average attendance of 18 children. The PW met once a month on Thursday evenings with an average attendan￿ of 14 members. The Youth Club met on Friday evenings with an averdge attendance of 12 children. The "Alive" Youth Fellowship met on Sunday evenings with an average attendance of 16 members. The Ladieg Bible Study met on altemate Wednesdays with an average attendance of 15 members. The Men's Bible Study met on alternate Wednesdays with an avera8e attendance of 12 members. The Bowling Club met weekly with an average attendan￿ of 12. Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of thelr time by servin8 on committees and helping with organisations and other church activities. BROOKVALE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) PUBLIC BENEFrr srATEMEKr 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 Chrlst 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 Catechisms) leading to spiritual and moral development and opportunities for response to Bible teaching. In turn, this frarnework 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 centrdlly. Local delivery is facilitated by centrdl resources in almost all cases. Public aC￿sS is made known through the use of noticeboards, printed material, press advertisement. websltes 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 publtc. The purpose does not lead to harm. The only private benefit flowing from our purpose Is related to Ministers. Missionarie4 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 frdmilies. 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 has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance. BROOKVALE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is mernber￿ contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 60 contrlbutors during the year (55 in 2022) donatin8 a total of £33.499 (£30.614 in 2022). Totsl Income of the congregation during the year was £51.449, compared to £41,582 in the 2022. Total expenditure increased from £37,302 to £58.903. srATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILMES The Trustees are responsible for preparin8 the annual report and the financial statements of the congregation in accordance with applicable law and generally accepted accounting practi￿. 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) 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. for taking reasonable steps for thè prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularitie Approved by the Ki Session at a meeting on 9 October 2024 and signed on its behalf by Date: Date: