Kilkeel Congregation Of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland Trustees, Annual Report Year ended 31 December 2023 The trustees present their report and the unaudited fmancial statements of th¢ charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. Reference and administrative details Registered charity name Kilkeel Congregation Of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland Charity registration number NIC105176 Principal office 18 Newcastle Street Kilkeel Co Down BT34 4AF The trustees Rev. Stephen Johnston Mr John Peacock Dr David ORT Mr Robert Adair Mr George Mccullough Mr 05wald Wallace Mr Frdncis Newell Mr James Graham Mr Edrnund Donaldson Mr David Mcculla Mr Wesley Hanna Mr Merwyn Aiken Mr Samuel Burns Mr Edward Graham Mr Robert Grahan] Mr David Parke Mr Sydney A Hanna Independent examiner Purdy Quinn Northern Bank House 42 Greencastle Street KILKEEL Co Down BTJ4 4BH
Kilkeel Congregation Of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland Trustees, Annual Report (continued) Year ended 31 December 2023 Strueture? governance 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 contsreoation 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 witne55 and service in the local community. The Kirk Sessions has delegated to its Congregational Committee the temporal affairs of the congregation includints administering all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Mernbers of the Kirk Session are ex-officio Members of the Conoregational Committee. The Kirk Session con51Sts of the ordained minister and the ruling elders of the concvregations. 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. Stated meetings of the Kirk session are held at least two or three 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 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 forn) of governance the corporate oversight of a congregation is the responsibility of a Presbytery which superintends generally the spiritual and temporaI affairs of the congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Kilkeel congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assioned to the Newry 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 retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation. 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 nonnally Constituted during the fJTSt 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 representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation.
Kilkeel Congregation Of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland Trustees, Annual Report (continued) Year ended 31 December 2023 Objectives and activities Description and Purpose The charitable pury)ose of the congregation is the advancement of religion. Kilkeel congregation of the Presbyterian Church is a conJo egation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, as a Refonned Church within the wider body of Christ is trrounded in the Scriptures, and exi5t5 to love and honour God throu(rh faith in His Son aT]d by the power of His SpiriL and to enable her metnbers to play their part in fulfillino God's mission to our world. 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 s¢t out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith and practice. The contsregational mission is the following... This is why Kilkeel Presbyterian Church exists... We exist to... Know and glorify God. and produce Christ-like disciples eommitted to witnessing and shoiving love to 211 people everywhere. Activlties and Objectives The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is observed on six 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 meetinos and has a wide range of organisations including.. - Sunday School Youth Fellowship Girls, Brigade & Boy5, Brigade Presbyterian Woman (PW) Youth Club - Mothers and Toddlers Life Builders Gym Bowling Club Activities and Objectives Worship and prayer The congregation nomially meets for worship each Sunday at I1.30am and 7.00pm. During the week the Bible Study provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to study the ScTiPtures and for a time of prayer. At 31 December 2023 there were 177 communicant members and 303 families connected with the contyregations. The averacre weekly attendance at moming worship is 180. Pastoral eare Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to si¢knes5 or age are visited on a regular basis by th¢ minister supported by elders.
Kilkeel Congregation Of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland Trustees. Annual Report (continued) Year ended 31 December 2023 Objectives 2nd activities feottiinued) Mission and outreach The congregation seeks to reach into the local community Wlth the Gospel. It is engaged in community outreach across the whole community. The Church also takes an interest in work overseas and has a particular interest in Christian work in Uganda. The congreLYation supports the United Appeal for Mission which is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enables congrecrations to support the wider mission of the denomination and to do mission and outreach on a denominational basi5 beyond what the congregation could do on its own. The United Appeal Fund provide5 fanCIal 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, as515ts with the running costs of Union Theological College. the Church's training 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 denomination's Sunday School project and any other special app¢als. Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbery by our minister and one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church. General Assembly The Tninister and one of our elders were nominated to attend the meeting of the G¢neral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assernbly Buildings, Belfast, in June. Property The property (main Church Building, Church Halls & the Manse) is diligently maintained by the Church Committee. Durinty 2023 the congregation upgraded the Choir room and created a new entrance from the Choir Room into the main sanctuary which allows for much better less-abled access. They subsequently renamed the Choir Room and it is now known as The Meeting Room and each Sunday morning tel coffee and refreshments are Served before the morning service. Organisations Sunday School meets on Sunday morning (excluding July, Auoust and early September)- Activities include singing, Bible stories and quizzes. Youth Fellowship meets on Sunday evenings for the youth. Activities include teaching and friendship. Girls, Brigade & Boys, Brigade are unifornied organisation5 that meet through the week for fun, friendship and the teaching of basic Christian principles. Presbyterian Woman (PW) meet on the 2nd Thursday of each month for Christian f¢llowship and instruction on basic Christian truths. Youth Club meet on Friday nights for fijn, games and social time together with a Christian "centre spot" Mums and Toddlers meet on Tuesday mornings and both parents and children enjoy time for social interaction and refreshments. Bowling Club meet on Tuesday & Friday evenings for social interaction and friendship. Life Builders Gym is open each day, with the exception of Sunday.
Kilkeel Congregation Of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland Trustees, Annual Report fcontinued) Year ended 31 December 2023 Objectives and activities (eonlinued) 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. Financial review The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. Total income of the congregation during the year was £244,299, compared to £235,229 in the previous year. Total expenditure for the year amounted to £256,786 (2022 - £233,740). A deficit of £12,487 was reported for the year ended 31 December 2023 (2022 - surplus £1.489). Reserves Policy The trustees consideT It appropriate to hold £15,000 as a General Reserve. This amount had been held during previous years, but due to the deficit reported for the 2023 year and the Generdl Reserve was reauced by £lJ,571 during the year to 31 December 2023. The G¢n¢ral Reserve balance at 31 December 2023 was £3,952 (2022- £17,523). Restricted Funds are held at levels consider appropriate given the purpose of the fiind. The trustees consider it appropriate to hold a minimum of £9,000 in the Property/Building Reserve. The balance at 31 December 2023 was £3,496 (2022- £7,185). 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 ChTlSt through the advancement of religion. The direct benefits which flow from the purposes of the Church include the gaining of aD understandinfJ in Chrtstian beliefs as set out in the Bible and in the Church's subordinate standards (the Westtninster 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 congregations and their members. or are facilitated through presbyteries or are or(Fanised and delivered centrally. Local delivery is facilitated by central resources in almost all cases. Public acce55 is made known through the use of noticeboards, printed material, press advertisemenL webslltes, and social media or in other ways. The benefits are demonstrated through regular evaluation of the services and infonnal and ad-hoc feedback from members, their families, and members of the public. The purpose does not lead to harn]. 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 indivÈduals 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.
Kilkeel Congregation Of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland Trustees. Annual Report (continued) Year ended 31 December 2023 Statement of Trustee Responsibilities The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the fanCIal 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 Trnstees have elected under Section 64(3) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 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 congreoation's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time its flnancial position. They are also responsible for safetsuarding the assets of the congregation and hence for takints reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees, allnual Teport w&s appmved on 3.5.o..5.£o.2Lknd signed on behalf of the boatd of trustees by: SILJ4,L. Rev. S Trustee phen Johnston Dr David OkT Trustee