SLOAN STREET LISBURN a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland an TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Sloan Street Lisburn Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 2C Sloan Street, Lisburn, Co. Antrim, BT27 SAG Registered Charity in Northern Ireland INIC105229) CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were: Rev Andrew Faulkner Dr Brian Craig Mr Kenneth Irvine Mr Paul Mccarroll Mrjames McDowell Mr Nelson Small Dr Ivan Wiggam Mr Gary Wilson Mr Clifford Morrison Mr Alan Templeton Mr Graeme White PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Rev Andrew Faulkner Dr Brian Craig Mr Paul Mccarroll INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Mccleary & Company, Garvey Studios, 14 Longstone Street, LISBURN, Co. Antrim, BT28 ITP BANKERS Danske Bank, 62- 66 Bow Street, LISBURN, Co. Antrim, BT28 IYS SOLICITORS Donaldson Mcconnell & Company, 8- 10 Graham Gardens, Lisburn, BT28 IXE
SLOAN STREET LISBURN a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd) an 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 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 Sessions 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 elders of the congregations. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the ministers in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk session are held on the third Monday of January, March, May, September and November. 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 form of governance the corporate oversight of a 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. Sloan Street Lisburn congregation of the Presbyterian Church ha5 been assigned to the Dromore Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The membership of the Presbytery conslsts mainly of the active ministers of congregations a55igned to it by the General Assembly, minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation.
SLOAN STREET LISBURN a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) an 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 minsters and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the con8re8ation is the advancement of religion. Sloan Street Lisburn congregation of the Presbyterian 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 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 Vision statement is: Making and Growing Disciples of Jesus Christ. The Congregation aims to live out its Vision and Mission as a family of God's people by being: A Covenant Community: where our relationships are rooted in the promises of God by living faithfully toward him and toward 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 want the ble55ings of God that belong to us in the gospel to become blessings for other5 beyond the bounds of our community. As a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, we believe that the Bible 15 the supreme authority over all we do, and that the Westminster Confession of Faith, along with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith and practice.
SLOAN STREET L15BURN a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) an ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES 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 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 along with small home groups and has a wide range of organisations including: Treasure Seekers and Adventurers Going Deeper Mothers and Toddlers Girl's Brigade Badminton Club B.B. Old Boys Presbyterian Women Mixed Fellowship (Bowling) Club Boys, Brigade Tuesday Night Kids, Club ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11.00am and 6.00pm. During the week the Bible Study provides an opportunity for members to meet 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 5 Sacraments of Baptism. We conducted one marriage service and gave thanks for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2023 there were 211 communicant members and 237 families connected with the Congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship is 200 and 60 at evening worship. Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are visited on a regular basis by the minister, elders or by the congregation's pastoral visitors.
SLOAN STREET LISBURN a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) an Mission and Outreach At a local level the congregation supports a number of members who serve in a range of mission agencies both at home and overseas. Regular updates and prayer requests are provided through the Mission Support Committee and missionaries are given the opportunity to provide personal updates whenever they are home on furlough. In addition to our support for those from within the congregation actively involved in mission at home and overseas, 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 plantin8, provides grant support for the upkeep of church premises, assist with the running costs of Union Theological College, the Church's trainin8 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 annual World Development Appeal, Sunday School project and any other special appeals. Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery 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 minister and one of our elders were nominated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June. Property Remedial repairs to Church property continued to be made when required throughout the year.
SLOAN STREET LISBURN a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) an Organisations Our Sunday Children's programme, Adventurers for ages 3 - 5 and Treasure Seekers for ages 6 - 11 moved to an online presence and attracted an average of 20 children in the age range of O -11 where an attractive programme of teaching and learning was provided by our volunteer leaders. Sunday evenings, Going Deeper, a programme specifically aimed at those aged 12 - 18, also used the online facility when opportunities to share together and explore their faith and developing their spiritual well-being. A new children's ministry was established in September 2023 - Tuesday Night Kids, Club for children of primary school age. This will act as an alternative to The Boys, Brigade and The Girls, Brigade ministry that has existed for over 70 years. 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.
SLOAN STREET LISBURN a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd) an 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 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 organised and delivered centrally. Local delivery is 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-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 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 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.
SLOAN STREET LISBURN a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd) an FINANCIAL REVIEW The Congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 146 contributors during the year {146 in previous year, 2022) donating a total of £165,101 {£152,170 in previous year, 20221. Total Income of the congregation during the year was £445,893 compared to £264,268 in the previous year. Total expenditure decreased from £219,921 to £190,695 STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES 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. The Trustee5 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. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 31 October 2024 and signed on its behalf by Signed Signed Paul Mccarroll Dr Brian Craig 31 October 2024 31 October 2024