## **DRUMBO CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND** **Trustees Annual Report** **For the year ended 31 December 2023** **Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105236)** ## **DRUMBO CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND** ## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT** The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** Drumbo congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 123 Drumbo Road, Drumbo, Lisburn BT27 5TX Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC 105236) ## **CHARITY TRUSTEES** The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were Trustees at the date of this report were the Minister; Rev. Adrian McLernon and: Gary Ballantyne Samuel Connery Denis Currie Matthew Glenn David Hunter Mark Milligan Roy Irwin Chris Reid William McCord Helena Trimble ## **PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS** Minister: Rev. Adrian McLernon Clerk of Session: Denis Currie Committee Secretary: Desmond Shortt Treasurer: Alan Dorman ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER** Kelly Gillespie – Chartered Accountant 39 Church Street, Ballynahinch, Co. Down BT24 8AF ## **BANKERS** Ulster Bank Limited Belfast City Office Belfast BT1 1UB ## **SOLICITORS** W.G. Maginess & Son 68 Bow Street, Lisburn BT28 1A ## **DRUMBO CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (Cont’d)** ## **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 love the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted to the Lord’s Supper. The congregation holds regular Bible Study meetings and has a wide range of organisations including - Presbyterian Women - Sunday Children’s & Young Peoples Ministry - Discipleship Groups - Youth Fellowship – Seniors Fellowship - Parents and Toddlers – Youth Club - Bowling Fellowship – Badminton Club - Uniformed Organisations of Girls Brigade and Boys Brigade ## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** ## **Worship and Prayer** The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11am. During the week Bible Study Groups provide 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 in 2023 we conducted 2 marriage services and 12 funeral services, seeking to bring comfort to those who had been bereaved. At 31[st] December 2023 there were 175 communicant members and 298 families connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship was 150. ## **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 one of the congregation’s pastoral visitors. ## **Mission and Outreach** At a local level the congregation seeks to impact and support the community, through allowing the use of its facilities and resources. At a wider level, the congregation usually sends out a team to another country each year, to help with building and maintenance projects. ## **DRUMBO CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND** ## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (CONT’D)** ## **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 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 Elders of the congregation. 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 6 times per 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 form of governance 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. Drumbo congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has been assigned to Dromore Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The membership of the Presbytery consists mainly of the active ministers of the congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly, ministers who have retired from active duty and an Elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation. ## **DRUMBO CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND** ## **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 legislative, administration and judicial authority, in dealing with all matters brought before it. The General Assembly constituted during 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 ministers and a representative Elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. ## **DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE** The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion Drumbo congregation 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 the Holy Spirit, and to enable her members to play their part in fulfilling God’s mission to our world. The congregations mission purpose is, by the grace 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 Christ’s 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 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: where our relationships are rooted in the promises of God by living faithfully toward Him and toward one another - An inter-generational 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 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 set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith and practice. ## **DRUMBO CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND** ## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (CONT’D)** Sunday School meets each Sunday with up to 30 children of school age in attendance. Several house groups meet weekly for Bible Study, in addition to the Wednesday Morning Bible Study with overall weekly attendance of up to 55. On one morning each week our Hall is used by our Parents’ and Toddlers Group, with up to 20 parents/carers in attendance with their children. ## **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. ## **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 Larger and Shorter Catechisms) leading to the 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, lonely 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. ## **DRUMBO CONGREGATION IOF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND** ## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (C0NT’D)** 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. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** The congregation’s main source of income is from members’ contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 265 recorded families contributing during the year 2023 donating a total of £102,276.80 (£84,442.00 in 2022). Total income of the congregation during the year 2023 was £202,023.83 Total expenditure was £164,653.56) ## **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. 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) 2008 to prepare 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 the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 16[th] April 2024 and signed on its behalf by Denis Currie Rev Adrian McLernon