## **MOSSIDE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND** **Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023** **Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105316)** ## **MOSSIDE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT** The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2017 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** Mosside Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, 207 Moycraig Road, Mosside, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, BT53 8QP Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105316) ## **CHARITY TRUSTEES** The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Martin Adams Ian Black Maurice Cochrane Jackie McBride Morris McCracken David McKeown Mabel Morrison Alan Simpson Jayne Stewart David Rowe ## **PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS** Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Rev Andre Alves Areais Mr. Ian Black Mr. Thomas McKaig ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER** ## **William Cochrane 29 Main Street Bushmills. BT57 8QA** ## **BANKERS** ## **Danske Bank, 6 High Street, Ballymoney, BT53 6AD** ## **SOLICITORS** ## **Greer Hamilton Gailey Murphy Carey, 27 High Street, Ballymoney BT53 6AJ** ## **MOSSIDE 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 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 at least Six times in each 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 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. Mosside Congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Route 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. ## **MOSSIDE 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 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 congregation is the advancement of religion. Mosside 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 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 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 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. ## **MOSSIDE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** ## **ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES** Mosside Presbyterian Church meet every for worship every Sunday and are committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our community. Mosside Presbyterian Church maintains an overview of worship throughout the community and makes suggestions on how our services can involve the many groups that are within our church. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, worship, praise and sacrament. - - Mosside Presbyterian Church are keen to offer a range of services during the week and over - the course of the year that our community find both beneficial and spiritually fulfilling. For example. - Sunday school. - Monday Club on Monday afternoons. - Presbyterian Women on Monday evenings. - Girls’ Brigade on Tuesday Evenings. - Boys’ Brigade on Thursday evenings. - Midweek Bible study Thursday evenings. - Mother & Toddler group Wednesday mornings. ## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** ## **Worship and prayer** The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 12 noon. 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 6 Sacraments of Baptism, we conducted 3 marriage services and gave thanks for faithful service and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2020 there were 280 communicant members and 142families connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship is 135. We have church services each Sunday at 12noon which is open to everyone who wishes to worship in the Presbyterian church. We have facilities to record our services and people take them and share the good news of Jesus with those who are unable to attend. This year we have had special services at Easter, Harvest & Christmas. We had an Easter week of worship, Praise & prayer which see members of the community attend who are not regular Sunday members. ## **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 care team. ## **Mission and outreach** We have a mission committee who meet 2 - 4 times per year to see where we can make a positive impact in mission overseas and in our community. They then report back to the congregation with feedback and information. One such event is the Christmas lights switch on in the local village. All gifts and food are supplied by the committee as we strive to have a close relationship with all the community. Football for Friendship is a week-long event where we can outreach to 80+ children aged 4-11. Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith. We had our usual annual mission breakfast where the money raised was given to the moderator’s appeal. They will be reviewed by the mission committee after 12 months. We supply food for the local food bank every harvest. We give an annual donation of £1,000.00 to the Air ambulance. We visit the community with invitation card at Easter and Christmas. These are important dates in the church calendar. This is to invite people to come and join us in worship and praise and extend their faith. We distribute two magazines quarterly, the Presbyterian Herald and the Wider World. ## **MOSSIDE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** 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 planting, provides grant support for the upkeep of church premises, assist 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 annual World Development Appeal 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 congregation 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** We have safety checks weekly and all repairs are carried out therefore providing a safe environment for all members. The session and committee meet 6 times a year to discuss all church related matters making sure everything is completed within the rules and regulations of the PCI and governmental guidelines. ## **Organisations** Sunday school is held at 10:45am every week where we learn together about God with scripture and prayer, art, craft and song, We have youth services, Children’s Day, summer and Christmas parties and a Nativity play. 44 Children Monday Club, a group for elderly people in the community who meet every fortnight. They have a luncheon some weeks and outings other weeks. 20 Members During the week the hall is used by our mothers and toddler group on Wednesdays. Presbyterian Women “PW” meet monthly where they have guest speakers on various topics. They also raise money for mission appeals. Girls’ Brigade: We have an average of 60 members from age 4 to 18. This is a benefit to the whole community as we teach Biblical truths and live skills as well as fun and games and lifelong friendships are formed. Boys’ Brigade: We have 60 plus members from age 5 to 18. This is a benefit to the whole community as we teach Biblical truths and live skills as well as fun and games and lifelong friendships are formed. Mid-week Bible study is a time of study and prayer. We pray for all that in happening in our church, community and the world. The crèche runs in the hall on Sunday mornings allowing parents to attend worship. ## **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. **MOSSIDE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** ## **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 Commission’s Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.