ARMOY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present theirAnnual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 and Statement of Assets and Llabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Armoy Congregation of the Presbyterian Church In Ireland. 14 Church Road, Armoy, Ballymoneyi BT53 8XQ. Registered Charity in Northern Ireland {NIC1053801 CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were: Mrs A Campbell Mrs H Morrison Mr D Huey Mr G Huey Mr D Cusick PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Se55ion Treasurer Rev Gary Glasgow Mr David Huey Mr5 V Huey INDEPENDENT EXAMINER James Wallace, D T Carson & Co., 51-53 Thoma5 Street, Ballymena, BT43 6AZ BANKERS Danske Bank, High Street, Ballymoney, BT53 6AH SOLICITORS Thoma5 Taggart & Sons, 27 Church Street, Ballymoney, BT53 6HS ARMOY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Klrk Session The charity trustees of the congregatlon are the members of its Klrk Session. Under the congregatlon's Eoverning document, The Code, the book of the constltutlon and government of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland, the Kirk Session seeks to watch over and promote the spiritual Interest of the congregatlon and of persons not connected wlth any congregation who are within its bound5. It ensures pastoral care is in place In the congregation and seeks to further the contrlbutlon of the Church to Christian witness and servlce in the local community. The Kirk Sessions has delegated to its Congregational Commlttee the temporal affairs of the congregatlon including admlnlstering all funds and property belonglng to the congregation. Members of the Kirk Session are ex-offlclo members of the Congregational Commlttee. The Kirk Session consist5 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 mlnlster5 in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk session are held a5 and when necessary but at least twice in the year. To be chosen for the office of the eldership Sn the congregation a person must be a voting member and a regular attendant on it5 ordinances. The selection of those proposed to be called to the office can be either by the congregation or by the Kirk Session. Member5 are elected if they obtain two-thirds of those who vote. Presbytery Under the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland form of governance the corporate overslght of a congregation is the responsibility of a Presbytery whlch superintends generally the spiritual and temporal affairs of the congregations asslgned to It by the General A55embly of the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland. Armoy 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 mln15ters of congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly, minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Klrk 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 a5 its Supreme legislatlve, administration and Judiclal authority, In dealln8 With all matters brought before it. The General A55embly is normally constituted during the first week In June for worship and to conduct Its buslness. At the end of busines5 it is di5501ved. The membership of the General Assembly consists mainly of the active ministers of each congregatlon, retired minsters ond a representatlve elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. ARMOY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religlon. Armoy congregation of the Presbyterlan Church is a congregation of the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, as a Reformed Church within the wider body of Christ is grounded in the Scriptures, and exlsts to love and honour God through faith In HIS Son and by the power of His Splrlt, and to enable her members to play their part in fulfllllng God's misslon to our world. The congregations mission purposes Is by the grace of God, to help people of all ages become fully devoted followers of Jesus Chrlst. 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 Chrlstlan gospel as revealed In the Bible. is relevant to people of this time and place. The congregation aims to live out its Misslon and Vlslon as a famlly of God's people by be5ng: A Covenant Community: where our relationships are rooted in the promlses of God by living falthfully toward him and toward one another. An Intergenerational Community: where adults Intentlonally 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 blesslngs for others beyond the bounds of our communlty. 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 Falth, along with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms Set out what we understand the Bible teache5 on key matters of Christian falth and practice. ACTIVITIES AND OBJEcfivES The congregation meets for worshlp every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper 15 observed on several occasion5 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 regula r prayer meetings and has a wide range of organisations includlng: Sunday School: Girls, Brigade; Bowing Club; Presbyterian Women. Children'5 Church ARMOY CONGREGATION OF THE pREsB￿ER1AN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Icont'd) ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregatlon normally meets for worship each Sunday at 10.30am. As well a5 our regular services durlng the year we acknowledged God's gift of new life at 5 Sacraments of Baptism and gave thanks for faithful servlces and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved durlng the year. At 31 December 2023 there were 122 communlcant members on the roll and 93 families connected with the congregation. Average attendance during 2023 was 50. Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to slckness or age are visited on a regular basis by the minister or elders. Mission and outreach At a local level we seek to be a posltlve Influence In our vlllage and surroundlng community and our church to be a place where all people feel welcome and are shown uncondltional love. We seek to share God's love by word and actlon. We alm to achleve thls malnly through our organisations and 5peclal Outreach Events. l. Glrls Brigade Company- providing opportunitles to connect wlth local families and encouraging young glrls from our communlty to "Seek, Serve and Follow Chrlst" 2. Sunday School- provldlng Chrlstlan teachlng to 15 regular chlldren. We were able to provlde caterlng and car parking forvisltors to the Armoy Road Races on the 29th July 2023. The congre8ation support5 the United Appeal for Mlsslon whlch Is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enables congregations to support the wider mission of the denomlnatlon and to do misslon and outreach on a denominational basis beyond what the congregation could do on its own. The United Appeal Fund provides flnancial support for mission personnel at home and overseas, asslsts congregations with the deployment of locally based staff, enables church planting, provide5 grant support for the upkeep of church premise5, assist with the running costs of Union Theological College, the Church's training college for mlnistry students, and financially supports con8re8atlon In the areas of worship, discipleshlp, global m15sion, outreach, leadership and pastoral care. The congregation also contributes to the denominations annual World Development Appeal and any other special appeal5. ARMOY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Icont'd) Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and l or one of the elders. This provides an important Ilnk between the congregatlon5 and the wider structures of the church. General Assembly The minlster 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 Painted the exterior of the manse. Organlsatlons Sunday School- The Sunday School meets every Sunday morning in the hall from September to June prior to the morning service, There would be 15 children on the roll book . Presbyterian Women- PW meets in the church hall on the thlrd Monday of the month from September to March. There would be 21 members on roll and we have a varied programme. We hold a PW Service every year and throughout the year would be invited to other local PW groups. Bowllng Club-The bowling club meets In the church hall on a Tuesday and Saturday night for practice from September to April. Membershlp include5 members of the local Church of Ireland. The club plays in league and friendly matches. Girls, Brigade-The GB meets in the church hall every Thursday night from September to March. There Is membership of 50 glrls with a group of leaders under directlon of the captain. The girls take part in a varied programme of badgework and take part in local district competitlons and servlces. The Enrolment Service Is held in October and the session concludes with a parents evening Children's Church 13 children up to age 8 leave church after Children's Talk and are taught Bible stories by volunteer leaders from our church famlly. Volunteer The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by seNing on committees and helping with organisatlons and other church activit5es. ARMOY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the publlc benefit requirement by providing benefit to its members and the general public by makin8 known the Christian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Chrlst through the advancement of religion. The dlrect benefits which flow from the purposes of the Church include the gaining of an understanding in Christian bellefs as set out in the Bible and In the Church's subordinate standards (the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Shorter and Larger Catechisms) leadlng to splritual and moral development and opportunities for response to Bible teachlng. In turn, this framework leads to practical expressions of Christlan belief5 and Standards in the local community such as through the care of those In need (including the sick, dlsabled and bereaved). Generally the above benefits are dellvered locally by congregations and their members, or are facilitated through presbyteries or are orga ni5ed 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 advert15ement, websites, and soclal media or in other ways. The benefits are demonstrated through regular evaluation of the service5 and informal and ad-hoc feedback from member5, theirfamilies, and members of the public. The purpose does not lead to harm. The only prlvate beneflt flowing from our purpose 55 related to Mlnisters, Missionaries, Deaconesses, Irlsh Misslon 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 charltable 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, charitie5 and Indivldual member5 of the publlc. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commisslons Public benefit requirement statutory guidance. FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main Source of income is memberg contributions through the Weekly Freewlll Offering. There were 84 contributing families durlng the year 2023186 in previous year 2022) donatlng a total of £34,630.151£32,183.50 in prevlous year 20221. Total Income for 2023 was £72,679 compared to £64,097 in the previous year 2022. Total expenditure for 2023 was £63,123 compared to £56,141 In the previous year 2022. ARMOY CONGREGATION OF THE pREsB￿ER1AN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statement5 of the congregation in accordance with applicable law a nd generally accepted accounting practice. As the congregatlons total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 6413) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to prepare a recelpts and payment account and a statement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees are responslble for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the con8regation'5 transactlons and disclose wlth reasonable accuracy at any time its financial posltlon. 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 and signed on its behalf by: Rev G Glasgow Mr D Huey Date: