# **KILLAIG 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 (NIC105381)** The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2023 a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** Killaig congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 90 Killeague Road, Macosquin, Coleraine, BT51 4NA Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105381) ## **CHARITY TRUSTEES** The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were: - I. McKane - D. Morrow - G. Watson - K. McIntyre ## **PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS** **Minister** This post was vacant at the edd of 2023. **Clerk of Session** Ivan McKane **Treasurer** Gary Watson 0 ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER** David Wright BA, FCCA 89 Edenbane Road, Garvagh, BT51 5NA ## **BANKERS** Danske Bank, 22 The Diamond, Coleraine, BT52 1DE ## **SOLICITORS** Macauley Wray, 35 New Row, Coleraine, BT52 1AH ## **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 twice 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. 1 ## **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. Killaig congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Coleraine and Limavady 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 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. KILLAIG 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 congregations mission purpose is “To see unbelieving people become committed members of Christ’s Church.” The church:- - 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. 2 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. ## **ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES** The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lords 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 and has a range of organisations including: - - Sunday School/Crèche/Children’s Church - P.W - Bowing Club - Craft Group ## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** ## **Worship and prayer** The congregation meets for worship each Sunday at 12.30pm every Sunday and at 9.45am during the summer months. (Livestreaming continues to be available for both morning and evening services (facilitated by our sister congregation in Mainstreet Garvagh). Our Small Groups met once a fortnight, to provide an opportunity for members to come together for fellowship, to study the scriptures and for a time of prayer. We are also warmly welcomed to join with Mainstreet members at the Monday prayer meeting and at the Bible Study & prayer time on alternate Wednesdays. 3 As well as our regular services during the year, we hold services of thanksgiving for the lives of those who have passed away and to comfort those who have been bereaved. At 31 December 2023 there were 40 communicant members and 44 families connected with the congregation, with 32 contributing financially. The average week attendance at morning worship is 30. ## **Pastoral care** Pastoral care is provided by our Convenor (in the absence of our own minister), by our church visitor and other church members. ## **Funds** 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 total given by Killaig congregation to The United Appeal in 2023 was £2,050 plus £462.50 gift aid. The congregation also contributes to the denomination’s annual World Development Appeal, The Moderator’s Appeal, if and when there is one, and any other special appeals. In 2023 there was no Moderator’s Appeal. We invited a Tear Fund representative to speak at one of our morning services and subsequently took up a collection of £955 for Tear Fund plus £158.75 gift aid. Through our P.W. we support mission projects locally and further afield. In 2023, as well as giving a gift to each of our speakers, at our annual allocation of funds we allocated money to PW Central Fund, The Leprosy Mission, Gary and Mary Reid (PCI Missionaries in Kenya), PCI Children’s Society, Smiles Foundation, Samaritan’s Purse, International Meeting Point, Open Doors and North Coast Scripture Union. These gifts will be used to further the work and ministry of each of the recipients. 4 ## **Presbytery** Killaig congregation is represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church. ## **General Assembly** The Presbyterian General Assembly met in June 2023. ## **Property** Committee meetings are held at regular intervals and whenever necessary. A new heating system was installed in the church building as well as regular maintenance being carried out. ## **Organisations** ## **Church Committee** Committee meetings were chaired by Rev. Knox Jones, Convenor of the Vacancy. ## **Sunday School/Crèche/Children’s Church** Every Sunday during the second half of the church service our children go to Sunday School/Crèche/Children’s Church. The average attendance is 4 children. Objective: To share the Good News of Jesus with our children. We use the ‘On The Way For 9-11s’ programme with our children Method: Bible stories, discussion, quizzes, singing, craft and fun activities. Our Sunday School continues to sponsor a young person, Victor, in Uganda, through Fields of Life. ## **Presbyterian Women** The P.W. normally meets on the third Thursday each month from September through to March, with speakers representing various organisations and interests. The average attendance is 8. The 2023 season began with our annual service at which our speaker was Gillian Gilliland from Samaritan's Purse. At our other meetings we had a variety of speakers from various ministries. 5 As well as giving a gift to each of our speakers, at our annual allocation of funds the P.W. allocated gifts to a number of individuals and causes. These gifts will be used to further the work and ministry of each of the recipients. ## **Bowling Club** Killaig Club belongs to Coleraine and District League and meets weekly in the church hall with an average attendance of 18 members. In 2023 the club won the League Cup. ## **Craft Group** The congregation holds a Craft Group once a fortnight to provide fellowship and companionship for women in the congregation and beyond. The average attendance is 7. 6 ## **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 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. 7