an BROOKSIDE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present thelrAnnual 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 Brook51de ConEregatlon of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland 17 Brook Street Ahoghlll Ballymena BT42 ILD Registered Charlty In Northern Iland INIC1053821 CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charlty Trustees who setved durlng the year or wlK> were trustees at the date of thi5 report were: Rev William Moody Mr Michaèl Arnold Mr Jackie Craig (retired 7 February 2023) Mr Rlchard Cromle Mr Colln Hayburn Mr Stanley Kyle Mr jonathan Mccartney Mr Kenneth Mcoowell Mr Liam McFetfid8e Mr Joseph Millar Mr Richard Petrie MrJamesThompson Mr Norman Wallace Iretired 7 February 20231 Mr Geoffrey Young Mr Hugh Young PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Mlnlster Clerk of Se55ion Tieasurer Rev Wllliam Moody Mr Liam McFetrldge Mr John Barkley INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Mr John Finnegan Potter Finnegan Limited Unit 25 The Courtyard Buslness Park 190 Galgorm Road Ballyrnena BT42 IHL BANKERS Danske Bank 1-2 Broadway Ballymena BT43 7PE 50LICITORS Samuel Cummlng &Son 39 Linenhall Street Ballymena 8T43 SAI
an BROOKSIDE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) STRUCtURE AND MANAGEMENT The Kirk Sesslon The charity trustees of the congregation are the members of its Kirk Sesslon. Under the congregation's goveining document. The Code, the book of the constitution and government of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Kirk Se5s1on seeks to watch over and promote the splrbtual intÈrest of the congregation and of persons not connected wlth any congregatlon who are withln Its bounds. It ensures pastoral care is in place In the conggatIOn and seeks to further the contribution of the Church to Christian witness and servlce In the local communlty. The Kirk Session has dele8ated to its Congregational Cornmlttee the temporal affalrs of the congregatlon Including adrnlnlstering all funds and property bèlonging to the congregation. Members of the Kirk Sesslon are ex•officio members of the Congregatlonal Commlttee. The Klrk Session conslsts of the ordaSned minister and the ruling elders of the congregatlons. All members are entltled to propose, speak. and exert15e equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator. the minlsters In active duty In the con8regation. has no deliberatlve but only a castlng vote. To be chosen for the offlce of the elder5hlp In the con8regatlon a person must be a votlng member and a regular attendant on Its ordlnantÈs. The selectlon of those proposed to be called to the office can be elther by the congregation or by the Klrk Session. Members are elected If they obtaln two-thlrds of those who vote. Presbytery Under the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland form of governance the corporate oversight ot a COng&atIon Is the e5ponsiblllty of a Presbytery which supeTlntends generally the spiritual and temporal affairs of the congregatlons asslgned to it by the General Assembly ot the Pre5byterlan Church in Ireland. Brookside Congregatlon of the Presbyterian Church has been asslgned to the Ballymena Presbytery of the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland. The membership of the Presbytery consists mainly of the active ministers of con8re8at*)ns assigned to It by the General Assembly, mlnsters who have retired from actlve duty and an elder appolnted by the Kirk Sesslon of each congre8ation. The General Assembly The General A55embly15 the supreme court of the Church. representin8 in one body the wIle Church and acting as its supreme legislative. administratlon and judicial authority. in deallng with all mattefs brou8ht bofore it. The General Assembly met In 2023 tor four days in June for worship and to conduct its business. At the end of business, It Is d15$01ved. The membershlp of the General Assembly conslsts mainly of the active mlnlsters of each congregation, retired minsteis and a representstlve elder appointed by the Klrk Session of each congregatlon. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charltsble purpose of the congregatlon Is the advancement of rellglon. Brookside conBregotlon of the Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the PSbyter1an Church In Ireland. The Presbyterlan Church in Ireland, as a Reformed Church within the wider body of Christls grounded in the Scriptures and exists to love and honour God through faith In HIS Son and by the power of Hi5 Spirit. and to enable her members to play their part in fulfilllng God's mlssion to our world. The con8regatlons mission purpose 15 to fulfil tts greèt responsibillty to be involved In the great Commission in bringlng the G05pel to all nations. Blbllcal preaching means we belleve that at the centre of seein8 the Gospel advance has to be the teaching of God's word and prayer. We seek for this tr) tske ace in publlc worshlp, church organisations and personal contscts by membe[5.
an BROOKSIDE CONGREGATION OF THE pREsBER1AN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conVd) DESCRipnoN AND PURPOSE {conVd} The congregatlon aims to Ilve out its Mission a5 a family of God's people by bÈin8: A Covenant Community: where our relationships are rooted in the promlses of God by living falthfully toward him and toward one another An Intergenerational Communlty.. whère adults Intentionally take the lead to engage wlth. encourage, and nurture younger members to maturity in Christ. An Outward looking Community- where we want the blessings of God that belon8 to U5 in the gospel to become blessings for others beyond the bounds of our community. As a con8regatlon of the Presbyterian Church In Ireland, we believe that the Bible Is the supreme authority over all we do. and that the Westminster Confesslon of Faith, along with the Larger and Shorter Catechistns set out what we understand the Blble teaches on key matters of Christian tslth and practice. AcnviTIES AND OBJECTIVES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to loln. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper 15 obseNed on three occasions dLtrlng the year and all those who have been b3ptised and who have Tnade a profession of falth In the Lord Jesus Chrlst are adrnltted to the Lord's Supper. The congregation holds regular bible study meetlngs and prayer meetln8s on Wednesday evenln8s and has a wlde range of organisatlons Includlng: Sunday School Blble Class Good News Club Youth Fellowshlp Youth Club Parents and Toddler5 Girls. 8rlgade (Explorers. JuDlor. Company, and 8rlgader Sectlon51 Boys, Brlgade {Anchor Boys, Junlor. and Company Sectlonl Presbyierlan Women Women'5 Prayer Meetlng Men's Prayer Meeting Cholr Pralse Gro¥Jp Brook Café Holiday Bible Club ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregatlon meets for servlces of worship at 11:30am and 6:15pm each Sunday. The Evenin8 5ervlce at 6:15pm Is unlted with First Ahoghlll and Trinity and rotates around the three church buildings. During the week the Midweek Blble Study providÈs an opportunlty for members to meet togÈther for fellowship. to study the scriptures and for a tlme of prayer. Once a month the Mldweek took the form of Grow Groups which were small groups that met In people's homes. Once a month the Midweek took the form of a Men's Midweek on a Wednesday and a Women's Mldweek on a Thursday. Once a month the Midweektookthe form ofa Missionary Midweek wlth a mls51onary speaker. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was observed in January. May and September. There were two baptisms during the year. One marriage service wa5 conducted. and 11 funeral SeIce5 were conducted. At 31 December 2023 there were 194 communicant members and 254 families connected wlth the COnggatIOn. The average weekly attendance at morning worship wa5 approxlmhtely 174. The average evenin8 service attendance wa5 170.
Presbyter an BROOKSIDE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Icont'd) ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE {conVd) Pastoral care Each elder is assi8ned a district to vlsit the members of the con8re8ation within it to supplement the vislt5 by the minister. CDS of servlce5 are also delivèred. and servi5 Livestreamed for those not able to attend. Ml551on and outreach At a local level the congregation contlnues to seek to reach out Into the communlty throu8h speclal services and the church organlsation5. The summer Hollday Bible Club and Famlly Fun Night In August were means of reaching Into the communlty. Through our support of rnisslon organisatlons Brookside Congregation has worked for the public beneflt of people across the world by maklng donatlons to the following external mlsslons and agencies which exlst to support people's spiritual, educational, and physical needs: Acre Gospel Mlsslon, Arab World Ministrles, Asha, Internatlonal Mission to the Jewish People. Coachlng4Chrlst, European Mi551onary Fellowshlp. Latin Link. Mlssion Africa. OMF Internatlonal, Friends of VlsPa. The Christlan Institute, Tear Fund, Belfast City M1551on, Release International and Open Doors. The congregation supports the Unlted Appeal for MissM)n which Is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church In Ireland. Thls fund enables congfegations to support the wider mission of the denomination and to do mission and outreach on denominational ba515 beyond what the congregatlon could do on Its own. The Unlted Appeal Fund provldes flnancial support for mlsslon personnel at home and overseas, assists congregatlons with the deployment of locally based staff, enables church plantln& provldes grant support for the upkeep of church premises. asslst wlth the runnlng costs of Union Theologlcal Colle8e, the Church's trainlng college for mlnlstry students. and flnanclally support5 congregatlon in the areas of worship. di5clpleshlp. global rnlsslon. outreach, leadership. and pastoral care. Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meetin8s of Presbytery by our mln15ter ènd one of the elders. Th5s provides an Important link between the congregatlons and the wider structures of the church. General Assembly The mlnlster and one of our elders were nominated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterlan Church in I18nd held In Assembly Bulldings. Belfast in June. Property Durln8 the year the church sold the manse field for £1,400,O¢JO. The church also replaced the manse fence wlth è new boundary wall at a cost of £28,200. The church is having on golng consideration5 regardlng the redevelopment of the church and church hall site. Organlsatlons Sunday School - met on Sunday morning5 at 10:15am for pralse and Bible teaching in small groups. There were 16 chlldren on the roll In 2023 with an average attendan of 14. Bible Class- met on Sunday at 10:15am for teochlng foryoun8 people aged 13 and over wlth an average attendance of 15. Good News Club- Children left during services for Inter-active teachlng. There are 8 children on the roll with an average attendance in 2023 of 4. Youth Fellowshlp- meets on Sunday evenings after the evenln£ seThfice for young people of secondary school age and older, They meet for praise, Bible Studles. listen to Speakers and chat. Average attendance in 2023 wa5 approximately 30 young people. Youth Club- met on Saturday nlEhts from 7:C(1-9:00pm for young people of secondary 5choDI age. There were 25 young people on the roll in 2023 wlth an average attendance of 12.
an BROOKSIDE CONGREGATION OF THE pREsBER1AN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conVd) ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE IconVd} Parents and Toddlers- met on Friday mornlngs from 10:00am to 11:30am. There were on average of 65 adults and children. Girls, Brlgade- meets weekly on Tuesday evenln85. GB 15 for glrls aged 3-18 and is divided Into four sections depending on age called Explorers.. Company and Brigader Sertlons. In 2023 there were 85 girls on the roll with an average attendance of 75. The majority of these glrls do not belong to Brookslde church. Boys, Brlgade - is for boys aged 4-18 and has three sections Anchor Boys. Junior. and Company Sectlon, The Anchor Boys meet on Monday nights and the Junlor and Company Settions on Frlday nights. The number ot boys on the roll were 5 Anchor Boys. 9 Juniors and 17 in the Company Sectlon. PresbytÈrian Women- met once a month to allow women to meet together. for social engagement and to Ilsten to 5peake15. The average attendance In 2023 was 50. Women's Prayer Meetlng- took place once a month on Thursday nlghts from January to June and gavè an opportunity for women to teach God's word to other women and to pray for the needs of the congregatlon, community, and missionarles. Since September the Women's Prayer has been incorporated Into the monthly Women's Midweek. Men's Prayer Meetlng- took place once a month on Wednesday Èvenings from January to June and once a month on Frldays throughout the year. The elders share God's word before a time of prayer focusing particularly on the needs of men In our congregatlon and comrnunity. The average attendance in wa$ 18. Slnce September the Wednesday Men's Prayer has been incorporated into the monthly Men's Midweek. Cholr- met to lead the pralse on Sundays and provide anthem5 at Easter. HaThest and Chrlstmas. Pralse Group- consists of muskians and slngers who help leod the pralse once a month with a focus on particularly contemporary praise. Brook Café- met on the first Thursday of the month to seTre food, have a time ot conversatlon and Blble teaching. Average attendance wa$ 8. Volunteer5 The Trustees wlsh to acknowledge thelr deep appreciatlon of the many volunteer5 who give freely of thelr time by serving on commlttees and helplng wlth organisations and other church activities. PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterlan Church In Ireland meets the wblic benefit requirement by providing benefit to its members and the general public by maklng known the Chrlstlan Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of rellgion. The dirett benefits whlch flow frorn the purposes of the Churth include the gaining of an understandlng In Chrlstian beliefs a5 set out In the Bible and In the Church's subordinate standards {the Westrnin5ter Confe551on of Falth and the Shorter and Larger Catechlsmsl leading to splrltual and moral developrnent and opportunitles for response to Bible teaching. In turn, thls framework leads to practical expressions of Christian beliets and standards in the local communlty such a5 through the care of those in need Ilncludlng the sick. disabled. and bereaved). Generallyi the above beneflts are delivered localEy by congregatlons and their mernbers or are facilitated throu8h presbyterles or are organised and dellvered centrally. Local delivery is facilitated by central resources in almost all case5, Public attess is made known through the use of noticeboardsi printed material* press advertisement. websites, and soclal medla or in other ways. The benefits are demonstrated through regular evaluation of the 5ervice5 and informal and ad-hoc feedback from members, their familles. and members of the publk.
an BROOKSIDE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'dj PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT Iconvd) The purpose does not lead to harm. The only private benefit flowin8 from our purpose is related to Mlni5ters, Mi5slonar5es, Deaconesse5. Irish Mission workers and Lay Agents who ceIve benefits as a result of their holdlng offlce or employment. However, this 15 incidental and necessary In order to further our chkritsble purpose. There are no other private benefits. The beneflclaries of this purpose are members. thelr famllles. other individuals thatthe Presbyterian Churth in Ireland is in direct and indirect contact with. the communlty in which pastoral services are provided and other cornrnunities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland. and worldwide which benefit from our engagement wlth and support for both Christian and other secular organlsations, charities. and individual members of the public. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charlty Comm15slons Public benefit requirement statutory guidance. Brookslde beftefits the public through the loving and godly Influence of Its members In soclety and the fact that many who attend its events and organ15atlons do not belon8 to the church. FINANCIAL RÉVIEW The congregatlon's maln source of Income ts members, contrlbutions through the Weekly Freewlll Offerlng. There were 174 contrlbutors durlng the year12022: 1861 donatin8 a total of £88,76912022- £90,330). Total Income of the congregatlon durlng the yeai was £234.782 compared to £223.822 In the previous year. This excludes the proceed5 of £1,400.000 from the Sale of the manse f[d. Total expendlture In 2023 was £273,271 compared to £228,633 in 2022. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPON5181LITIES The Trustees are responsible tor preparing the annual report and the financlal statements of the congregation in accordance with applicable law and generally accepted accountlng pfactlce. As the congre8ation's total income does not exceed £250.000. the Trustees have elected under Sectlon 64131 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to prepaie a receSpt5 and payment account and a statement of assets and Ilabllltles. The Trustees are responslble for keeplng adequate accountlng records that are sufflclent to show and explain the ton8re8ation's transaction5 and disclose with reasonable aCCLsrocy at anytlme It5 financial position. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the congregation and hence for tsking reasonable steps for the prevention and detectlon of fraud and other irregularitie5. Approved by the Klrk Sesslon at a meetlng on 19 March 2024 and si8ned on its behaEf by: Rev William Moody Mr Liam McFetridge Trustee Trustee