**BALLYBLACK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT** # **BALLYBLACK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND** **Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023** **Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105386)** ## **BALLYBLACK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAN TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** The Trustees present their A **n** nual Report and Financial Statements for th **e** year ended 31 December 2023 including a S **t** atement of Assets and Liabilities as at that **d** ate. ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** Ballyblack congregation of th **e** Presbyterian Church in Ireland c/o 23 Grangee Road, Millisle, Newtownards BT22 2JB Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105386) ## **CHARITY TRUSTEES** The Charity Trustees who ser **v** ed during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were David Blevings Betty Glenn Alex Warden Robert Bole David McCracken Elizabeth Warden Rev Andras Gilicze ## **PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS** Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Rev Andras Gilicze David McCracken Robert Bole ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER** Neeson Chambers Limited 123/125 Main Street, Bangor BT20 4AE ## **BANKERS** Danske Bank PO Box 183, Donegall Square West, Belfast BT1 6JS ## **SOLICITORS** Elizabeth A Warden Solicitor The Stables, Seaview Farm 92 Bowtown Road, Newtown **a** rds, County Down, BT23 8SL 2 **BALLYBLACK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAN TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** ## **STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **The Kirk Session** The charity trustees of the **c** ongregation are the members of its Kirk **S** ession. Under the congregation’s governing **d** ocument, 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 intere **s** t of the congregation and of persons not connected with any congregation who are within its bounds. It ensures pastoral care **i** s in place in the congregation and seeks to f **u** rther the contribution of the Church to Christian witness and service in the local comm **u** nity. The Kirk Session has delegated to its Congregational Committee the temporal aff **a** irs of the congregation including administ **e** ring all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Members of the Kirk Ses **s** ion are ex-officio members of the Congregatio **n** al Committee. The Kirk Session consists of the Minister and the ruling elders of th **e** congregation. All members are entitled to pro **p** ose, speak and exercise equal votes at m **e** etings, except that the Moderator, the minister **i** n active duty in the congregation, has no d **e** liberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kir **k** session are held at least four times i **n** each year or as appropriate. To be chosen for the office o **f** the eldership in the congregation a person **m** ust be a voting member and a regular attendant on its ordinances. The selection of thos **e** proposed to be called to the office can be eit **h** er by the congregation or by the Kirk Sessi **o** n. Members are elected if they obtain two-thirds of those who vote. ## **Presbytery** Under the Presbyterian Chur **c** h in Ireland form of governance the corporate oversight of a congregation is the responsi **b** ility of a Presbytery which superintends gen **e** rally the spiritual and temporal affairs of the c **o** ngregations assigned to it by the General A **s** sembly of the Presbyterian Church in Irelan **d** . Ballyblack congregation of the Presbyteri **a** n Church has been assigned to the Ards Presbyt **e** ry of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Th **e** membership of the Presbytery consists mainl **y** of the active ministers of congregations as **s** igned to it by the General Assembly, ministers **w** ho have retired from active duty and an el **d** er appointed by the Kirk Session of the congr **e** gation. ## **The General Assembly** The General Assembly is the **s** upreme court of the Church, representing i **n** one body the whole Church and acting as its supreme legislative, administration and ju **d** icial authority, in dealing with all matters brou **g** ht before it. The General Assembly is norm **a** lly constituted during the first week in June **f** or worship and to conduct its business. At t **h** e end of business 3 **BALLYBLACK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAN TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** it is dissolved. The members **h** ip of the General Assembly consists mainly **o** f the active ministers of each congregati **o** n, retired ministers and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each cong **r** egation. ## **DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE** The charitable purpose of th **e** congregation is the advancement of religio **n** . Ballyblack congregation of th **e** Presbyterian Church is a congregation of t **h** e Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presby **t** erian Church in Ireland, as a Reformed Chu **r** ch within the wider body of Christ is groun **d** ed in the Scriptures, and exists to love and **h** onour God through faith in His Son and **b** y the power of His Spirit, and to enable her **m** embers to play their part in fulfilling God’s mission to our world. ## **The congregation’s mission purpose is as follows:** The congregation of Ballybla **c** k reaches as far back as 1813 and individual **s** and families from the surrounding area have b **e** en gathering for worship in the present buil **d** ing since 1872. Ballyblack Presbyterian Chur **c** h is set on a hill in a rural area and is some **w** hat unique in that it is one of the few churches in the Ards Presbytery that is ‘truly rural.’ ## **The present situation:** The congregation of Ballybla **c** k PC has, within the past 10 years, been abl **e** to enjoy updated, extended and refurbished h **a** ll accommodation fit for purpose for the 21st Century. These facilities are in regular use b **y** the Church organisations and the wider **c** ommunity and the debt needed to provide th **e** se facilities has been repaid thanks to the generosity and support of the whole congre **g** ation. A committed group of pe **o** ple within the congregation are involv **e** d in leading and supporting in various ways **w** ithin a range of organisations and groups: **S** unday School and Creche – Girls Brigade –Pre **s** byterian Women –Community Men’s Group –Indoor Bowling Club – Walking Group – Knit **a** nd Natter Group. Like most congregations, the congregation has had its high points and lo **w** points in recent years but have held together and maintained a consistent witness throug **h** the challenging times as well as the good tim **e** s. The leadership of the congregation is aw **a** re, of course, that ‘maintenance mode’ is not a **n** option and there is a work within and with **o** ut to be done. ## **A work within:** Sometimes busyness is inter **p** reted as ‘growth in the faith’ which can mean that the ‘building up’ of the fellowshi **p** doesn’t always have the focus it should ha **v** e. This is something we have been wo **r** king towards in recent times and with some further support/help from Congrega **t** ional Life and Witness resources/courses an **d** through related future ministry would wish t **o** see developed further. We believe that a g **r** owing confidence in God’s Word and in prayer **a** mongst God’s people will increase our effe **c** tiveness as individuals and as a congrega **t** ion...by way of serving each other and serving the community of which we are a part. 4 **BALLYBLACK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAN TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** ## **A work without:** We have in mind here, firs **t** ly, that we need to re-establish contact with a number of individuals and families that claim a connection with us but have no ac **t** ive involvement in the congregation. Attempts **h** ave been made in the past to try and re-engage lapsed and fringe members by calling wi **t** h newsletters, by visiting in times of illnes **s** and bereavement and by way of invitations to special Services. While this has not been frui **t** less we do need to be a bit more concerned, cre **a** tive and active in our future efforts to eng **a** ge with those who claim connections to the con **g** regation. Secondly, we are conscious that we have a number of girls within ou **r** GB who have no connection with us or any **c** ongregation. This is a potential area for **o** utreach we could prayerfully engage in; perha **p** s in low-key ways to begin with...with a view to more focused engagement. ## **Past and present attempts at local and wider outreach include:** - The ongoing work of our youth organisations; - Involvement with ou **r** local Integrated Primary School; - The establishment o **f** a Community Men’s Group which meets m **o** nthly; - The ongoing work **o** f the Presbyterian Women’s Group which provides a varied programme for the ladies in the congregation and their fri **e** nds and supports prayerfully and finan **c** ially the work of PCI worldwide; - An annual Seedtime **a** nd Ploughmen’s Service which is a Service of Thanksgiving for the entire farming community; - Harvest Services; - A Christmas Eve Serv **i** ce which attracts many people from the loc **a** l community; - Involvement with lo **c** al congregations in the World Day of Praye **r** Service, the Week of Prayer for Christia **n** Unity and the annual cross community Car **o** l Service; and - A recently establishe **d** Walking Group; and - Also recently established a Knit and Natter Group. We were unable to operat **e** normally for most of 2020 and 2021 d **u** e to the Covid-19 pandemic. 2022 and 2023 **w** ere more normal years but attendance has still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. The church leadership is aware that when we return to normal there is room to create further opportunities to establish work with parents and toddlers and **o** ther groups within the congregation. The congregation of Ballybl **a** ck has always seen itself as part of the **c** ommunity and as bearing a Christian witness in the community. The open-door ministry of the church has resulted in the congregation **o** ften being looked to by the ‘non-connecte **d** ’ in times of need. We have always seen this as **a** n opportunity for outreach. During our vacancy from Se **p** t 2016 onwards we agree that the challen **g** es before us were real and seen...but not at all overwhelming. The congregation is in go **o** d heart; we are a warm and welcoming peopl **e** ; we have lots to offer within the life of th **e** congregation and 5 ## **BALLYBLACK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAN TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** the wider community and we have a work to do within and without for t **h** e Glory of God and for the advancement of His **K** ingdom within our area. We were not gra **n** ted Leave to Call a full-time Minister, but rather we were Linked with the congregation **o** f Carrowdore and Ballyfrenis, whose Minister r **e** tired at the end of July 2019. We appoin **t** ed the Rev Andras Gilicze as the shared ministe **r** for the two congregations and he was inst **a** lled as such on 23 November 2020 at a socially distanced service due to the pandemic. **W** ith God’s help and effective leadership, we ca **n** be in a good place in 3/5 years’ time **b** y building on our strengths and working throu **g** h our weaknesses together. Therein we can continue to be a light on the hill from which **w** e, as a Christian community, can reflect th **e** love of Jesus and reach out to others. ## **ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES** Normally 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 o **f** faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted to the Lord’s Supper. The congregation has a w **i** de range of organisations including - Sunday School (now kno **w** n as Kidzone) and Creche - Girls’ Brigade - Presbyterian Women - Bowling Club - Walking Group Non-members of the congre **g** ation are very welcome to attend any of these and many, in fact, do so. ## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** ## **Worship and prayer** The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 10.00am. As well as our regular servic **e** s during the year we sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2023 there **w** ere 114 communicant members and 147 fa **m** ilies connected with the congregation. The **a** verage weekly attendance at morning wors **h** ip was 60. ## **Pastoral care** Members of the congregatio **n** who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are visited on a regular basis by t **h** e minister and elders. Pastoral care is don **e** by telephone when visiting is restricted. ## **Mission and outreach** The congregation’s local mission and outreach is described above under the congregation’s mission purpose. 6 ## **BALLYBLACK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAN TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mission which is a cent **r** al fund of the Presbyterian Church in Irelan **d** . This fund enables congregations to suppo **r** t the wider mission of the denomination and to do mission and outreach on a denominational basis beyond what the congregati **o** n could do on its own. The United Appeal F **u** nd provides financial support for mission **p** ersonnel at home and overseas, assists con **g** regations with the deployment of locally ba **s** ed staff, enables church planting, provides **g** rant support for the upkeep of church premis **e** s, assists with the running costs of Union T **h** eological College, the Church’s training college **f** or ministry students, and financially suppor **t** s congregations in the areas of worship, disciple **s** hip, global mission, outreach, leadership and pastoral care. The congregation also contri **b** utes to the denomination’s annual World D **e** velopment Appeal and any other special appeals. ## **Presbytery** The congregation was repres **e** nted at the regular meetings of Presbytery **b** y our minister and / or one of the elders. This provides an important link between the c **o** ngregation and the wider structures of the c **h** urch. ## **General Assembly** The minister and one of our **e** lders are normally nominated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland normally in Asse **m** bly Buildings, Belfast, in June. ## **Property** During the year we had significant work done on our Church entrance fro **m** the road to improve safety, as well as carrying out regular and scheduled maintenance to our properties to maintain their integrity an **d** to comply with all local regulations. ## **Organisations** Sunday School and Creche m **e** et every Sunday morning in the hall September to June. We have approximately 10 childr **e** n aged 1 month to 16 years who attend regu **l** arly. Our children's ministry this year h **a** s been running under the name of Kidzone **a** nd our weekly lessons are interactive with th **e** children learning their bible lessons throug **h** games and craft activities. Ballyblack walking gr **o** up meet at 9.30 in the church car park and we **w** alk to the end of the Cunningburn Road and back ag **a** in. We have about 10 members wit **h** an average of 6 walking each week. Ballyblack Girls Brigade - 202 **3** We have had a great year in **G** B. Our numbers continue to increase each **y** ear, and we are so blessed to be able to share fr **i** endship and fellowship together. Our activi **t** ies included Team Games, drill, baking buns and decorating chocolate apples, learning how **t** o make leek and potato soup, making Remem **b** rance Lanterns and bird feeders, plenty of singing, walking 7 ## **BALLYBLACK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAN TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** around Ards, and for the first time in over 20 years, we went on a residen **t** ial camp. We followed the Headquarters S **c** ripture Course and had great fun learning Bible verses, and discussing interesting and ch **a** llenging topics together. We presented two girls with their Sub Officer Awards, and sisters, R **e** becca and Rachel McCormick became Officers this year. We had a visit from The Guide D **o** gs and The Ards Peninsula First Responders who taught our older girls CPR. We were deli **g** hted to give both these charities a donatio **n** from our GB. The Bowling Club meets in th **e** Hall on Wednesday evenings from September to March. There were a total of 13 me **m** bers in 2023, with an average attendance o **f** around 10. This year we visited Ballygrainey f **o** r a competition, which unfortunately we lo **s** t. Ballyblack Presbyterian Wo **m** en 2023-2024 met on the 3[rd] Thursday of ev **e** ry month with an average attendance of 15 me **m** bers. Our programme varied from speakers on subjects such as local and international chariti **e** s to health and wellbeing issues. The Christ **m** as outing was to The web Theatre to see the p **a** ntomime Aladin. We had a hospitality even **t** in January which was well attended by 75 mem **b** ers of many other PW groups. A coffee m **o** rning is planned for Saturday 25[th] May as our **f** inal event of the year. ## **Volunteers** The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who **g** ive freely of their time by serving on committe **e** s and helping with organisations and other **c** hurch activities. ## **PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT** The Presbyterian Church in Ir **e** land meets the public benefit requirement by providing benefit to its members and t **h** e general public by making known the Chris **t** ian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of religion. The direct benefits which flo **w** from the purposes of the Church include t **h** e gaining of an understanding in Christian beliefs as set out in the Bible and in the Churc **h** ’s subordinate standards (the Westminster **C** onfession of Faith and the Shorter and Larg **e** r Catechisms) leading to spiritual and moral development and opportunities for respon **s** e to Bible teaching. In turn, this frame **w** ork leads to practical expressions of Christian beliefs and standards in the local community such as through the care of those in ne **e** d (including the sick, disabled and bereaved). Generally the above benefits are delivered locally by congregations and t **h** eir members, or are facilitated through presb **y** teries or are organised and delivered centrally. Local delivery is facilitated by central resou **r** ces in almost all cases. Public access is mad **e** known through the use of noticeboards, prin **t** ed material, press advertisement, websites, and social media or in other ways. The benefits are demonstrat **e** d through regular evaluation of the services and informal and ad-hoc feedback from memb **e** rs, their families, and members of the publi **c** . 8 ## **BALLYBLACK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAN TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)** The purpose does not lead to harm. The only private benefit flowing from our purpose is related to Ministers, Mission **a** ries, Deaconesses, Irish Mission workers an **d** Lay Agents who receive benefits as a result of their holding office or employment. Howev **e** r, this is incidental and necessary in order to fur **t** her our charitable purpose. There are no ot **h** er 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 wi **t** h, the community in which pastoral services are provided and other communities througho **u** t Northern Ireland, the Republic of Irela **n** d, and worldwide which benefit from our e **n** gagement with and support for both Christia **n** and other secular organisations, charities **a** nd individual members of the public. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefi **t** requirement statutory guidance. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** The congregation’s main sou **r** ce of income is members’ contributions thr **o** ugh the Weekly Freewill Offering and the Pro **p** erty & Development Fund. There were 151 contributors during the year [145 in previ **o** us year,2021] donating a total of £49,341 (£45,692in previous year,2021). Total Income of the congregation during the year was £82,169, compared to £78,786 in the previous year. Total expenditure rose to £94,648 from £75,545. ## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES** The Trustees are responsible **f** or preparing the annual report and the fina **n** cial statements of the congregation in accordance with applicable law and generally accept **e** d accounting practice. As the congregations total in **c** ome does not exceed £250,000, the Truste **e** s have elected under Section 64(3) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to prepa **r** e a receipts and payment account and a state **m** ent of assets and liabilities. The Trustees are responsible **f** or keeping adequate accounting records th **a** t are sufficient to show and explain the congre **g** ation’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time its financial position. They are also responsible for safeguarding **t** he assets of the congregation and hence for t **a** king reasonable steps for the prevention a **n** d detection of fraud and other irregularities **.** 9 BALLYBLACK CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) an Approved by the Kirk Session on 17 September 2024 and signed on its behalf by Da DLctsLL Rev Andras Gill ze David Mccracken Date 17£gRI £OZI Date 11 kn,t4- . 10