Lecumpher Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees, Annual Report (continued) Year ended 31 December 2023 Structure, governance 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 promotethe 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 Session has delegated to its Congreg8tional Committee the temporal affairs of the congregation including administering all funds and propety 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 minister in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk session are held five times each year. To be chosenforthe office of the eldership inthe congregation a person must be avoting member and a regular attendant on its ordinances. The selection of those proposed to be called to the office can be either bythe congregation or bythe Kirk Session. Members are elected if theyobtain 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. Lecumphercongregation ofthe Presbyterian Church has been 8ssignedtothe Tyrone Presbycery 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.
Lecumpher Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees, Annual Report (contlnued) Year ended 31 December 2023 Structure, governance and management (Cont'd) The GeneralAssembly 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 judici818Uthority. in dealingwith 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. Objectives and activities Lecumpher Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland We hold regular services of worship and other religious activities. These, and all that follow, are open to anyone of appropriate age and/or gender to access, without regard to whetherthey are members of our congregation. Through prayer, support our members, our own Church, other Christian Churches, the community and leaders in society and government. Organise meetings and events that promote our charitable purpose. Participate in the life ofthe local community. Participate in and supportwhatthe PresbY(eri8n Church in Ireland and the supervising Presbytery does. Support other secular and Christian organisations and charities through volunteering, financial gifts and prayer. THE PRESBERIAN 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 falth in His Son and bythe power of His Spirit, and to enable her members to playtheir part in fulfilling God's mission to ourworld.
Lecumpher Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees, Annual Report {continued) Year ended 31 December 2023. Achievements and performance 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 flowfrom 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) leadingto spiritual and moral developmentand 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 lincludingthe sick, disabled and bereaved}. Generally, the above benefits are delivered locally by congregational churches and members, or are facilitated through presbyteries or are organised and delivered centrally. Loc81 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- hocfeedbackfrom members, theirfamilies, and members ofthe 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 orderto 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 communitiesthroughout 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.
Lecumpher Congregation ofthe Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees, Annual Report (continued) Year ended 31 December 2023 Financial review Reserves Policy Lecumpher Presbyterian Church relies on financiaL support on a regular basis from its congregation. The Trustees aim to have unrestricted reserves available to support 3-6 months outgoings. nd The trustees, annual report was approved on 2 October, 2024 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by: Rev A. Graham Trustee Mr S. Thompson Trustee