Trinity Presbyterian Church, Ballymoney a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland Trustees Report for the year ended 31st December 2023 Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, NIC105405
TRINITY PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH. BALLYMONEY TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Page I The Trustees presenttheir Annual Report and Financial Statements forthe year ended 31 December 2023 including a Balance Sheet as atthat date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DEfAILS Trinity Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 2 Rodeing Foot Ballymoney Co. Antrim BT53 6JJ Registered Charity in Northern Ireland NIC105405 CHARITY TRUSTEE5 The CharityTrustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were". Norman Acheson Leslie Boyd Peter Crooks Stephen Currie Desmond Glendinning Rev David Irvine Frank Millen Rodney Mitchell William McAleese Kenneth McAuley John Mcllfatrick Robert Ower)s Richard Quinn Bertie Quinn Wesley Quinn Brian Speirs Charles Steele Derek Stirling {Resigned Sep 231 lan Williamson Robert Workman PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister-. Clerk of Session Secretary to Committee Treasurer Rev. David Irvine Bertie Quinn Doreen Colvin Wesley Quinn INDEPENDENT EXAMINER W R Crymble {WR Crymble Chartered Management Accountants) 3 Governors Gate Lane Hillsborough BT26 6FX BANKERS Danske Bank 6 High Street Ballymonev BT53 6AD
TRINITY PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH, BALLYMONEY TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) Page 2 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 oversee 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 and in mission overseas. The Kirk Session has delegated to it5 Congregational Committee the temporal affairs of 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 congregation. All member5 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 on the third Monday of January, March, May, September and November. 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 are nominated by 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 a55igned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Trinity 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 ministers of congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly, ministers who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation.
TRINITY PRE5BYfERIAN CHURCH. BALLYMONEY TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) Page 3 The General Assembly The General Assembly is the supreme court of the church, representing in one body the whole Church and acting as it5 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 consist5 mainly of the active ministers of each congregation, retired ministers and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE Trinity Presbyterian Church, Ballymoney, 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 congregation's mission purposes is to 'Bring unbelieving people to Jesus Christ, encourage them to develop towards Christ-like maturity and equip them for ministry in the church and mission to the world. The congregation aims to live out its Mission and Vision as a family of God's people by being". A Covenant Community: where our relationship5 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.
TRINITY PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH, BALLYMONEY TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) Page 4 AcfiviTIES AND OBJECTIVES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lord's 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 wide range of org3nisations including Sunday School (Sunday Morning Kids Clubl Youth Club Base Youth Fellowship Buddies and Bundles Bowling Club Boys Brigade The Vine Presbyterian Women Friendship Lunch Coffee Morning Men Doing Fellowship {MDFI ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11.30am and 6.30pm. During the week the Bible Study provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to study the scriptures and for a time of prayer. As well as our regular services during the year we acknowledged God's gift of new life at one baptism of an infant within the congregation. We give thanks for faithful servants and seek to comfort those bereaved during the year. At 31st December 2023 there were 215 communicant members and 330 families connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship is 200. Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are visited on a regular basis by the Minister, elders or by one of the congregation's pastoral visitors, being mindful of pandemic restrictions in place at that time.
TRINITY PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH. BALLYMONEY TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Icont'd) Page 5 Mlsslon and outreach At a local level the congregation holds a number of Messy Church Events for young families, and seeks to encourage members of the local community to attend the variou5 organisations regularly running within the Church. 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 enables 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. supports the running costs of Union Theological College, the Church's training college for ministry students. and financially supports congregations in the areas of worship, discipleship, global mission, outreach, leadership and pastoral care. Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister andlor one of the elder5. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider5trurtures ofthe church. General Assembly The minister 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. Organisation5 Approximately 50 young people attend the Sunday School and Bible Class each Sunday between September and June. Young people are also catered forvia the Senior Youth Club and Base (Youth Fellowship) which meet duringthe winter months. The Church also holds an annual Holiday Bible Club where upwards of 80 children attend. The Bowling Club meet on Monday nightsfor prartice and compete in the local Charity league. The ladies of the congregation held monthly fellowship meetings whilst the men'5 group, MDF. organi5e various Social and ministry events on a regular basis. The young adults group { The Vinel hold occasional social events as well as a monthly Bible study house group while the more senior church member5 enjoy a monthly lunch served up by the active church catering team. There is also a popular coffee morning held twice a month. 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.
TRINITY PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH, BALLYMONEY TRUStEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) Page 6 PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by providing benefit to it5 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 Westminister 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 prartical expressions of Christian beliefs and need (including supporting 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 15 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 service5 and informal and ad-hoc feedback from members, their familie5, 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 a5 a result of their holding office or employment. However, this 15 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 service5 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 organsiations, charities and individual members of the public. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
TRINITY PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH. BALLYMONEY TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) Page 7 FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 196 Contributors during the year donating a total of £119,5831£99,740 in 2022> Total income of the congregation during the year was £266,740 compared to £194,234 In the previous year Expenditure increased from £190,682 in 2022 to £209,945 in 2023. Added to this is depreciation of £83,971 (£70,327 in 2022) giving a total expenditure of £293,916 (£261,009 in 2022). RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPECT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the State of affairs of the congregation and the financial activities for the year. In preparing the financial statements the Trustees are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Funds will continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the funds transactions and disc105e with re350nable accuracy at any time the financial p051tion of the congregation and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice 'Accounting and Reporting by charities11 January 2015),. 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.
TRINITY PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH. BALLYMONEY TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) page 8 GOING CONCERN The activities of the congregation are dependent on ongoing contribution5 from its members. The Trustees are of the opinion that the congregation has sufficient resources at the date of approval of these financial statements to meet commitments which will arise in the year from the date of signing this report and subject to the continuing sUPPOrt from members to fund on an ongoing basis the congregation's current activities and other financial commitments. RESERVES POLICY The Trustees have considered the level of unrestricted reserves that it is appropriate to hold taking account of current and ongoing commitments. It is the policy of the Trustees to hold three to six month'5 normal expenditure. At the year end unrestricted reserves were £55,552 which represents a higher level of requirement. The Trustees however, consider it prudent to hold reserves at this level as the funding of its present activities is dependent of the ongoing financial support of members. RISK REVIEW A review of major risks has been undertaken by the Trustees and systems and procedures implemented to manage identified risks. The principal risks are in relation to the likelihood of reputational damage and financial risks associated with the expectation of ongoing financial support from members. These risks are mitigated by the Trustees, and the Congregational Committee, regularly monitoring the variou5 activities of the congregation at stated meetings and by encouraging members in their regular giving. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 21st April 2024 and signed on its behalf by Rev David Irvin (Trusteel Mr W R Quinn {Trustee)