an FIRST PORTGLENONE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IREL4ND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 310ecember 2023 including a Balance Sheet a5 at that d3te. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS First Portglenone congregatlon of the Presbyter5an Church In Ireland Maln Street Portglenone Co. Antrlm BT44 8AB Re8lstered Charlty In Northem Ireland INIC105407J CHARifi TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served durlng the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Rev Albert Baxter Mr Dermot Mulholland Mrwllllam Lowry Mr Hubert Marks Mr Kenneth McKinley Mr Wllllam Brlstow Mr Robert Brisiow Mr Courtney Mcmlllan Mr Thomas McLeister Mr Adrlan Lowry Mr Andrew Montgomery Mrjames 8ell Mr Rodne Bell Mr Ro M¢Keown Mr Andrew McLeister Mr Robert Marks Mr Ronaltl Caldwell Mr NTrgel Kerr Mr K le Gilmour PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Mlnister Clerk of Session Treasurer Re¥ Albert Baxter MrAndrew Mont Mrjohn Wavgh ome INOEPENDENT EXAMINER John Flnnegan Potter Flnnegan Limited Unit 25 The Courtyard Buslness Park 190 Galgorni Road Ballymena BT42 IHL ANKERS Danske Bank 1-2 Broadway Ballymena BT43 7AA SOUCffORS Jarnes Ballentine & Son Bank B4tlldlngs The Pentagon Ballymena BT43 5LL
an FIRST PORTGLENONE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT (Convd) STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Klrk Sesslon The charity trustees of the congregation are the member5 of its Kirk Session. Underthe congregation's governing document, The Code, the bookof the constitution and goverTrrnent of the Presbyterian church In Ireland. the Kirk Se$5ion seeksto watch over and promote the spiritual interest of the congregation ènd of persons not ¢onne¢ted wEth any congregation who are within its bound5. It ensures pastoral care Is in place In the Cong8aOn and seeks to fvrtherthe contrlbution of the Church to Christian witness and seNlce In the local communlty- The Kirk Sesslon has delegated to its Congregational Committee the temporal affalrs of the congregatlon Includlng administering all funds and property belonglngto the conEre8atlon. Members of the Klrk Sesslon are ex.offlckn members of the Congregatlonal Committee. The Klrk Sesslon conslsts of the ordalned mlThisteT and the ruling elders of the congregatlons. All members are entltled to propose, speak. and exercise equal votes at meetlngs. except that the Moderator. the ministers in active duty in the congregatlon, has no dellberatNe but only a castlngvote. Stated meetings of the Kirk session are held at least twlce In each year. To be chosen for the office of the eldershlp In the congregation a person must be a ¥otin8 member and a regular attendant on its ordlnance& The selectlon of those proposed to be called to the office can be elther by the congre8atlon or by the Klrk Session. Members are elected if they obtain two-thirds of those who vote. Presbytery Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland fomi of governance the corporate oversl8ht of a congregation 15 the responsibility of a Presbytery which SUperinterS generally the splrltual and temporal affalrs of the congregations assigned to It by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. 1st PortElenone Presbyterlan Church has been assigned to the Presbytery of Ballymena of the Presbyterian Church in Iland. ThÈ membershlp of the Presbytery consists mainly of the actlve ministers of con8re8ations assigned to it by the General Assembly. mlnsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appolnted by the Klrk Session of eath congregatlon. The General Assembly The General Assembly Is the supreme court of the Chur¢h, representing In one body the whole Church and actlng as Its sypreme legislatlve. admlnlstratlon and judicial authority, in deaiingwith all matters brought before It. The General Assembly Is normally constituted during the first week In June for worshlp and to conduct its busine55. At the end of business, It is dlssofved. The membershlp of the General Assembly consists mainly of the active mlnlsters of each congregatlon. retlred minsters and a representatlve eldef appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregatlon. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE 1st Portglenone Presbyterian Church Is 3 con8re8atlon of the Pre5byierian Churth in Ireland. The Presbyterlan Church In Ireland. as a Reformed Church wlthln the wlder body of Christ is grounded in the Scriptures and exlgts to love and honour God through faith in His Son and by the power of His Splrit. and to enable her members to play their part in fvlfilllng God's mlsslon to our world. The congregatlon's mission purpose 15 YD glorify God". Thls Is the motlve whlch underglrds everything that we do.... (al Because of who HE is- the eternal. Sore]n God. As such. He 15 Worthy of all honour and adoratlon. Not only Is He worthy. but it is Hi5 absolute rightto be worshlpped byall HIS creatures. Furthermore, it is His creatures. hlghest Joy and fuifilment to bringthls worshlp to HlnL Ib) Because of who WE are- created by Him from nothln& gfven life by His breath and redeemed by His Son's blood. As such we are deperKlent on Him for wÈrY(hlng and indebted to Him for all that we have and enloy.
an FIRST PORTGLENONE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {ConVdl We seek to Blorify God through various ¢hannels- Our Worship. our Witness. our Work. our War, our Watchin& and our Warmth. These areas are not distinci and separate- rather they ovedap and inter-relate fully with each other. However. they are useful headings under whtch to consider our prioritie& intentions. and directions. In all these areas we seek, sypremelyj to be thoroughly biblical - guided not by the traditlons of men, but by the Word of God. God's wrltten Word Is our absolute staThlard- both the undergirding gUIdan and the final aLrthorfty in all we do as the Church in this place. AcfiviTIES AND OBJECTIVES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and vlsitors are Welco to loln. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is obseNed on several occasions durin8 the year and all tlM)se who have been baptised and who have made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Chrlst are admltted to the LorLfs Supper. The conBregatlon Iw)Ids regular bible study meetings and has a wido range of or8anlsations IncludSng Sunday School Youth Fellowship Boys. Brlgade Girls, Brigade badminton Club Presbyterian Women Men's Meeting ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worshlp and prayer The congie8ation normalty meets for worshlp eath Sunday at 12.00 noon and 7.00 p.m. Durlng the week the Blble Study provldes an opportunily for members to meet togethèr for fellowshlp. to study the scrlptures and for a tlme of prayer. As well as our regular servlces durlng the year we acknowledged God's 81ft of new lrfe at five Sacraments of 8aptSsm and Bave thanks for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 Decembèr 2023 there were 275 communicant members and 320 families connected wlth the congregatlon. The avera8e weekly attendance at mornlng worship is 300. Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend thurth due to slckness or age are vlsSted on a re8ular ba515 by the minlster. elders or b¥ one of the con8regatlon's pastoral visitors. Mlsslon and oulrea¢h At a local level the congre8ation reache5 Out into the communltythrough the ¥aru$ church or8anisatlons. specific outreach event5 and the Ilved-out Ilves of the members. The congre8atioft supports the United Appeal for Misslon whl¢h Is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Thi5 fund enables congregations to support the wider mission of the denomination and to do Mission and outreach on denomlnational basis beyond what thecon8regation could do on its own. The Unlted Appeal Fund provldes financial support for mlsslon personnel at home and overseas, asslstscongre8ationswiththe deploymentof locally based staff. enables church plantin& provides grant support for the upkeep of church premlses. asslst wlth the runnin8 Costs of Union Theological College, the Church's tralnlng college for ministry students, and financially supports congregation in the areas of worship, dlsciple5hlp. global mi55lon. outreach. leadership and pastoral care.
an FIRST PORTGLENONE CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {ConVd} Presbytery The congiegation was represented at the regular Meetin of Presbytery by our mlnlster and one of the elders. Th15 provldes an Important link between the corwegations and the wider slructUTe5 of the church. General Assemblv The minister and one of our elders were nominated to attend the meetlng of the General Assembly of the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland held in Assembly 8uildin8s. Belfast. Thls meetlng takes place In June. Property There were no major repalrs or refurblshment wojects during the year. Or8•nlsatlohs Sunday School normally meets on Sunday mornlngs. Approxlmately 70 chlldren attend for Bible teaching and worship. Youth Fellowshlp meets on Sunday evenlngs. Approxlmately 20teena8er5 attend for Bible teaching, fellowship* and wotshlp. Boy5, 8rlgade meets on Thursday èvening5. Approximately 90 Children and teenagers attend for sports, actlvltles and Blble teachlng. Glils, 8rl8ade meets on Tuesday evenings. Approxlmately 90 children and teenagers attend for crafts, activities, and Bible teachlng. Chlldren's Church meets on Sunday momings. ApproxSmatety 20 chlldren attend for Blble teachSng. Presbyterlan Women meet5 monthly on Thursday evenings. Approxlmately 40 women attend for Blble teachin& fellowshlp, and worship. Men's Minlstry meets from tlme to tlme lor outln8S. artNities. etc. Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreclatlon of those who 8lve freety of thdr time by serving on eommittees and helpln8 With or8anlsatlons and other churth activities. PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Pfesby¢erian Chur¢h in Ireland meetsthe public benefit requirement by provldlng benefitto Its members and thegenèral publlt by makln8 known the Christian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Chrlst through the advancement of religion. The dlrect benefits whl¢h flow from tlk purposes of the Church Include the galnlng of an understanding in Christian beliefs as set out in the Bible and in the Church's subordlnate standard5 (the Westminster Confes51on of Faith and the Shorter and Larger Catechlsmsl leadln8 to 5plrltual and moral development and opportunltiesfor response to Blble teachlnB. 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 lincludin8 the sick. disabled and bereaved). Generally, the above benefits are dellvered locally by ¢onereEations and their members. or are facllitated throvgh presbyteries or are organised and delNered centrally. Local dellvery Is facllltated by central resources in almosr all cases. Publlc access Is made known throu8h the use of noticeboards. prlnted matorlal. press advertisement, websites, and soclal media or In other ways. The beneflts are demonstrated through regular evaluation of the seNices and Informal and ad-hoc feedback from members. thelr famllie5. and members of the publlc.
an FIRST PORTGLENONE CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TrusrEES ANNUAL REPORT {ConVdl PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT {ConVd} The purpose does not lead to harm. The only private benefit flowing from our purpose is related to Ministers, Missionaries. Deaconesses, Irlsh Mlsslon workèrs 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 ourcharitable Purpose. There are no other Pflvate benefits. The beneficiaries of this purposeare members, thelrfam1l$. other Indlvlduals that the Presbyrerlan Church In Ireland Is In dlre¢t and Indirect contact wlth, the community in which pastoral seryi¢es are provided and other communities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and worldwide whlch beneflt from our engagement with and support for both Chrlstlan and other secular or8anisatlon5. charities. and individual membeT5 of the public. The Klrk Sesslon has had regard to the Charity Commissions public benefit fequlrement statutory 8uldance. FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregatlon'5 maln source of income is member< contrlbutlons through the Weekly Freewlll Offerln8. who donated a total of £149.264 In 20231£135.437: 20221. Total Income of the congregation during the year was £335.009. compared to £309,377 In the prevlous year. Total expendlturè increased frorn £262AOO in 2022 to EZ85.318 In 2023. RESPONSIBILlnES IN RESPECT OFTHE FINANa STATEMENTS TheTru5tees are responsible for preparln8 the Annual Report and the flnanclal statements in a¢¢ordan¢e with applicable law and Unlted Klngdom Generally Accepted Accounting Prattice. The Tru5tee5 are requlred to prepare flnanclal slatement5 for each financial year which give a true and falr vlew of the state of affalrs of the con8re8ations and the financial activitles for that year. In preparlng the financial statements theTiustees are equired to: select 5UIt?ble aeeour)tlng pollcles and then apply them consistently makeJud8ements and estimate5 that are feasonable and prudent prepare the flnancial statements on the golng concern basls unless It Is Inappropriate to pSuMe that the Funds wlll contlnue in operatlon. The Tru5teÈs are responslble for keeplng adequate accountinB records that are SLrfIEclent to show and explain the funds transactions and d15close wlth reasonable accuracy at any time the financial positlon of the congregatlons and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply wSth thè Ststement of Recommended Prattice"Atcounting and Reportlng by Charbtles11 January 201SI'. They arÈ also responslble for safeguardlng the assets of the coneregation and hence for taklnB reasonable steps for the preventlon and detection of fraud and other irre8ulariiies. GOING CONCEAN The artlvltles of the conBregation a dependent on ongoing contrtbutions from Its members. TheTTu5tees are tsf the oplnlon that the congre8atlon has sufflclent resources at the date of approval of these finan¢lal statements to meet commltments whlch will arise in the year from the date of slgnlng thls report and sublect to the continuing support from members to fun on an ontoing basis the con8reeatk)n's current artlvltles and other financial commitments.
an FIRST PORTGLENONE CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Iconvdl RISK REVIEW Areview of major risks has been undertaken bytheTrustee5 and systems and procedures implemented to m3n3Be identified rlsks. The princlpal risks are in relation to the Ilkellhood of reputational damage and flnancial rSsks assoclated with the expectation of ongolng financial 5UPPOrt from rnember& These risks are mitigated by the Trustees, and thè CortEfeEatlonal Committee, regularty monltorlng the Wdrlous artivitie5 of the CongEation at stated meetings and by en¢oura8inB members In thelr regular giving. Appr¢)ved by the Klrk Sesslon at a meeting on 18 Aprll 2024 and 51gned on its behalf by Albert Baxter Andrew Mont8omery Trustee Trustee