TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present thelrAnnual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022 includinB a Balance Sheet as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Cuningham Memorial Congregation of the Presbyterian Church In Ireland Main Street Cullybackey Ballymena BT42 18N Registered Charity in Northern Ireland NIC 105553 CHARITYTRUSTEES The Charlty Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were: Rev Noel Mulholland Mr Braln Anderson Mr John Calderwood Mr John Evans .MrJohn Flnnegan Jnr Mr Edwin Hook Mr Edward McKendry M Geoffrey Mcwilliams Mr Derek Patterson Mr Nelson Steven50n Mr David Warwick Mr MarkAllen Mr Wllllam Bamber Mr Earnest Douglas Mrjohn Finnegan Mr Raymond Holmes Mr Colin Hutchinson Mr John Mccord Mr Brlan Mcmillen, Mrwilliam Tweed Mr Samuel Warwick PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Secretary Rev Noel Mulholland Mr Colin Hutchinson Mr Brlan Mcmlllan Mrs Audrey Mellon Independent Examiner James Wallace D. T. Carson & Co. 51-53 Thomas Street Ballymena BT43 6AZ BANKERS Danske Bank Broadway Ballymena BT43 7PE
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) SOLICITORS McKeNIII Neilly l Broadway Avenue Ballymena BT43 7AA STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Klrk Sesslon The charity trustees of the congregation are the member5 of its Kirk Session. Under the congregation's governin8 document, The Code, the book of the constitution and government of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Klrk Session seeks to watch over and promote the spiritual interest of the con8regation and of persons not connected wlth any congregation who are wlthln 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 seNlce in the local community. The Kirk Sessions has delegated to Its Congregational Cornmlttee the temporal affalrs of the congregation includin8 admlnistering all funds and property belonglng to the congregation. Members of the Kirk Session are ex-officio members of the Congregational Committee. The Kirk Session consists of the ordalned minlster, associate minlster and the ruling elders of the congregations. All members are entltled to propose. speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the ministers in active duty in the congregatlon, has no deliberatlve but only a casting vote. Stated meetinES of the Kirk session are heSd at least twlce in each year. To be chosen for the office of the eldership in the con8regation 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 con8re8atSon or by the Kirk Se55ion. Members are elected if they obtaln two-thirds of those who vote. Presbytery Under the Presbyterian Church In Ireland form of governance the corporate oversight of a congregation is the responslbllSty of a Presbytery which superlntends generally the spirltual and temporal affalrs of the congregatlons assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Cuningham Memorial Presbyterian Church has been asslgned to the Ballymena Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The membership of the Presbytery consists malnly of the active mlnisters of congregations a5518ned to it by the General Assembly. mlnsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. The General Assembly The General Assemblyls the supreme court of the Church, representin8 In one body the whole Church and acting as Its supreme legislative, admlnistration and judiclal authority, In dealing with all matters brought before It. The General Assembly is normally constituted in June for worship and to conduct its business. At the end of business, It 15 d15501ved. The membership of the General Assembly con51Sts mainly of the active mlnisters of each congregatlon, retired minsters and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation.
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (conyd) DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE Cunlngham Memorial Presbyterian Church is a Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, a5 a Reformed Church within the wider body of Christ is grounded in the Scriptures, and exists to love and honour God through faith in Hi5 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 conBregation's mlsslon purposes is by the grace of God, to help people of all ages become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Ourvision is, by the grace of God, to be an inclusive, welcoming community of Christ's people of all ages, which.. is InC3s1ngIY characterised by love for God, and love and concern for others; is commltted to the historic Chrlstian gospel as revealed in the Bible- is relevant to people of this time and place. The congregatlon aims to live out its Mission and Vision as a famlly of God'5 people by belng: A Covenant Communlty: where our relatlonshlps are rooted in the prom15es of God by livin8 faithfully toward hlm and toward one another An Inter8enerational Community: where adults Intentlonally take the lead to engage with, encourage and nurture youn8er members to maturity In Christ. An Outward lookin8 Community: where we want the blessings of God that belons 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 authorlty over all we do, and that the Westminster Confesslon of Faith, along with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith and practfce. AcfiviTIES AND OBJEcfivES The congregatlon meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is observed on several occaslons during the yoar and all those who have been baptlsed and who have made a professlon of faith In the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted to the Lord's Supper. The congregatlon holds regular bible study meetin8S and has a wide range of organisations Includlng: . Sunday School Sports Plu5 Youth Club Parents and ToddSers Bowllng Club Presbyterian Women Connect Youth Fellowship Midweek Fellowshlp Men's Fellowshlp Choir Young Adults Young at Heart
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) ACHIEVEMENT5 AND PERFORMANCE Worshlp and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11.30am and 6pm. Each Wednesday evening the mi6week bible study provides an opportunity for members to meet tO8ether for fellowship, to study the scrlptures and for 3 time of prayer. As well as our reBular servlces during the yearwe acknowledge God's glft of new life at 2 Sacraments of baptlsm, we conducted 2 marriage servlces and sought to comfort those who have been bereaved during the year. During the year thére were 12 new communicant members and approximately 525 families connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship is 250. 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 mlnisters, pastoral assistant or elders. CD'S and DVD5 a avallable and dlstributed to members of the congregation who are unable to attend. Church serwlces contlnue to be live streamed and are available on the church's YouTube channel. Mlsslon and outrea¢h At a local level the congregation 5UPPOrts:. a couple who are working in Waterford as Church Planters, a young man who isvolunteerin8 With Coachlng for Christ and a deaconess who visited our church from the Ukraine. The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mlssion whlch 15 a ntral fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enables congregations to support the wider mlssion of the denomination and to do mi5slon and outreach on denominational basis beyond what the congre8atlon could do on its own. The United Appeal Fund provides financial support for mission personnel at home and overseas, as5i5ts conEregations with the deployment of locally based staff, enables church plantin8, provides 8rant support for the upkeep of church premises, assist with the runnlng costs of Union Theological College, the Church's tralnlng college for ministry students, and financially 5UPPOrts congregation in the areas of worshlp, d iscipleship, global misslon, outreach. leadershlp and pastoral care. Presbytery The con8regation was represented at the regular meetln8s of Presbytery by our minlster and one of the elders. Thls provides an important link between the congre8ations and the wider structures of the church. General Assembly The minister and one of our elders was nominated to attend the meeting of the General A55embly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held In A55embly Buildings, Belfast, in June. Property During the year there was no majorwork carrled out on our premises. Organlsations Bowling Club Our bowling club meets each Tuesday. We had 26 members and played in the churches league. At the end of the year. we play a tournament with our own members. We finlsh the yearwith a dinner and prlze Biving and our AGM.
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) Presbyterian Women Cunin8ham Memorial PW meet In the Cuningham Suite on the second Wednesday of each month from September to April. Approximately 60 ladies attend each month and a variety of speaker5 attended our meeting during the year. We usually end with tea and biscuits. In May each yearwe have our annual outing, we also have a PW Service each year and at Chrlstmas some of the members deliver parcels to the more senior in our congregation who are in Nursing/Residential homes or In their own homes and no longer able to attend church. Connect Youth Fellowship Connect Youth Fellowship is a church organisation for teenagers and meets every other Sunday evening between September and April with an average of 7 youn8 people attendin8 regular. Our Sunday evenin8 consists of Bible study, topical presentations, praise and fellowship. Sunday School The Sunday School meets on a Sunday Morning from 10:15 to 11.15, there are 35 children who attend regularly. Our normal Sunday include5 slnglng, prayers and lessons from ourGo Teach study books. In June we led the church service on children's day and had our end of year afternoon at the church hall with games. bouncy ca5tle5 and a barbeque. Midweek Fellowshlp. The above Fellowship meets weekly on a Wednesday evening (excluding the 2nd Wednesday of the month) for a time of Blble Study, Praise and Prayer. The avera8e attendance each ni8ht is around 50 and the meetln8 lasts for approximately one hour. Cunlngham Men's Fellowshlp Cholr The men's fellowshlp cholr met throughout the year with an average attendance of 15 men plus two ladies who train the choir. Our aim is to provide fellowship as we practise and sing together, We regularly lead the senilces at Sunday worship and we offer our services to 80 and sln8 In varlous churches, mission halls and nurslng homes. Young at Heart The YAH meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month from September to May. wlth between 30 and 40 in attendance. We met for about I hour starting with a visltlng speaker and endlng wlth tea and light refreshments. At the end of the year the members look forward to their annual outlng. Sp¢rtsPIus The Youth Club meets each Saturday evening from September to Aprll wlth an average attendance of 8 per night. The majority of these young people are not regular attenders at church. Games offered include football, table tennis, pool and computergames. The evening comes to an end with an epilogue. Parents and toddlers Thi5 15 a crèche group for parents and young chlldren. Parents and toddlers meets each Thursday mornin8 from 10.00am to midday. It gives the parents an opportunity to meet with other parents who have chlldren of a similar a8e, There are toys for the children to play with while the parents can compare notes and meet together In a relaxed setting. There is juice, Sandwiches and biscuit5 for the children and tea and scones for the parent5. The morning ends with a bible story. Young adults This organisatSon commenced In 2022 and has 15 members between the ages of 18 and 30. They meet on the fourth Saturday of each month and their programme varies includes bible studies, fellowship and Dutings. Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by serving on committee5 and helping with organisations and otherchurch activities.
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the publlc beneflt requirement by providing benefit to its members and the Eeneral public by making known the Christian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ throuEh the advancement of religion. The direct benefits which flow from the purposes of the Church include the gainlng of an understanding in Christlan bellefs as set out in the Bible and In the Church's subordinate standards (the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Shorter and Larger Catechisms) leading to spiritual and moral development and opportunities for response to Blble teaching. In turn, this framework leads to practical expressions of Christian beliefs and standard5 In the local community such as through the care of those in need (includlng the slck, dlsabled and bereaved). Generallyi the above benefits are dellvered locally by congregations and their members, or are facilltated through presbyteries or are organised and delivered centrally. Local 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-hoc feedback from members, their families, and rnember5 of the public. The purpose does not lead to harm. The only private benefit flowing from our purpose Is related to Mlnlsters, Mlssionarles, Deaconesses, Irlsh Mlssion workers and Lay Agent5 who receive beneflts as a result of thelr holdlng offlce or employment. However, thls Is Incldental and necessary in order to further our charltable purpose. There are no other private benefits. The beneficiaries of this purpose are members, their familles, other individuals that the Presbyteria n Church in Ireland Is In direct and indirect contact with, the communlty In which pastoral services are provided and other communities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland. and worldwide which benefit from our engagement with and support for both Chrlstlan and other secular organisatlons, charitles and individual members of the publlc. The Klrk Session has had re8ard to the Charity Commissions public benefit requirement statutory guidance. FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregatlon's maln source of Income is members. contrlbutions throu8h the Weekly Freewill Offerin6. There were 320 contributors durlng the year {332 in 2021), donating a total of £131,2871£129,856 the prevlous year, 2021). Total Income of the con8re8atlon durln8 the year was £278,515, compared to £298,363 in the previous year. Total expenditure increased from £197,973 to £202,971. RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPEcf OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the ftnanclal statement5 in accordance wlth appllcable law and United Klngdom Generally Accepted Accountin8 Practice. The Trustees are requlred to prepare financial statements for each flnancial year which give a true and fairview of the state of affairs of the congregations and the financial activities for that year. In preparing the f inancial statements the Trustees are required to- select suitable accounting policles and then apply them consistentlv make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent prepare the financial statements on the golng concem basis unless it Is inappropriate to presume that the Funds wlll continue In operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the funds tran5action5 and disclose with reasonable accuracy at anytime the financial position of the congregations and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice"AccDunting and Reporting by Charities (l 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.
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) GOING CONCERN The activities of the congregation are dependent on ongoing contributions 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 ongoin8 basis the congregation's current activities and other flnancial commltments. RESERVES POLICY The Trustees have considered the level of unre5trlcted reserves that It is appropriate to hold taking account of current and on8oing commltments. It is the pollcy of the Trustees to hold at least 2 month's norrnal expenditure. At the yearend unrestricted reserves were £713,994 which represents a higher level of reserves. The Trustees however, consider it prudent to hold reseeS at this level as the funding of its present activltles 55 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 identifled risks. The principal rlsks are in relatlon to the likellhood of reputational damage and flnancial risks associated with the expectation of on80in8 flnancial support from members. These risk5 are mitigated by the Trustees, and the Congre8ational Committee, re8ularly monitorin8 the various activitie5 of the congregation at stated meetings and by encouraging members in their regular givin6. Thls report was approved by the Session (trustees) on Tuesday 6 June 2023 Ja Noel Mulholland Minister Colin Hutchinson Clerk of Session