PORTSTEWART PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TRUSTEES, REPORT - Donaghey ' Stockman FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 The Iruslees presènt their report and financial slalemen15 for the year ended 31 December 2020. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies sel c>ut in note 110 the financlal slalemenls and cOpIY with the the Charities Act 2008 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Slalemenl of Recommended Practice applicable lo charities preparing their ac¢ounls in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable In the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 leffective 1 January 20191" Objectives and activities The charitable purpose of th8 congregation is the advancement of religion. Portslewart congregation of the Presbylenan Church is a congregation of tho Presbyterian Chuich in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Iland, as a Reformed Church within the wider body of Christ is grounded in the Sciiplvres and exists lo love and honour God through faith in His Son and by the power of His Spirit, and lo enable her members to play their part in fulfilling God's misslon lo our world. The eongr8galion's mi55ion purpose is lo proclaim Christ lo all ages, for all ages, with our lips and with our live5. Our vision 15, by the grace of God, lo be an inclLJslve, weleomlng community of Christ's people of all ages, which.. is increasingly characterised by love for God, and love and concern for others., is commilled lo the historic Christian gospel as revealed in the Bible., Is relevant lo people of this bmg and place. The congregation alms lo live out its Mission and V15ion as a family of God's people by being.. A Covenant Community.. where our r&lalionships are rooted in the promises of God by living faithfully toward him and toward ono another., An Inlergeneralional CommLJnily'. where adults intentionally lake the lead to &ngage with, encourage and nurture younger members to maturity in Christ., An Outward looking Commullily.. where we want the blessings of God that belong lo us in the gospel lo becorne blessings for others beyond the bounds of our communlty., As a congregation of the Piesbylerian Church in Ireland, we believe that the Bible is the supreme authority over all we do. and that the Weslminsler Confession of Faith, along wlh the Larger and Shorter Catechisms sel out wh81 we understand the Bible leaches on key matters of Christian faith and practice. The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome lo join. The Sacrarnenl of the Lords Supper is observed on twelve occasions during the year and all Ih05e who have been baplised and who have made a profession of faith In the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted lo the Lord's Supper. The congregation holds regular bible study m&elings and has a wide range of organisalions including.. Sunday School (Shell Clubl Youth Club Mothers and Toddlers Bowillg Club Lunch Club Presbyterian Women Girls, Brigade Prime Time Connect After School Club Youth Ffyllowship The trustees have paid due regard lo guidance issued by the Charity Commission In deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
PORTSTEWART PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TRUSTEES, REPORT (CONTINUED} FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 Irwin Donaghey . Stockman Achlevements and performance Worshlp and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 10.30am and 6.30pm. During the week the Prime Time Bible Study provides an opportunity for members lo meet together for fellowship, to study the s¢riplures and for a lime of prayer. As well as our regular services during the year we acknowledged God's gift ol new life with one Sacrament of Baptism and gave thanks for faithful services and sought lo comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. Al 31 December 2020 there wer& 191 commtjnicant members and 241 families connected with th& congregation. The average week allendance al morning worship is 100 prior lo COVID restrictions and 50 later in year due to COVID protocols. Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable lo attend church due lo sickness or age ar& visit8d on a regular basis by the minister, elders or by one of the cOngg3ti0n's pastoral visitors. Mission and outreach At a local level the congregation seek5 to support and equip all membsrs lo share their Christian lailh, on a daily basis through their own lives and inlera¢lion with family. neighboLJrs, work colleagues and during leisure *livity. Some members have been involved In short-term mission teams throughout the country and overseas. Retiring collections and offerings were also taken up for appea15 IhroughoLS1 the year. On a wider basis, our eongregalion supports the United Appeal fund. United Appeal provide5 financial support at home and overseas. assisting congregations with the cleploymenl of lo¢ally based staff, enables church planting, provides grant support for the upkeep of Church premises, assists with the running costs of Union Theological College Ilhe Church'5 training college for ministry sludenlsl, and financially supports congregations in the 8reè ol worship, discipleship, global mission, outreach, leadership and pastoral care. The congregation also conlribules to the denDminab'on's annual World Development Appeal and any other Special appeals. Presbytery The congregation w8s represented al the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and one of the elclers. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church. General Assembly Unfortunately due lo Coronavirus reslriclions, no general assembly meeting look place in 2020. Property Miscellaneous expenditure of £11,057 was incurred to maintain our fabric and buildings.
PORTSTEWART PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TRUSTEES, REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 Irwin - Donaghey Stockman Oryanisatlons We briefly summari5è the activity of our organisalioF)s below.. Sunday Schotsllshell CILJb- Weekly ori a Sunday", Bible Class- weokly on a Sunday., Youth Fellowship- weekly on a Sunday., Youth Club (Blaze aryl Chill) weekly on Saturday during school term times.. Connect Afterschool- weekly on Thursday.. Mothers & loddlers-w&ekly on Wednesday and Thursdays., Prime Time Bible study- weekly on Wednesdays.. Pfftsbylerian Wom&n- monthly oll 2nd Tuesday-, Girls, Brigade- weekty on Wednesday., Bowling Club - weekly on Monday., All of these activities were significandy disrupted during 2020 with some groups able lo connect via online contact. Volunt&8rg The Trustees wish lo acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by serving on committee5 and helDino with oraanisalions and other church aclivilies. Financial review Durillg tho Current financial year the church generated a surplus of £17,65412019". -£55,747). This is in line wth expectations. As al the year end the balance sheet also showed healthy nel assets of £114,254 12019.. £96,600). The Iruslees has assessed the major risks lo whlch the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in pla¢e lo miligale exposLtre to the major risks. Structure, governance and management The church is an unincorporated charity. The Irus18es who served during the year and up lo the dale of signature of the financial 518lemenls were.. Mr J Wright Mr B Hall Mr N Lyttle Miss J Ross Mr D Turbitt Mr P O'Nèill Mr J Jack Miss R Hamilton Mr S Moore Mr A Friar Ms H Hamilton Mr R Gawne D Holffles C Marti (Resigned February 2021} None of the Iruslees has any beneficial interest in the company.
PORTSTEWART PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TRUSTEES, REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 - Donaghey . Stockman The Klrk Session The Iruslees of the congregation 8r& the mernb&is of ils 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 promot& the spiritual interest of the congregation and ol persons not connected th any congregation who are within Its bounds. 11 ensures pastoral care is in place in the congregation and seeks lo further the contribution of the Church lo Christian witness and service In the local community. The Kirk Sessions has delegated lo its Congregational Committee the temporal affairs ol th& Gongregation including adminisl&ring all funds and property belonging lo the congregation. Members of the Kirk Session are ex-ofticio Members of the Congregational Committee. The Kirk Session consists of the ordained minister and the rLJling elders of the Congregations. All mernbers are entitled lo propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, &xcept that the Moderator. the ministers in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vole. Staled meetings ol the Kirk session are held on the third Tuesday of each month excluding July and August. To be chosen for the office of the eldership in Ihg congregation a person musl be a voting member and a regular allendant on ils ordinances. The selects'on of those proposed lo be called to the Offi can be either by the congregation or by the Kirk Session. Members are elected if they obtain Iwo-thirds of those who vot&. Presbytery Under the Presbyteiian Church in Ireland fom of governance the corporate oversight of a congregation is the responsibility of a Presbytery which superintends generally the spiritual and temporal affairs ol the Congregations assigned lo il by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Portslewart congregation of the Presbyterian Church ha5 be&n assigned lo the Coleraine and Limavady Pr&sbyl&ry of the Presbytorian Church in Ireland. The membership of the Presbytery con51Sts mainly of the acbve ministers of congregations assigned lo il by the General Assembly, minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation. The General Assembly Th8 General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church, repSentIng in one body the whole Church and acting as ils supreme legislative, adminislr81ion and judiclal authority. in dealing with all mallers brought before it. The General Assernbly 15 normally consliluled during the first week in June for worship and lo conduct ils business. Al the Ènd of business, Il is dissolved. The membership of the General Assembly ¢on51sls mainly of the active ministers of each Congregation, retired minsters and a represent8live elder appointed by the Kirk Sesslon of each ¢ongregalion.
PORTSTEWART PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TRUSTEES, REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 Irwin - Donaghey Siockman Public benefit statement The Presbyterian Church in Irelanc* Tneels the public benefit requirement by providing benefit lo ils members and the general public by rnaking known the Christian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ Ihiough the advancement of religion. The direct benefits which flow from the purposes of the Church include the gaining ol an understanding in Christian beliefs as sel out in the Bible and in the Church's subordinate standards Ilhe Weslminsler Confession of Faith and the Shorter and Larger Calechisms} leading lo spiritual and moral development and opportunities for response lo Bible leaching In turn, this framework leads to piaclical expressions of Christian beliefs and standards in the local community such as through the care of those in need lincluding the si¢k, disabled and bereaved}. Generally the above benefits are delivered locally by congregations and their members, or are facililaled through presbylettes or are organised and delivered centrally. Local delivery is facilitated by central resources in almost all case5. Public access is made known through the use of noliceboards, printed rnalerial, press advertisement, websites, and Social meclia or in other ways. The benefits are demonslraled through regular evaluation of the services and infomial and ad-hoc feedback from meTnbers, their families, and membèrs of the public. The purpose does not lead lo harm. The only private benefit flowing from our purpose is related to Ministers, Missionaries, Deaconesses. Irish Mission wort(ers and Lay Agents who receive benefits as a result of their holding office or employmellt. However, this is incidental and necessary in order lo further our charitable PLJrpose. 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 conla¢l with, the community 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 5UPPOrt loi both Christian and othèr secular organisalions, charih'es and individual members of the public The Kirk Session has had reqard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit reouirem&nl statutory quidance. The trustees, report was approved by the Board of Trustees. MrRG Trustee Dated.. !!