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2022-12-31-annual-report

Drumreagh Presbyterian Church a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2022

Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC105565

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

The Trustees present their Annual Report for the year ended 31 December

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Drumreagh congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 104 Bann Road, Bendooragh, Ballymoney, BT53 7NA

Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105565)

CHARITY TRUSTEES

The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were

MR JOHN WALKER MR WILLIAM FULTON MR JAMES CHRISTIE MR ALEXANDER PYPER MR WILLIAM SCOTT MR CARSON NEVIN MR CASIMIE THOMAS SCOTT MR THOMAS JAMES CRAIG MR RICHARD JOHN HENRY Mr ROBIN EAKIN Mr WESLEY EAKIN Mr DAVID MC BRIDE REV RICHARD MURRAY Mr JAMES GAULT

PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS

Minister REV RICHARD MUARRY Clerk of Session MR JOHN WALKER Treasurer MR JAMES GAULT

AUDITOR OR INDEPENDENT EXAMINER MOORE STEPHENS 30-32 LODGE ROAD COLERAINE BT52 1NB

BANKERS DANSKE BANK 6 HIGH STREET BALLYMONEY BT53 6AD

SOLICITORS THOMAS TAGGART & SONS 27 CHURCH STREET BALLYMONEY BT53 6HS

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

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 watch over 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. The Kirk Sessions has delegated to its Congregational Committee the temporal affairs of the congregation including administering all funds and property 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 ministers in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote.

Stated meetings of the Kirk session are held every other month and as appropriate.

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 obtain 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. Drumreagh 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, minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation.

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

The General Assembly

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 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 consists mainly of the active ministers of each congregation, retired minsters and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation.

DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE

Drumreagh Presbyterian Church 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 congregations mission purpose is; Centred on God’s Word, driven by the power of prayer, to worship and glorify Jesus Christ by preaching the Gospel, to see people saved, assured of their eternal life, and built up in The Lord.

Drumreagh is centred on God’s Word, and bases the structure and teachings within the church, on the truths found in it. The vision of the leadership is founded on these main truths:

The deity of Jesus Christ; ‘”I and the Father are one”’ (John 10:30) as spoken by Jesus. Salvation by God’s grace through Jesus Christ alone; “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9) and “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other

name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) The resurrection of Jesus Christ; ‘that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures’ 1 Corinthians 15: 3, 4).

There is only one God; ‘“There is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live’. (1 Corinthians 8:4-6).

The sovereignty of God The doctrine of Sin The doctrine of Mankind

Drumreagh recognises the magnitude of prayer and, has many times, experienced God’s grace in answered prayer and aims to maintain regular prayer meetings, encouraging existing and new members to attend. The leadership aspires to teach the importance of

prayer, not only because this communication with our Father God is mentioned over 250 times in His Word, but also it gives His people an opportunity to express their gratitude for His provision, acknowledge His Lordship, seek forgiveness for sin and help in overcoming it, and glorify Him in an act of worship and obedience. ‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus’ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Weekly prayer meetings take place each Sunday morning, both before Sunday School for the teachers and before the services, each Sunday evening before the services, Monday evenings, Wednesday evenings, and Saturday mornings. Organisations prayer meetings take place and before the Missions and Teaching Weeks with a week of prayer, including a half night, before each. Half nights of prayer take place before the September organisations commence yearly, and before the winter youth out-reach weekend. Drumreagh strives to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ at all opportunities both within church services, events and organisations, and in the surrounding community. The leadership believe it is God’s will and the mission of the church to preach the Good News to see people saved; ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.’ (Romans 1:16)

Drumreagh strives to encourage assurance of salvation 1 John 5:13

Drumreagh identifies the importance of seeing God’s people built up; "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). This exhortation from God’s Word is promoted by the leadership through the provision of discipleship programmes within the youth and adult ministry of the church. ‘”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”’ (Matthew 28:19, 20)

Believers are also encouraged to seek God’s will for their gifts, and given opportunities to serve in accordance with them, as instructed in Ephesians; ‘to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ’ (Ephesians 4:12, 13).

The congregation aims to live out its Mission and Vision as a family of God’s people by being:

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES

The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lords 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 organisations including;

Sunday School Bible Class Boys Brigade Girls Brigade Freedom Fellowship Youth Club Mums and Tots Crèche Children’s Church Holiday Bible Club Children’s Day Sunday School Prize Day Youth singing group Cabra Sunday School Congregational Morning and Evening Services Mission PW Ladies Bible Study Midweek Choir Carol Singing Session Meeting Committee Meeting CD Ministry Welcoming Team Cleaning Team Catering Team News Sheet Media Desk Team

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Worship and prayer

Drumreagh believes that as stated in scripture

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation

4:11) and therefore encourages, in addition to giving glory and honour and praise to our God and Saviour through every aspect of our lives, encourages worship through contemporary and traditional praise at all the services. Members are encouraged to join with the choir and praise teams, and have a vision to see praise as one important way of continuing to worship and giving glory to God.

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 a Sacrament of Baptism, we conducted marriage services and gave thanks for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year.

At 31 December 2022 there were 370 communicant members and 360 of families connected with the congregations. The average week attendance at morning worship is 400

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 visitor.

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d) Mission and outreach

At a local level the Drumreagh is passionate about reaching out to the community and currently have various ministries and yearly events on-going apart from the Sunday morning and evening services.

Holiday Bible Club is a children’s mission occurring every year and took place a week in August. This outreach is aimed at primary school aged children from the local community. The Gospel is portrayed through bible story themes, games and craft work.

A mission fortnight is held bi-annually and took place in February 2020. This outreach is aimed at the local region although frequently attracts visitors from towns across the province. The Gospel is preached, a testimony shared and a soloist performs each evening. As well as our yearly events, an epilogue is included in church activities such as; Youth Club, The Source, Freedom Fellowship, Afternoon Fellowship, The Church BBQ, BB, GB.

Balnamore Sunday school and Cabra Sunday school also take place in venues in the local communities and we hold events aimed at the local farming community, and in the past have included a Harry Fergusson Night, and John Deere, where an Evangelist preaches the gospel through the life story of Harry Ferguson and Stanley Ballentine.

It’s to God’s glory that many lives have been saved over the past years at these outreach events.

Global Mission

In addition to the United Appeal contributions, Drumreagh is also involved in other global mission, with prayerful and financial support of missionaries in various countries, including a church member Miss Rosalind Patterson now in full time mission.

The church also prayerfully supports and financially assists the large numbers of youth who take part in outreach teams every year through organisations such as; PCI, Exodus, Fields of Life, Open Doors and others, and is committed to encouraging young and old in continuing this mission.

Teaching and Discipleship

As well as the Sunday services Drumreagh provides bible teaching and discipleship in all the ministries from Sunday School and Bible Class through BB, GB, Freedom Fellowship, Midweek, PW, and Ladies Bible Study. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is— his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1, 2).

A week of teaching also takes place in October bi-annually for the believers to help strengthen their knowledge. The leadership in Drumreagh believe that ‘ All Scripture is Godbreathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work’ (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).

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 to do mission and outreach on 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, enables church planting, provides grant support for the upkeep of church premises, assist with the running costs of Union Theological College,

the Church’s training college for ministry students, and financially supports congregation 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 and / or one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the 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. Property

Commencement of the New Hall building began in 2019.

Organisations

Within the organisations the following meet weekly and the approximate number of attendees are next to them; Sunday School (70) Bible Class (18) Boys Brigade (51) Girls Brigade (85) Freedom Fellowship (20) Youth Club (70) Mums and Tots (20) Crèche (8) Children’s Church (28) Cabra Sunday School (13) CD Ministry (2) Media Desk Team (4) Welcoming Team (2) Cleaning Team (4) Catering Team (4) Midweek (60) Choir (10)

The following monthly events: PW (60) Ladies Bible Study (40) News Sheet (2)

The following annual events; Holiday Bible Club (90) Children’s Day (400) Sunday School Prize Day (250) Carol Singing (50)

The Session and Committee meets every second monthly and as appropriate, with the following average attendees; Session Meeting (14) Committee Meeting (30)

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.

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d) PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT

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 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 Westminster 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 practical expressions of Christian beliefs and standards in the local community such as through the care of those in need (including 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 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 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 as a result of their holding office or employment. However, this is 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 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 Christian and other secular organisations, charities and individual members of the public.

The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions public benefit requirement statutory guidance.

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The congregation’s main source of income is members’ contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 255 contributing families during the year donating a total of £321,462 (£294,244 in previous year, 2021)

Total Income of the congregation during the year was £455,160 compared to £304,954 in the previous year. The main reason for the change was increased giving by the contributors both in Free Will Offering and to the restricted Building Fund.

Total expenditure increased from £199,216 to £297,123 (There is no major variances)

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 congregations and the financial activities for that year. In preparing the financial statements the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the funds transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the congregations and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities (1 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.