Boveedy Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2020
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC 105587)
Boveedy Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland
BOVEEDY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Boveedy congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Boveedy Road, Kilrea Co Londonderry BT51 5XU
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105587)
CHARITY TRUSTEES
The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Mr Austin Gibson, Retired 24[th] August 2020 Mr Johnston Gilmore Rev Raymond Kelly Appointed 1 September 2020 Rev Dr Trevor McCormick (Chairman) Mr Ivan McKane Appointed 1 September 2020 Mr Robert McKinney Retired 24[th] August 2020 Mr Basil Moore Appointed 1 September 2020
PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS
Minister Rev. Dr Trevor J McCormick Clerk of Session Mr Johnston Gilmore Treasurer Mrs Alison Gilmore
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Mr Ian Laughlin, 21 Grove Road, Garvagh, BT51 5NX
BANKERS
Danske Bank, Bank Square, Kilrea, Co Londonderry, BT51 5QS
Boveedy Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland
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 at least twice in each year or 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. Boveedy Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has been assigned to the Presbytery Coleraine and Limavady 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 the congregation. During the period covered by this report Mr Robert McKinney was appointed to represent the congregation at Presbytery meetings and events.
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. During the period covered by this report Mr Johnston Gilmore was appointed to represent the congregation at the General Assembly.
Boveedy Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland
DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE
The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion.
Boveedy congregation of the 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 congregation's mission purposes is by the grace of God, to help people of all ages become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
Our vision is, by the grace of God, to be an inclusive, welcoming community of Christ’s people of all ages, which:
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is committed to the historic Christian gospel as revealed in the Bible;
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is increasingly characterised by love for God,
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is demonstrated by love and concern for others;
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-is relevant to people of this time and place.
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 the the Larger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith and practice. The congregation aims to live out its Mission and Vision as a family of God's people by being:
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a Covenant Community: where our relationship are rooted in the promises of God by living faithfully toward Him and toward one another.
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an Intergenerational Community: where adults intentionally take the lead to engage with, encourage and nurture younger members to maturing faith in Christ.
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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.
Boveedy Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland
ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES
Worship and prayer
January – March 2020
The congregation met for worship every Sunday at 12:30pm and occasionally at 7:00pm, and visitors were welcome to join. Praise was led by our dedicated organist and a faithful choir.
The congregation held regular bible study meetings in partnership with First Kilrea Congregation. This provided an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to study the scriptures and for a time of prayer.
The Sunday School and Bible Class met weekly with a syllabus of Bible teaching followed with a range of age-appropriate activities and take-home sheets are used. Children's Church took place during the morning service and provided a time for further learning in a relaxed environment for primary school girls and boys
April – December 2020
As a result of restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic the regular pattern of worship and activities altered from March 2020. Worship continued in Drive-In format and recordings of the services were made available to all members by email or CD. Bible studies and times of prayer were conducted via the Zoom platform.
At 31 December 2020 there were 50 families including 66 communicant members connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship is 40
Pastoral care
Members of the congregation who are ill in hospital or unable to attend church due to sickness or age have been visited on a regular basis by the minister, elders and by other members of the congregation in accordance with Covid-19 protocols.
Funerals have been conducted in accordance with the Covid-19 protocols as we have given thanks to God and sought to comfort those who have been bereaved.
Boveedy Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Mission and outreach
Members of the congregation have been encouraged to participate in various churchbased organisations. In the small community in which the congregation is placed it is more enriching and practical to encourage children and young people to engage with others in neighbouring congregations in Boys' Brigade, Girls' Brigade, Youth Club, and Youth Fellowship although the periods of 'lockdown' have limited these opportunities.
The congregation organises a PW group for ladies and stimulates Overseas Missionary interest and support through a Missionary Committee. In 2020 support was given to Leprosy Mission, Presbyterian Children's Society, Adrian & Judith Stewart (Brazil), Claire & Amir Arian (London), Helping Hands (Philippines), Belfast City Mission, FEBA Radio, Stand by Me, Royal British Legion and Latinlink.
The congregation supported 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 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, 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. The congregation also contributed to the denomination's annual World Development Appeal and the Moderator's Appeal.
VOLUNTEERS
The Trustees wish to express their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by serving on committees and helping in the leadership of organisations and other church activities.
Particular thanks are given to those who volunteer for the cleaning and graveyard rotas and those who keep the building and its surrounds in good order. Each year we keep before the congregation the Apostle Paul's statement - “We are workers together for Christ”.
Boveedy Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland
PROPERTY
The Congregational Committee addressed the damp issues in the kitchen area with the installation of new windows in the kitchen and adjoining toilets. The roof of this section of the building was also replaced. Appropriate redecoration was also completed.
A new electronic piano was purchased out of a legacy from the estate of a former member the late Mrs G Cooke.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The congregation’s main source of income is members’ contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering and Building Fund. There were 48 contributors during the year (49 in previous year, 2019) donating a total of £26,926 (£26,631 in previous year, 2019)
The congregation also received the final balance of a legacy from the estate of the late Mrs Gretta Cooke of £5,146 (total legacy £37,146) which has been directed to Property Account.
The offer of an interest free loan was declined by the Trustees and returned to the donor.
Total Income of the congregation during the year was £62,091 this included an interest free loan which was returned, compared to £64,615 in the previous year. (This included the interim payment of legacy of £32,000)
Total expenditure increased from £29,439 (2019) to £66,860 (2020). The additional expenditure relates to the Property Account and return of interest free loan.
Boveedy Congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Ireland
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.