Presbyter an ¢hvl¢w 1) FIRST AHOGHILL CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT ThÈ Trustees present thelr Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 310ecember 2022. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS First Ahoghlll congregatlon ot the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 274 Gal8orm Road, Ahoghlll Ballymena BT42 IIU Reglstered Charity in Northern Irelaftd INIC105602) CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of thls report were: Thomas Boyd Roy Bo Alexander Cameron james Crabbe John Crawford ames Erwln Brian Gllmer Trevor Gilmer William Graham David Hayes Wllllam Hill Desmond Kernohan Joseph Kernohan Robert Logan Robert Mccord Wllliam McDonald james McDowell Steven McDowell Gavin McFarland John McKa Desmond Mcmillen joseph Mcmullan Garreth Mills Rev Mark Neilly David Shaw Leslie Shaw lan Small james Small Samuel Small james Turtle Ro Wllson PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minlster Clerk of Session Treasurer Rev. Maik Neill Mr Robert Mccord Mr Garreth Mills INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Jolin Finnegan Potter Finnegan Limlted Unit 25 The Courtyard Busine￿ Park 190 Galgorm Roa¢J Ballymena BT42 IHL BANKERS Danske Bank 1-2 Broadway Ballymena BT43 7AA SOLICITORS Gordon Mcllrath & Co. Ballymoney Road Ballymena BT43 5BY Presbyter an FIRST AHOGHILL CONGREGATION OF ThE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Icont'dl STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT Thè Kirk Session The charity trustees of the congregatlon are the members of it5 Klrk Session. Under the congregation's governing document, The Code, the book of the constitution and government of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland, the Klrk Sesslon seeks to watch over and promote the spirltual Interest of the congregatM)n and of persons not connetted with any congregatlon 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 Chiistian witness and seNice in the local communlty. The Kirk Sessions has delegated to its Congregatior)al Commtttee the temporal affairs of the congregation including adminlsterlng all funds and properly belon8in8 to the con8re8ation. Members of the Kirk Session are ex-officlo members of the Congregational Committee. The Klrk Sesslon conslsts of the ordained minister and the ruling elders of the congregation. All members are entltled to propose. speak. and exercise equal vote5 at meetings. except that the Moderator. the minlster5 In actlve duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a tasting vote. Stated meetlngs ot the Kirk sesslon are held at least 4 times per year. To be chosen for the offSce of the eldership in the congre8ation a person must be a votin8 member and a regular attendant on Its ordlnances. The 5electlon of those proposed to be called to the offlce can be either by the congregatlon or by the Kirk Sesslon. Members are elected If they obtain two-thifds 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 Presbyteiy which superintends generally the swritual and temporal affairs of the con8regatlons assigned to It by thè General Assembly of the Pre5byteiian Church in Ireland. First Ahoghill Presbyterian Church has been asslgned to the 8allymena Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The membership of the Presbytery consists mainly of the actlve mlnisters of congregations assigned to it by the General A5sembty. rninisters who have retired from active duty and an elder appolnted by the Klrk Sesslon of each congregation. Th• Géneral Assemblv The General AssembSy is the supreme court of the Church. representin8 in one body the whole Church and actlng as its supreme legislative, administration and judicial authority, in dealing with all matters brought before it. The General Assembly is normally constituted during a week in June for worship and to conduct its business. At the end of business, it is dissolved, The membership of the General Assembly con51Sts mainly of the active minlste15 of each congregation, retired minsters and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Se5slon of each congregation. DESCRipnoN AND PURPOSE FlrstAhoghlll Presbyterlan Church Is a congregatlon of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland. as a Refofmed Church wlthlnthe wider body of Christ Is grounded in the Scriptures and exlstS to love and honour Godthrough falth In H15 Son and by the power of HIS Spirlt. and to enable her members to play thelr part In fulfilling God's mission to our world. Flrst Ahoghlll Congregatlon's earnest desire is to reach out in love to the vlllage and CDmmunlty: to challenge those who do not yet know the trLse meaning of -john 3: 16. °For God so loved the world thot he gove his only begotten Son thot whosoever belleve5 In him Should not perish but hove everlosting lile." 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, alon8 Wlth the Larger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Blble teaches on key matters of Christian faith and prartice. an FIRST AHOGHILL CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Icont'd) ACTIVITIÉS AND OBJECTIVES The congieBation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are wekome to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is observed orb four occasions durlng the year and all those who have been baptised and who have made a profes51on of falth in the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted to the Lotds Supper. The con8regatH)n hold5 regular bible study meetings, prayer times and has a wide range of organisations. Sunday School Senior 8ible Class, Connect Boys. Brigade Glrls, Brigade Mothers and Toddlers After khool Club Presbyterian Women Bowling Club Olive Branch for senlor cltizens Flrst for Care Members of the local community are encouraged to get Invofved and are made most welcome. Some of the above have not restarted since the lockdown. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worshlp and prayer The congre8atlon meet5 for worship each Sunday mornlng at 11'.30am and 6.15pm every third Sunday evening and vlsltor5 are made welcome to the services. On Sunday evenlngs we share worship with our sister con8regations in Trinity and Brookside. During the week, a mid.week Bible Study provides an opportunlty for members to meet together for fellowship, study of the scriptures and for a tlme of corpoiate prayer. Prayer cells also meet at times each week. As well as ovr Sn person and on.llne services durlftg the year we acknowledged God's gift of new life with I Sacrament of 8aptism, and we conducted 5 marriage servkes. There were 14 funeral servlces and we sought to comfort those who had been bereaved. At 31 December 2022 there were 282 communlcant members and 375 families connected with the con8re8ation. The average weekly attendance at morning worshlp wa$ 300. Pastoral rare Membeis of the con8re8ation who were unable to attend church due to sickness or age were vislted or contacled on a regular basls by the minister, district ekler, pastoral visltor or by one of the congregation's care team. Some also received DVDS of the services. Mlsslon and OUt￿a¢h First Aho8hill has a Misslon3ry and Outreach monthly envelope and the offerings are administered by a committee who 5UPPOIt various missionaries and those who have gone out from Our Congregation, They 5UPPOrt twenty home and overseas missions and missionarles. These Include London City, Belfast City and Irish Missions, Bible Society. Release International, Asia Link, Wycllffe, Hamsayeh. Majed Tinawii. Scripture Union and Joanna McFarland. Our PW supports the Home and Overseas mission and the Drganizalions listed earlier are also all encouraged to support a mi55ion or missionary each year. an FIRST AHOGHILL CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT [Cont'd) The congregation also supports, by 3 monthly enveh)pe. the Unlted Appeal which is a central fund of the Presbyterian Chuich in Ireland. This fund enables congregations to support the wider mission of the denomination and to do mission and OUt￿aCh on a deftominational basis beyond what the congregation could do on its own. The United Appeal Fund provides financial support for mission personnel at home and overseas. asslsts congregations with the deployment of locally based staff. enables church pl3ntin& provides grant support for the upkeep of church premises, asslst with the runnlng costs of Union Theological College. the Church's training college for ministry students, and financially supports conEregatlons In the areas of worship. discipleship, global mission. outreach. leadership, and pastoral care. Presbytery The congregatlon was rèpresented at meetings of Presbytery by our mlnister andlor representative elder. Thls provides an important Ilnk between the congregations ond the wider structures of the church. Generol Assembly The Geneial Assembly of the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland held in Assembly 8ulldlngs. Belfast. Property There was no major expendlture from the property fund. Or8anisation5 Sunday school Sunday school and Bible class met each Sunday at 10..15am. There are 75 young people on the roll and there are 15 teachers and helpeis. Year 10 and above now attend our new Connect groups. The te8chefS follow an agreed programme, and the children leain catechism and memory veise5. Because of restrktions there was no outing organized but there was a Hollday Blble Club. Youth Our full-tlme youih coordinator worked with all our youth organization5. young people, and youth within the local communlty. Connect meet on Frlday and Sunday evenlngs at 8pm. Friday ni8hts have 70-75 youn8 people on the roll wlth 8-10 leaders, Sunday nights has an attendance of 25130 with 6 leadeys. An after-school club ran each Tuesday durin8 school term wtth 15120 children on the roll. Presbyterlan Women PW meets on the second Monday of the month. The 80 ladies who attend have a mlsslonary focus and they support the Home and Overseas Mlssion. Bows Brlgade 45 boys meet each Friday evening September- March. Anchor Boys and Junlor Section meet 6:4S- 8.15. The normal BB artlvltles of scrlpture, badge work and games ale provlded and supervised by 11 officers and helper5. Glrl's 8rlgade 918irls meet each Thursday evening September- March. Little Stsrs. Explorers and juniors meet 6'.15- 7.30. Scrlpture. crafts. games etc, ore led by 11 officers and helpers. Bowlin£ Fellowship The Bowllng Club, although not an organization under the control of Kirk Session use5 our main hall and facilities. 25 mèmbèrs participate in the actnAties and compete in the Churches league and cup matches. Presbyter FIRST AHOGHILL CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT IConVd} Ollve Branch The Olive Branch meet once every month and provides afternoon teas and fellowship for our 5enlor cttizens. approx. 45 people attend wlth 10 involved in the preparation. First for Care 12 people provide support to bereaved. slck and thÈ elderly viith visitation and meals. Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of tI￿se who glve freely of their time by servin8 on committees and helpin8 Wlth organizations and other church artlvltles. PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Pre.sbyterian Church In Ireland meet5 the public benefit requlfemeftt by providing benellt to its members and the general public by making known the Christian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advancement of religlon. The dlrect benefits which flow from the purposes of the Church include the 8alnlng of an understandlng 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 devekjpment and opportunlties for fesponse 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 lincludlng the sick, disabled. and bereaved). Generally, the above benefits are dellvered localty by congregatlons and their members or are facilitated through piesbyteries or are organised and dellvered centrally. Local dellvery b facilitated by central resources In almost all cases. Public access is made known throu8h the use of ftotlceboards, printed materlal. press advertisement. websltes, and social medla or In other ways. The beneflts are demonstrated through regular evaluation of the Se￿iCe$ and informal and ad-hoc feedback from members, thelr families, and members of the publlc. The purpose does not lead to harm. The only private benefit flowing from our purpose is related to Mlnisteis, Mlsslonarles. Deaconesses, Irish Mission workers and Lay Agents who receive benefits as a result of thelr holding office or employment. However, this is Incidental ond necessary in order to further our charitable purpose. There are no other private benefits. The beneficiarles of this purpose are members, thelr families. other individuals that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Is In direct and indirect contact with, the community In whlch pastoral services are provlded 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, charitles. and individual members ot the public. The Kiik Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions public benefit requlrement Statutory guldance. FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation'5 main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewlll Offering. There were 309 contributors durlng the year1286 in prevlous year, 2021) donating a total of £124.1521£122,396 in prevlous year. 20211. Total Income of the congre8atlon durlng the year was £291.342 compared to E273.276 In the prevloLJS year. Total expenditure increased from £218,520 to £255,685. Presbyter an FIRST AHOGHILI CONGREGATION OF THE PREsBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT ICDnVd} RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPEC[ OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the finantlal statemeftts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Pra¢tl¢e. The Tru5tee5 are required to prepare financial statements for each flnanclal year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the congregation5 and the finarkcial artivities forthat year. In preparing the financial statements the Trustees are required to.. select suitable acco¥Jnting policies and then apply them consistently. make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. prepare the financial statements on ihe golng concern basis unle55 it is inapproprlate to presume that the Funds will continue in operatlon. The Trustees are responsible for keèping adequate accountSng records that are sufficient to show and explaln the funds tran53ction5 and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any tlme the financial posltion of the congregatlons and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Statèment of Recommended Practice"Accountlng and Reportin8 by Charities11 january 20151". They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the congregation and hence for takin8 reasonable steps for the prevention and detectlon ol fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meetln8 on 5 June 2023 and slgned on Its behalf by Name: Rev Mark Neilly Name: Robert Mccord Signature: Slgnature: ...