an GILLYGOOLEY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022 Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105607)
an GILLYGOOLEY 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 2022 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities a5 at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DEfAILS Gillygooley congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland c/0 Mr Raymond Smyth, 82A Gillygooley Road, Omagh, Co Tyrone, BT78 5PX Registered Charity in Northern Ireland INIC1056071 CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were: Rev Robert Herron Mr Raymond Smyth Mr Robert Fyffe Mr Raymond King Miss Rosemary King Mr Andrew McKernan Mr Raymond McKinley Mrs Beverley Fleming {Deceasedl PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister: Clerk of Session,. Treasurer.. Rev Robert Herron Mr Raymond Smyth Mrs Dorothy King INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Kathryn Mitchell (for Watson & Colhounl Unit B15 Omagh Enterprise Centre, Great Northern Road, Omagh, Co Tyrone, BT78 SLU BANKERS Ulster Bank 14 High Street, Omagh, Co Tyrone, BT78 IBJ SOLICITORS Mcconnell & Fyffe The Old Rettory, 21 Church Street, Omagh, Co Tyrone, BT78 IDG
an GILLYGOOLEY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) STRucfuRE 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 Session 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 Se55ion are ex-officio members of the Congregational Committee. The Kirk Session consists of the ordained minister and the ruling elders of the congregation. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the minister 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 elerted if they obtain two-thirds of those who vote. Presbytery Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland's 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. Gillygooley Congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Omagh Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The membership of the Presbytery consists mainly of the active ministers of congregation5 assigned to it by the General Assembly, ministers who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the congregation.
an GILLYGOOLEY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND 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 ministers and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion. Gillygooley CongreEation 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 ourworld. In Gillygooley Presbyterian Church, Omagh, we seek: to worship God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,. to reconcile our multiple identities with our Presbyterian traditions; to contextualise what it means to be and belong to the Christian Church. Where the church building is a focal point in the hamlet, we seek.. to put worship and Christian proclamation at the centre of community life; to open our doors and lives to those who live in the locality; to provide a place where people can gather and feel they belong; to widen our horizon5 to the world-wide church. Where the local hall provides a community centre for all the people in the area, we seek: to participate as partners in the activities of the youth and community association; to encourage members to offer their talents, skills and energy to develop the work of the a550ciation; to bring Christian values and service to the association. Where people are acutely aware of the destructive and painful consequences of human division, conflict, and power struggles, we seek to acknowledge our past and commit to be and become people of love, truth, justice and peace.
Presbyter an GILLYGOOLEY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) AcfiviTIES AND OBJEcfivES The congregation meets for worship at 10.00 am each Sunday and visitors are welcome. Throughout the year, the main Christian festivals, including Harvest Thanksgiving, are celebrated at worship services and through other related attivities. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is observed on the first Sunday of the year, Easter Sunday, and the first Sunday in October. New communicant members are received on profession of faith on Easter Sunday. The Sacrament of Baptism is administered through the year. Marriage ceremonies and Services of Thanksgiving li.e. Funeral Services) are held when requested. Other activities include: Sunday School The Sunday School meets during Church service5 from September to June. Classes are grouped according to the age of the children. The teachers operate on a rota basis. The curriculum 15 shaped by bought in course materials and is based on Biblical stories and themes and involve5 activities for the children. The Sunday School child ren also participate in a children's talk (normally a Bible story) during the morning worship service. During the year special events include: 3 children's service, party, barbecue and fun night. The Sunday School collection goes towards the annual Youth and Children's Project of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Bible Class The Bible Class, for young people of secondary school age, meet5 during church services from October to May. The curriculum followed is mainly based on bought in course material and focuses on Biblical stories and themes relevant to the lives of teenagers. The members of the Bible Class participate in Sundayworship services on a couple of occasions during the year (readings, drama etc.) The members also organise a coffee morning after the Sunday worship on two occasions during the year,. the proceeds of which go towards the Sunday School, the Presbyterian Children's Society or a nominated charity. During the year a special outing is arranged {e.g. ten pin bowling, ice skating). Preparation for membership Classes are held by the minister in the month of February. The course includes topics such as: the history, governance, central teaching5 and sacraments of the Presbyterian Church. The privileges and responsibilities of membership of today's church are discussed and those who proceed to membership come before the Kirk Session and are invited to profe55 their faith in public at a church service (normally Easter Sunday).
an GILLYGOOLEY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) ACTIVITIES AND OBJEcfivES (cont'd) Presbyterian Women (shared with Trinity Omagh Congregation) The group normally meets on the second Tuesday of each month during September to April and is open to all women in Gillygooley and Trinity congregations. Guest speakers are invited to speak on a variety of themes. There is a focus on mi55ion and funds are raised forvarious missionary endeavours, including the work of the Mission Councils of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Occasionally special events are organised for the congregation. Church Magazine (shared with Trinity Omagh Congregation) During the Covid pandemic the magazine has not been published and communication with members and others has been online through Facebook and the Web page. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer Music is an important part of our worship experience and congregational singing is accompanied by the organ and piano. The congregation also participates in worship through readings and responses. Prayer for others is an essent131 part of congregational life and each Sunday there is a printed order of service that includes prayer topics for the church abroad and at home, including specific situations where there is human suffering and need. During the year the congregation acknowledged God's gift of new life at the baptism of 3 children. 7 young people were received into membership on profession of faith on Easter Sunday. There were no marriage services and I funeral service. On 31 December 2022 there were 152 communicant members and 78 families connected with the congregation. Pastoral care Member5 of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to sickne55 or age are visited by the minister; the minister visits members when in hospital and in residential or nursing homes; elders and committee members also offer pastoral care. Members are encouraged to contatt the minister as need arises.
an GILLYGOOLEY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) Mission and outreach The activities of local charities are publicised in congregational literature and members are encouraged to 5UPPOrt and play an active part in their work. Many members have taken up this challenge. Gillygooley Congregation support5 the United Appeal 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, assists with the running costs of Union Theological College, the Church's training college for ministry students, and financially supports congregations in the areas of worship, d iscipleship, global mission, outreach, leadership and pastoral care, The Congregation also contributes to the denomination's annual World Development Appeal, Moderatorf5 Appeal, Sunday School and Youth Project and other special appeals. Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and 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 The property 15 in good condition and repairs are carried out as required. Organisations Approximately 18 children and young people were involved in the Sunday School and Youth Bible Class. 8 women attended Presbyterian Women. Volunteers The Trustee5 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.
Presbyter an GILLYGOOLEY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) 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 congreEations 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 notice boards, printed material, pre55 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 fam ilies, other ind ividuals that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is in direct and indirect contact with, the community in which pastoral service5 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.
Presbyter an GILLYGOOLEY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 76 contributors li.e. families) during the year (74 in 20211 donating a total of £25,815 {£23,710 in 20211. Total income of the congregation during the year was £48,522, compared to £50,547 in the previous year, Total expenditure was £46,4201£37,538 in 2021). The congregation prepares its accounts on a strict receipts and payments basis and includes only funds which are held in bank or cash balances. Other funds, which the congregation holds, in particular investments, are disc105ed on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities., STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements of the congregation in accordance with applicable law and generally accepted accounting practice. As the congregation's total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 6413) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to prepare a receipts and payment account and a statement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the congregation's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time its financial position. They are a150 responsible for safeguarding the assets of the congregation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detertion of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session on 2 February 2023 and signed on it5 behalf by: Rev Robert Herron Mr Raymond S yth Miss Rosemary King Date: 2 February 2023 Date: 2 February 2023 Date: 2 February 2023