an DOUGLAS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Flnanclal Statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 Re*tered Charfty In Nortrn Ir¢land (NIC105621)
an IX)UGLAS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IREiAI4D TRusfEES ANNLIAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 indudin8 a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE ANO ADMINisfRATIVE t>EfAILS Douglas Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Camus Road Douglas Brid8e Strabane BT82 8QE Re8lStered Charlty In Northern Ireland INIC105621) CHARrrY TRusfEES The Charity Trustees who served durin8 the year Of who were trustees at the date of this report were David Reld Alan McKelvey Desmond McElrea PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer David William Reid Alan McKelvev Elaine McKelvey INDEPENDENT EXAMINER A M<Caskie 31 Sea8ulty Road Drumquln Omagh BT18 4RD
an BANKERS Danske Bank PO BOX 183, Done8all Square Wesl BELFA5r, BTI 6JS SOLICITORS Babington & Cfoasdale 74 Rallway Street Strabane
an DOUGIAS CONGREGATION OF THE PRE5BYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) srRucfuRE AND MANAGEMEpir The Klrk Se551on The charlty trustees of the con8re8ation are the members of Its Kirk Session. Under the con8re8ation's 8overnin8 document, The Code, the book of the constitution and 8ovemment of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Kirk Session seeks to watch over and promote the Spiritual interest of the congregatlon and of persons not connected with any con8re8ation who are within its bounds. It ensures pastoral care Is in place in the con8re8atlon and seeks to further the ctributIon of the Church to Chrlstian wltness and servlce In the local community. The Klrk Ses51on has delegated to Its Con8re8ational Committee the temporal affairs of the con8re8ation indudin8 administering all funds and property belonging to the ¢gregatiOn. Members of the Kirk Session are ex¥officio members of the Congregational Committee. The Klrk Session conslsts of the ordalned mlnister and the rullng elders of the con8re8atlons. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exerose equal votes at meetings, expt that the Moderator, the minister in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a castin8 Vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk Session are held 3 times each year. To be chosen for the office of the eldershlp in the con8regation a person must be a votln8 member and a regular attendant on Its ordlnanos. The selettion of those proposed to be called to the office can be either by the con8re8ation or by the Kirk Session. Members are elected If they obtain two-thirds of those who vote. Pr•sbyt•ry Under the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland form of govemance the corporate oversight of a congregation is the responsibillty of a Presbytery which superintends generally the spiritual and temporal affairs of the con8re8ations assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbiterian Churth in Ireland. Do($8las congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Oma8h Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The membershlp of the Presbytery consists mainly of the attlve ministers of congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly. minsters who have retired from attive duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of the con8re8ation.
DOUGLAS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IREiANO TRUSTEES ANNUAL REpoirr (convd) The General Assembty The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Churth, representing in one body the whole Church and arting as its supreme legislative. administration and judiaal authority, in dealing with all matters brou8ht before it. The General Assembly is nornially constituted during the first week in June for worship and to condutt its business. At the end of business it is dissolved. The membership of the General Assembly consists mainly of the attive ministers of eath congregation, reljred minsters and representstlve elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each con8re8ation. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitsble purpose of the cgregatiOn is the advanment of reli8ion. Douglas congregatSon of the Presbyterlan Church Is a congre8ation of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, as a Refonned Church withln the wider body of Chrlstls 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 thelr part in fulfillin8 God's mlssion to our world. The con8re8atlon's mlssion purpose is to bring people to Jesus, support and nurture the Church family, ma8nify Hi5 name and build up Christians in their faith. Our vlsion is, by the grace of God, to be an induslve, wdcomin8 community of Chrtsys people of all ages, whlch: Is Increasingly characterised by love for God, and love and concern for others; Is committed to the historic Christian 8ospel as revealed in the Bible; is relevant to people of this time and place. The congregation aims to live out its Mission and Wision as a famlly of God'5 people by belng: A Covenant Community- where our relationships are rooted in the promlses of God by living falthfvlly toward him and toward one another An Intergenerational Community: where adults intentionally take the lead to en8a8e with, encourage and nurture younger members to maturity in Christ An Outsvard looking Community: where we want the blessings of God that belongto us in the gospel to become blessings for others beyond the bounds of our community. 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 with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith and practi.
an I)OUGIAS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) AcllvmES AND OBJEcfivES 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 congregatlon holds regular blble study and prayer meetings and has a wlde range of or8anisatlons indudin8 Sunday School Bible Study Walking Group Our members also partldpate In or8anlsatlons run by our sister con8regation in Ardstraw ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worshlp and prayer The con8re8ation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 10:15 am. Durin8 the week the Blble Study provldes an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship. to study the scrlptures and for a tlme of prayer. As well as our re8ular services durin8 the year we acknowledged God's &ft of new Ilfe at O Sacraments of Baptlsm, we conducted O marriage seThices and 8ave thanks for faithful servi$ and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 310ecember 2020 there were 123 communicant members and 52 famllles connected wlth the con8regatlon. The average week attendance at mornln8 worshlp is 30 Pastornl care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are vlslted on a regular basis by the minister or eldeis Mlsslon and outreach At a local level the con8re8ation made donations totslling £102.(K) to varlous extemal mlsslons and charities.
an DOUGLAS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) The con8regatlon supports the United Appeal for Mission which is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Thisfijnd enables congregations to supportthe wider mlssion 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 diurch plantln& provldes 8rant support for the upkeep of church premises, assist with the running costs of Unlon Theologlcal College, the Church's tralnlng college for minlstry students, and finanoally sUPPOrts congregation in the areas of worshlp, dlscipleship, global misslon, outreach, leadershlp and pastofal care. The congregatlon a150 contrlbutes to the denominatlons annual Sunday School projett and any other special appeals. Presbytery The congregation was represented at the re8ular meetin8s of Presbytery by our mlnister and / or one of the elders. This provides an important Ilnk between the con8re8ation and the wlder strurtures of the church. General Assembly The mlnister and one of our elders were nomlnated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildin8s. BelfasL in June. Propertv All Church property Is malntsined in good order Organlsatlons Sunday School meets on Sunday Mornin8 at 10:30 Walking Group meets on Monday Evenin8s duringthe summer at 7:30- suspended due to Covid Bible Study meets on Thursday Evenin85 at 7:30 Prayer Meetln8 Thursday Evening5 at 8:IXI
an DOUGIAS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT l¢onVd) Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreaation of those who 8ive freely of their time by serving on committees and helping with organisations and other church activities. PUBLIC BENEFIT sfATEMEKr The Presbyterian Churth In Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by provldlng benefit to Its members and the general publlc by makin8 known the Chr15tian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Chrlst throu8h the advancement of rell8ion. The direct benefits whlch flow from the purposes of the Church indude the 8aining of an understsndin8 Sn ChrlstSan bellets as set out In the Bible and in the Church's subordinate standards (the Westminster Confession of Falth and the Shorter and Larger Catethismsl leadlng to spiritual and moral development and opportunltles for response to 8ible teachin& In turn, this framework leads to practlcaS expressions of Christian beliefs and standards in the local community suth as throu¢) the care of those In need {includin8 the sick, disabled and bereaved). Generally the above benefits are delivered locally by con8re8ations and their members, or are facilitated throuth presbyteries or are or8anlsed and delivered ntrally. Local delivery is fadlitated by central resources in almost all cases. Public access is made known throu8h the use of not1boardS, prfnted materlal, press advertlsement. websites, and soclal medla or In other wav The benefits are demonstrated throuth regular evaluation of the services and Informal and ad-hoc feedback from members, their families. and members of the publlo The purpose does not lead to harm. The only private benefit flowlng from our purpose Is related to Ministers, Missionaries, Deaconesses. Irlsh Mission workers and Lay A8ents who recelve benefits as a result of their holding office or employment. However, this Is inddental and nece55ary in order to further our charltable 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 dirert and indirert contact wlth, the community in whith pastoral serrfices 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 ha5 had regard to the Charity Commlssions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
an DOUGLAS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT qconvd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congre8atlon's main source of income is memberg contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 52 contributors during the year (52 In prevlous year, 2017) donating a total of £11,342 {£12,018.00 in previou5 year, 2018) Total Income of the con8re8ation during the year was £16,664.IXI, compared to £20,508. in the previous year Totsl expenditure decreased from £23,454.CK) to £19402.(K) . 5fATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSI8ILmES The Trustees are responslble for preparing the annual report and the financial statements of the congregation in accordan with applicable law and generally accepted accountin8 prattice. As the congregations total income does not exceed £250,(XK), the Trustees have eletted under Settion 64131 of the Charities Art (Northern Ireland) 2018 to prepare a recelpts and payment account and a statement of assets and Ilabllitles. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accountlng recd5 that are sufflclent to show and explain the congregation's transactlons and disclose wlth reasonable accuraoi at any time Its financlal position. They are also responsible for safe8uardin8 the assets of the con8re8ation and hence for takin8 reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meetlng on 12 December 2021 and slgned on Its behalf by 1La (J LJ. OL H'L4 David W. Reid (Minister) Alan McKelvey {Clerk of Session) 31st Dember 2021 31st December 2021