Presbyter an DOUGLAS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 Registered Charlty In Northern Ireland (NIC105621) Presbyter an DOUGLAS CONGREGATION OF THE PRES8YfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Douglas Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Camus Road Douglas Bridge Strabane BT82 8QE Registered Charity in Northern Ireland {NIC105621) CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served durlng the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were David Reid Alan McKelvey Desmond McElrea Maurice Hunter David Millar PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer David William Reld Alan McKelvey Elaine McKelvey INDEPENDENT EXAMINER A Mccaskie 31 Segully Road Drumquin Ornagh Co Tyrone 8T78 4RD Presbyter an BANKERS Danske Bank PO BOX 183 Donegall Square West BELFAST BTI 6JS SOLICITORS Babington & Croasdale 74 Railway Street Strabane Co Tyrone BT82 8EQ Presbyter an DOUGLAS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) 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 contributlon of the Church to Christian witness and service in the local communlty. 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 Sesslon 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 meetlngs, 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 3 times each year. To be chosen for the office of the eldership in the congregation a person must be a votlng member and a regular attendant on its ordinances. The selection of those proposed to be called to the office can be either by the congre8ation or by the Kirk Session. Members are elected if they obtain two-thirds of those who vote. Presbyterv 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. Douglas 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 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. Presbyter an DOUGLAS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) 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 actlve ministers of each congregation, retired minsters 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. Douglas 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 purpose is to bring people to Je5US, SUPPOrt and nurture the Church family, magnify His name and build up Christians in their faith. Our vision is, by the grace of God, to be an inclusive, welcoming community of Christ's people of all ages, which: is increasingly characterised by love for God, and love and concern for others, is committed to the historic Christian gospel as revealed in the Bible; is relevant to people of this time and place. The congregation alms to live out its Mission and Vision as a family of God's people by being: A Covenant Comrnunity.. where our relationships are rooted in the promises of God by living faithfully toward him and toward one another An Intergenerational Community.. where adults intentionally take the lead to engage with, encourage and nurture younger members to maturity in Christ. 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. 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 with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms set out what we understand the Bible teaches on key matters of Christian faith and practice. Presbyter an DOUGLAS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) ACTIVITIES 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 congregation holds regular bible study and prayer meetlngs and has a wide range of organisations including Sunday School Bible study Our members also participate in organisations run by our sister congregation in Ardstraw ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worshlp and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 10:15 am. Durin8 the week the Bible Study provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to study the scriptures and for time of prayer. As well as our regular services during the year we acknowledged God's gift of new life at 2 Sacraments of Baptism, we conducted O marriage services and gave thanks for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2023 there were 123 communicant members and 52 families connected with the congregation. The average week attendance at morning worship is 30 Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are visited on regular basis by the ministeror elders Misslon and outreach At a local level the congregation made donations totalling £118.00 to various external missions and charities. Presbyter an DOUGLAS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) 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 a denorninational 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 contributes to the denominations annual Sunday School project and any other special appeals. 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 congregation and the wider structures of the church. General Assembly The minister and one of our elders were nomlnated to attend the meetlng of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June. Property All Church property is maintained in good order Organlsatlons Sunday School meets on Sunday Morning at 10..30 Bible Study meets on Thursday Evenings at 8..00 Prayer Meeting Thursday Evenings at 8..30 Presbyter an DOUGLAS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of theirtime by serving on committees and helping with organisations and other church activities. 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 gainlng 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 beliefsand standards in the local communitysuch asthrough the care of those in need (including the sick, disabled and bereaved), Generally the above benefits are dellvered 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. Presbyter an DOUGLAS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEE5 ANNUAL REPORT (convd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of Income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewlll Offering. There were 52 contributors during the year (52 in previous year) donating a total of £12,077 (£10,630 in previous year) Total Income of the congregation during the year was £25,440, compared to £27,131 In the previous year Total expenditure this year was £29,802 compared to £25,531 in the previous year. This yearfs costs included £4,400 for tarring. RESERVES POLICY The reserves of the charity are set by the Church Committee which Includes the Trustees. The reserves will be held primarily as cash. The level of reserves will be reviewed annually as part of the management process. The Trustees aim to maintain sufficient free reserves in unrestrlcted funds to bridge any funding gaps experienced by the Church and to mitigate the risks and costs of unplanned closure of the organisation. 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 congregations total incorne does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 64(3) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2018 to prepare a receipts and payment account and 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 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. Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on th 10 June 2024 and signed on its behalf by David W. Reid (Minister) Kk4 Alan McKelvey (Clerk of Session) Date 71-10-29. Date 31-lo-e¥