TOBERMORE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND an TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees of Tobermore COnggatIon of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland psent their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 and a Ststement of Assets and Liablllties as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINsfRATIVE DEfAILS Tobermore Congregation of the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland, 38 Main Street, Tobermore, Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry BT45 5PW Registered Charlty in Northern Ireland (NIC 105643) CHARrrY TRUSTEES The Charlty Trustees who seNed durlng the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were: Rev Trevor Boyd Mr Ivan Brown Mr Jim Davlson PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Interim Clerk of Sesslon Treasurer Secretary Rev Trevor Boyd Mr Jackle Hamilton Mr Andrew Johnston Mr Gareth Campbell INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Davld Lle & Co, Chartered Accountants, 15 Meeting Street, Magherafelt, BT45 6BN BANKERS Ulster Bank, 20 Broad Street, Magherafelt, BT45 6JR SOLicrroRS Burnside & Logue, 43 Main strt, Maghera, 46 SAA
TOBERMORE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND an TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT- CONT'D srRucfuRE AND MANAGEMENT The Interlm Sesslon The charity trustees of the congregatlon are the members of its Interim Sesslon. Under the congregation's goveming document, The Code, the book of the constitutlon and government of the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland, the Interim Session seeks to watch over and promote the spiritual interest of the congregation and of persons not connected with any congregation who a wlthin its bounds. It ensures pastoral care is in pla in the congregation and seeks to further the contribution of the Church to Christian witness and Servi in the local community. The Interim Session has delegated to its Congregational Committee the temporal affair5 of the congregation Includlng administering all funds and property belonglng to the congregatlon. Members of the Interlm Session are ex-officio members of the Congregational Commlttee. The Interim Session conslsts of the ordained mlnister and elected elders of other congregations wlthln the Tyrone Presbytery. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetlngs, eXpt that the Moderator, the minister in actlve duty in the congregatlon, has no deliberative but only a castlng vote. Stated meetlngs of the Interim Sesslon are held each year as required. To be chosen for the offlce of the eldershlp In the congregatlon a person must be a votlng member and a regular attendant on its OrdinanS. The selectlon of those proposed to be called to the offlce can be either by the congregation or by the Klrk Session. Members are elected if they obtaln the votes of two-thirds of those who vote. Presbytery Under the Presbyterlan Church In Ireland form of govemance the corporate overslght of a conggatIOn Is the responsibility of a Presbytery whlch superlntends generally the spiritual and temporal affalrs of the congregatlons assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland. Tobermore congregation of the Presbyterlan Church has been asslgned to the Tyrone Presbytery of the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland. The membershlp of the Presbytery consists malnly of the actlve mlnisters of congregations assigned to it by the General Assemblyt ministers who have retired from actSve duty and an elder appointed by each of the Kirk Sesslons of the congregatlons. The General Assembly The General Assembly Is the supreme court of the Church, representing In one body the whole Church and actlng as Its supreme leglslative, admlnlstratlve and judicial authority, in dealing with all matters brought before it. The General Assembly Is normally constituted during the flrst week in June for worship and to conduct its buslness. At the end of business it Is dissolved. The membership of the General Assembly consists malnly of the active ministers of each congregation, retired ministers and a representative elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation.
TOBERMORE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND an TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT- CONT'D DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of rellgion. Tobermore conggatIOn of the Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church In Ireland, as a Reformed Church wlthln the wider body of Christ is grounded in the Scrlptures, and exists to love and honour God through faith in His Son and by the power of His Spirit, and to enable our members to play thelr part in fulfllling God's mission to our world. The congregation's mlsslon purpose Is, by the grace of God, to help people of all ages become fully devoted followers of Jesus Chrlst. Our vlslon Is, by the grace of God, to be an Inclu51ve, welcomlng communlty of Christ's people of all ages, whlch: Is increasingly characterised by love for God, and love and conrn for others. Is commltted to the hlstoric ChrSstlan gospel as revealed in the Bible; Is levant to people of thls tlme and pla. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE The followlng sections outllne the normal actlvltles of the congregation. The congregatlon meets for worshlp every Sunday and vlsltor5 are welcome to Joln In. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was observed durlng the year and all those who have been baptlsed and who have made a profession of falth In the Lord Jesus Christ are admitted to the Lord's Supper. The congregatlon holds regular bible study meetings and has an attive Chrlstian Endeavour and Sunday School. WORSHIP AND PRAYER The congregatlon normally meets for worshlp each Sunday at 12.15pm and has an evening Serv1 as requlred on speclal occasions. Durlng the week the Blble Study and Prayer meeting provlde5 an opportunlty for members to meet together for fellowshlp, to study the scrlptures and for a time of prayer. As well as our regular ServIS when permitted durlng the year, there were no Sacraments of Baptism or marrlage services but we gave thanks for falthful 5ervlces and sought to comfort those who had been beaVed during the year. At 31 December 2023 there were 46 communlcant members and 60 famllles connected wlth the congregatlons. The average week attendance at morning worship is 40. Pastoral care Members of the congregatlon are visited by the Minister and elders. Those who are sick, elderly, the beaVed and those facing dlfficult circumstances are given special attention through regular visits and the provision of support, friendship and prayer.
TOBERMORE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND an TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT- CONT'D Misslon and outreach Meeting together for Sunday worshlp Is at the centre of the life of our church family and continues to be well supported. We recognise that we learn more and journey better when we journey as an inter-generational community. Above all we seek, in worship to glorify God, to enjoy coming together as a family of all-ages and stages in His presen and to leave challenged to be agents of change In the spheres of work and life to which we return. The congregation also supports the United Appeal for Mlsslon which is a central fund of the Presbycerlan Church In Ireland. 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, provldes grant support for the upkeep of church premises, assists with the runnlng costs of Unlon Theological College, the Church's tralning college for mlnistry students, and financlally supports congregatlon in the areas of worshipi dlsclpleshipi global mlsslon, outreach, leadership and pastoral care. Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by one of the Interlm session. Thls provldes an Important link betrNeen the congregation and the wider structures of the church. General Assembly One of the Interlm sesslon was nomlnated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the preSberIan Church In Ireland to be held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June. Property There were no eXptIonal costs associated with the Church Manse or other propety durlng the year. Volunteers The Trustees wlsh to acknowledge thelr deep appreclation of those who give freely of their tlme by servlng on commlttees and helplng wlth organSsatlons and other church actlvities.
TOBERMORE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND an TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT- CONT'D PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by provldlng benefit to its members and the general public by making known the Christian Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the advanrnent of religion. The direct benefits which flow from the purposes of the Church Include the galnlng of an understanding In Chrlstlan bellets 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 splrltual and moral development and opportunities for response to Blble teaching. In turn, this framework leads to prattical expressions of Christian beliefs and stsndards In the local community such as through the care of those In need (Including the slck, dlsabled and bereaved). Generally the above benefits are dellvered locally by congregation5 and thelr members, or are facilitated through presbyteries or are organlsed and delivered ntrally. Local delivery is facllltated by central resources In almost all cases. Publlc access is made known through the use of noticeboards, prlnted material, press advertlsement, websites, and 50clal media or In other ways. The benefits are demonstrated through regular evaluatlon of the serViS and Informal and ad-hoc feedback from members, thelr famllles, and members of the publlc. The purpose does not lead to harm. The only private benefit flowing from our purpose is related to Ministers, Mlsslonarles, Deaconesses, Irish Mlsslon workers and Lay Agents who receive beneflts as a result of their holding Offl or employment. However, this is incidental and neSSary in order to further our charitable purpose. There are no other private beneflts. The beneflclaries of this purpose are members, their families, other Individuals that the Presbyterlan Church in Ireland Is In dlrect and indlrect contact wlth, the community In whlch pastoral ServIS a provlded and other communltles throughout Northern Ireland, the Republlc of Ireland, and worldwide whlch benefit from our engagement wlth and support for both Christlan and other secular organisatlons, charlties and individual members of the public. The Klrk Sesslon has had regard to the Charlty Commlsslons Publlc beneflt requlrement Statutory guIdan. FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. The results for the year are set out on page 8, which the Trustees consider to be satisfactory. The reserves of the Congregation are held for the advancement of its charitable purpose, other than restricted reserves which are held ft)r a designated purpose.
TOBERMORE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBrrERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND an TRusfEES ANNUAL REPORT- CONT'D STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILrrIES 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 practi. As the congregatlons totsl income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 64(3) of the Charlties Att (Northern Ireland) 208 to prepare a receipts and payment account and a statement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees are re5ponslble for keeping adequate accountlng records that are sufficient to show and explain the congregation's transactlons and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any tlme its financial position. They are also responsible for safeguardlng the assets of the congregation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Interlm Sesslon at a meetlng on 29 May 2024 and signed on Its behalf by: Rev Trevor Boyd Mr Jim Davlson