an SION MILLS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 Registered Charity In Northern Ireland (NIC1056461
an SION MILLS 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 2020 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Sion Mills congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 149 Melmount Road. Sion Mills, Co Tyrone, BT82 9EX Registered Charity in Northern Ireland {NIC1056461 CHARtrY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Mr Colin Campbell Mr Roy Kee Mr David Mccallan Mrs Elizabeth Snodgrass MrGeorge Hamilton Mr Noel Galley Mr5 Irene Doherty Mrs Mary Kee Rev Mark shaw PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Rev Mark Shaw Colin Campbell Ashlene Henderson INDEPENDEMf EXAMINER Ms Lorraine Hyndman, clo 23 Campsie Road. Omagh, Co Tyrone. BT79 OAE BANKERS Dan5ke Bank, 66 Maln Street. Strabane. Co Tyrone, BT82 8AX SOLicrroRS Babingtons Solicitors. 74 Railway Street. Strabane. BT82 8EQ
Presbyter an SION MILLS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) STRucfuRE AND MANAGEMENT The Kirk Sesslon 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 connerted with anv 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 Sessions has delegated to its Congregational Committee the temporal affairs of the congregation includin8 administering all fund5 and property belongin8 to the congregation. Members of the Kirk Session are ex-officio members of the Congre8ational Committee. The Kirk Session consists of the ordained minister and the ruling elders of the congregations. All members are entitled to prop05e. speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator. the ministers in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk session are normally held at least 5 times per year, but due to Covid 19 restrictions this was restrirted. 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 congregatTron or by the Kirk Session. Members are elected if they obtain two-thirds of those who vote. Presbytery Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland form of governance the corporate oversight of congregation is the responsibility of a Presbytery which Superintends generally the spiritual and temporal affairs of the congregation5 a55igned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Sion Mills congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Derry & Donegal Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The membership of the Presbytery consists mainly of the active ministers of congregations
an assi8ned to it by the General Assembly, minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Se55ion of the congregation. SION MILLS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Iconvd) The General A55embty The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church. representing in one body the whole Church and acting as it5 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 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. Sion Mills 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. Our Mission Statement is that under the tordship of Jesus Christ we might reach others by our actions and our words and bring them into a new found faith and by gcKxI clear Bible based texhing asstst in their development into strong and mature disciples for ChrisL The congregarion aims.. {al To reach out to all communities in love with deeds of kindness in the name of lesus Chris¢. Ib) To reach out to everyone with the good news about jesus Chrirt. Ic) To ensure that in the preaching and teachin8 the Gospel of G(xl's grace is central. Id) To. through prayer and evangelism, see unbelieving people become faith1 followe[5 oEJe5 Christ. (e) To see Christians. by encouragement and Biblical teaching, become more mature in their faith. (f) To seek, in C]St s strength. to continue to be a Faithfijl witness in the Present and in the bjture.
Presbyter an 510N MIUS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (conyd) AcrivrriES AND OBJECrnIES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is observed on 4 Sundays durin8 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 meeting5 joint with Strabane congre83tion and has a wide range of organisations induding Sunday school & Christianity Explored Mothers and Toddlers pw ACHIEvEmEr5 AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation nomially meets forworship each Sunday at 10.OJam. During the week the Bible Study provides an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to study the scriptures and for a time of prayer. A5 well as our regular services during the year we gave thanks for faithful services and Sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2020 there were 133 communicant members and 93 families connected with the congregations. The average week attendance at moming worship is 48 (pre Covid- 191. Pastoral care Members of the congregation who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age are visited on a regular basis by the minister. elders and pastoral care a55iStant. Mission and 0reaCh There hasn't been any events held in 2020 due to Covid-19.
an SION MILLS CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Iconyd) The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mission which 15 a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enable5 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 it5 own. The United Appeal Fund provides financial support for mission personnel at home and overseas, assists congregations with the deployment of locally based staff. enable5 church planting, provides grant support for the upkeep of church premi5e5. 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 World Development Appeal. Sunday School project and any other special appeals. Presbytery The conggatIon was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and l or one ofthe elders. This provides an important link betrween the congregations and the wider structure5 of the church. General Assembty The annual General Assembly was not held in June 2020 due to Covid-19. Property We continue to enjoy weekly worship in the Church building which reopened on 29, April 2017. Or8anlsatlons Each Tuesday our hall is used by our mothers and toddlers group. An average of 9 children and their carers were regular attenders. They enjoy an annual trip each June to mark the c105e for the summer break. The PW meet on a monthly basis, and invite speakers each month to deliver a presentation to the group. The PW enjoy a Christmas dinner evening and a summer outing each year. The Sunday School meet each Sunday during the service from Septembertojune. there are 12 children attending on a regular basis.
Presbyter an Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by serving on comrnittees and helping with organisations and other church activities. SION MILLS CONGREGATION OFTHE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conVd} PUBLIC BENEFrr STATEMEKr 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 flowfrom the purposes of the Church include the gaining ofan understanding in Christian belief5 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 prartical expre55ions 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 congregations and their members, or are facilitated through presbyteries or a organised and delivered centrally. Local delivery is facilitated by central resources in almost all cases. Public ac$5 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 SeiCe5 and informal and ad-hoc feedback from members, their familie5. 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 A8ents who receive benefits as a result of their holding office or employment. However. this is incidental and necessary in order to further our charitsble 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 indirert 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
Presbyter an and support for both Christian and other secular organisations. charities and individual members ofthe public. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
an SION MILLS 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 89 contributors during the year l a reduttion of I from 20191 donating a total of £31,425,1£28.838 in pViouS year. 20191. Total Income of the congregation during the year was £69.880. compared to £85,325 in the previous year. The main reason for the reduction in income was due to Covid-19. and less events occurrin& and reduced income from use of halls. Total expenditure increased from £55,S49 to £40.793. sTATEMEr OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILThIES 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 in 2019 does not exed £250,0. the Trustees have elected under Section 64131 of the Charities Act (Northem Ireland) 208 to prepare a receipts and payment account and a statement of assets and liabilities. The Trustee5 are responsible for keeping adequate accounting record5 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 meetin8 on 20 May 2021 and signed on its behalf by Rev Mark Shaw Mr Colin Campbell 2 August 2021 2nd August 2021