an BALLYGAWLEY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) STRUCTURE 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 Sessions has delegated to its Congregational Committee the temporal affairs of the congregation including administering all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Member5 of the Kirk Session 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 meetings, except that the Moderator, the ministers in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meeting5 of the Kirk session are held a minimum of 4 times per year. 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 elected if they obtain two-thirds of those who vote. Presbytery 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. Ballygawley 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.
an BALLYGAWLEY 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 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. Ballygawley Presbyterian 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 exist5 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 congregations mission purposes is, By the grace of God, to help people of all ages becomefully devotedfollowers of Jesus Christ. Our vision is, by the grace of God, to be an inclusive, welcoming community of Christ's people of all ages, which.. is increasingly charGCterised by lovefor God, and Jove c7nd concern for others,. is committed to the historic Christian gospel as revealed in the Bible,. is relevant to people of this time ond place. rhe congregation aims to live out its Mission and Vision as ofamily of God's people by being.. A Covenunt Community.. where our relationship5 are rooted in the promises of God by living faithfully toward him and toward one another An Intergenerational Community.. where adults intentionally tL7ke 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 blessingsfor 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 understond the Bible teaches on key motters of Christian faith and practice
an BALLYGAWLEY 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 meetings and has a wide range of organisation5 including Sunday School & Bible Classes Youth Club-Junior & Senior Mothers and Toddlers Eternal Youth club- Seniors Junior Badminton Connect club-age 16+ Mid-week held alternate months with Ballyreagh Yarn N Yarn Junior CE Intermediate CE ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 12 Noon and 7pm. 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. As well as our regular service5 during the year we acknowledged God's gift of new life at 2 Sacraments of Baptism, we conducted one marriage service and gave thanks for faithful services and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2022 there were 120 communicant members and 101 families connected with the congregations. The average week attendance at morning worship is 110. 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 or by one of the congregation's pastoral visitors.
an BALLYGAWLEY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) Mission and outreach At a local level the congregation contributed to a number of organisations both locally and globally, including United Appeal, World Development Appeal, Children's Society, Moldova, Reach, Irish Mission, Leprosy Mission, Home & Overseas Mission, Africare and MS Society 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 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, assist with the running costs of Union Theological College, the Church's training college for ministry students, and financially support congregations 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 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 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 There were no major repairs or refurbishment project5 during this year.
Presbyter an Organisations On alternate months our Minor Hall is used for weekly Prayer Meeting & Bible Study, average attendance varies between 15-25 Sunday School & Bible Classes meet every Sunday. Average attendance 40-45. Each year the children have an excursion and a Christmas party. PW - once per month, ladies meet for fun & fellowship. They also SUPPOrt charitable organisations and missions. Average attendance 25. Busy Bees- meets every week on a Tuesday morning, for children of pre-school age. This is a time when young mothers can come together and their children learn to socialise. Average attendance 30. JCE & ICE- meets alternate weeks, children are taught Bible stories, memory verses from the Bible. The children are encouraged to participate in each meeting and they raise money for charities, last yearfs project was Reach. Average attendance 35 Yarn N Yarn- this group meets on alternate Wednesday afternoons, where our senior ladies knit garments, blankets etc for home & overseas missions. Average attendance 18 Eternal Youth - this meets every Thursday morning for our more senior folk, they have a time of recreation and a light lunch is provided. Average attendance 28. Mid-week- meets every Thursday night, alternate months with Ballyreagh for a time of Bible study and prayer. This group contributes to mission work both at home and overseas. Average attendance 20 Youth Clubs- We have 2 youth clubs, junior & senior meeting on Friday nights for a time of recreation. Average attendance 40. Volunteers The Trustees 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 BALLYGAWLEY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN 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 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 notice boards, 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 individua15 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.
an BALLYGAWLEY CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The principal source of income of Ballygawley Presbyterian Church continues to be from donations and plate collections. The principal expense of Ballygawley Presbyterian Church is in respect of payments regarding congregational running expenses and donations to missions and charities. Ballygawley Presbyterian Church had an excess of receipts over payments before other gains of £432.81 for the year ended 31 December 2022. Ballygawley Presbyterian Church continues to be in a healthy financial state as at 31 December 2022 with total cash funds of £211,963.48. Ballygawley Presbyterian Church aims to retain sufficient reserves to meet its expected future expenditure requirements as well as potential future capital projects. 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 64{31 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 208 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 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. st Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on 31 August 2023 and signed on its behalf by Paul Coote Colin Busby 31" August 2023 st 31 August 2023 cfo•