an CURRAN 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 {NICIO5699)
an CURRAN CONGREGATION OF THE pREsBER1AN 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 Curran congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 53 Lurganagoose Road. Knockloughrim, Magherafelt. BT45 8QY Registered Charity in Northern Ireland INIC1056991 CHARITY TRUSTEES The CharityTrustees who served duringthe year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Rev John Mullan John Fulton Jason O'Neill Robin Boyce David Fulton Eric Watterson PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer Rev John Mullan Robin Boyce John Fulton INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Marilyn McFadden. 240 Hlllhead Road, Castledawson, BT45 8EE BANKERS Danske Bank, PO Box 183 Donegall Square West. Belfast, BTI 6JS SOLICITORS James Burnside. 43 Maln Street, Maghera. BT46 SAA.
an CURRAN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) STRucfuRE AND MANAGEMENT The Klrk 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 belongingto the congregation. Members of the Kirk Sesslon are ex-officio members of the Congregational Committee. The Kirk Session consist5 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 meetings of the Kirk session are held as appropriate. 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. Curran congregation of the Presbf(erian Church has been a55igned to the Tyrone 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 CURRAN CONGREGATION OF THE pRE5BERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) The General Assernbly The General Assembly is the supreme court of the Church, representing in one body the whole Church and acting as it5 supreme legislative, aijministration 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 rellgion. Curran 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 acknowledging our sins to be faithful to God's word as salt and light in our commun ity, praying that God would move and save people in our town and district. AcrivlEs 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 prayer meetings and has a wide range of organisations including: Sunday School Focus Boys Brigade Girls Brigade Presbyterian Women Friendship Group Good News Club
an CURRAN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBITERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conYd) ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normally meet5 for worship each Sunday at 10.40am and 6pm. 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. While these had to take alternative forms due to the pandemic we continued to meet online for worship and fellowship. As 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. The average week attendance at morning worship is 80. Pastoral care Members ofthe congregation who are unable to attend church due to sickne55 or age are visited on a regular basis by the minister or by elders. Misslon and outreach At a local level the con8re8ation while following the pandemic restrictions we continued to use online means to outreach and engage with children, teenagers. and our community at large. The congre8atlon supports the Unlted 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 supports congregation in the areas of worship, discipleship, global mission. outreach, leadership and pastoral care. The con8regation supports the United Appeal for Mission which is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enables congre8ation5 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 provide5 financial 5UPPQrt for mission personnel at home and oversea5. a55iSts congregations with
an CURRAN CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBITERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Icont'd) the deployment of locally based staff, enables church plantin& 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, di5ciple5hip, global mi5SiOn, Outreach, leadership and pastoral care. The congregation also contrlbutes 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 l 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 ofthe General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings. Belfast, in June. Property This year the congregation upgrade our Sound and visuals to facilitate online services. Organisations It was extremely difficult year as our organisations could not function as normal but our leaders continued to think of innovative ways to encourage and serve members of their groups. Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who 8ive freely of their time by serving on committees and helpin8 Wlth or8anisations and other church activities.
an Curran CONGREGATION OF THE pRE5BERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Icont'dl PUBUC BENEFITSTATEMENT 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 spiritU31 and moral development and opportunities for response to Bible teaching. In turn, this framework leads to prattical 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 or8ani5ed 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, Missionarie5, 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.
an Curran CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Icont'd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weeklv Freewill Offering. There were 64 contributors during the year which was the same as the previous year, donating a total of £25,661, compared to £27,380 in 2019. Total Income of the congregation during the year was £40,399 compared to £45,316 in 2019. Total expenditure was £43,945 compared to £41,254 in 2019. 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 income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 64131 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 ft)r keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the congregation's transattions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time its financial posltion. They are also responsible for safeguarding the asset5 of the congregation and hence for taking reasonable step5 for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by e Kirk Session at a meeting on 28-1(>2020 and signed on Its behalf by INameS INamel IDatel 27-10- ?( IDatel