2019-12-31-annual-report - Dungannon Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2019 including a Balance Sheet as at that date.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Dungannon congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 53a Scotch Street, Dungannon, BT70 1BD Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105671)

CHARITY TRUSTEES

The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were

Dr Duncan Anderson Mr John Bleakley Mrs Valerie Campbell Dr Adrian Church Mrs Vera Cowan Mr John Eddie Mr Richard Emerson Mrs Margaret Forbes Mr Oliver Hadden Mr Philip Kyle

Mr Adrian McAlister Mr Kenneth Mullan Dr Harold McNeill Mr Glenn Millar Mr David Miller Dr David Rodgers Rev Alan Thompson Mr John Williamson Mr John Workman

PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS

Minister Clerk of Session Treasurer

Rev Alan Thompson Mr David Miller Mr John Eddie

AUDITOR OR INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Graeme Parr, ACCA

BANKERS

SOLICITORS

First Trust Bank Millar, Shearer & Black 18-20 Scotch Street, 9 George Street Dungannon BT70 1AZ Dungannon BT70 1BP

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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 Session has delegated to its Congregational Committee the temporal affairs of the congregations including administering all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Members 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 meetings of the Kirk session are held at least 4 times in each 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. Dungannon Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Tyrone 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 each congregation.

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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

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.

Dungannon 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.

Dungannon Presbyterian Church was first established over 300 years ago and currently exists on two sites, one on Scotch Street, Dungannon, and the other was opened in the village of Moygashel in 1954. The congregation’s mission purpose is, by the grace of God, to propagate the Christian faith/religion in the town of Dungannon and the surrounding area. Our desire in all that we do is to make the Lord Jesus Christ real and relevant, and the Christian life attractive and inspiring, encouraging people of all ages to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Our vision is to glorify God through through our worship together as a group of people; glorify God through growing in the Christian Faith together; & to glorify God in reaching out to our local community and beyond, as a caring and active witness to challenge others of their need of Jesus in their own lives. 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.

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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES

The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is observed 5 times 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 meetings and has a wide range of organisations including Sunday School, Choir, PW, Soul Resort Youth Club, Knit or Natter, Noah’s Ark Mothers and Toddlers Group, and Bowling Club. We have a Social Events Committee, which organises special events for social fellowship and evangelistic outreach Eg. ‘Starlight Supper’ at Christmas. We presented a very successful drama, ‘The Parable of the Christmas Tree Festival’ at the end of November, 2019 based on the previous year’s Christmas Tree Festival.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Worship and prayer

The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 10am in Moygashel Hall and 11.30am in Scotch Street, and at 7pm. Creche is available for pre-school children. In Moygashel, the children & young people leave for Sunday School & Bible Class (called LAB – Learning About the Bible) during the Service. In Dungannon Sunday School is before the service, and primary-age children leave during the service for Children’s Church. Twice a month secondary-age young people leave during the service for ‘Teens Church.’ During the week ‘Ignite’ Groups meet in the Church and in various homes, providing an opportunity for members to meet together for fellowship, to study the scriptures, and for a time of prayer.

As well as our regular Sunday services, during the year services of thanksgiving were held following the death of members during the year, and as a congregation we sought to comfort those who had been bereaved. No marriage services took place in 2019

At 31 December 2019 there were 273 communicant members and 487 families connected with the congregation.

The average week attendance at morning worship is 250 at The Morning Services & 25 at the Evening Services

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 visitation Team.

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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

Mission and outreach

At a local level the congregation seeks to reach out into our town and surrounding community, as a caring and active witness – Organisations under the direct control of the congregation, such as Sunday School, Soul Resort Youth Club, and the Noah’s Ark Mothers and Toddlers Group, cater not only for young people from the congregation but for young people in the town and local community who have no direct connection to Dungannon congregation. The ‘Ignite’ Bible Study Groups, the Saturday Morning Prayer Meeting, PW, Knit or Natter, and the Bowling Club cater for the congregational members, and are open to the wider community to come along.

As a congregation we have close links with the local primary and secondary schools, and the minister conducts assemblies in them regularly. One of the local primary schools has held its annual harvest service in our church, the Royal School holds its annual Easter service in our church, and the loyal orders are granted permission to hold their annual services in our church.

In July, 2019 a week-long summer outreach to children and teenagers was held in our church halls – In the mornings there was a holiday bible club for primary-age children: Bible stories, memory verses, games, quizzes, craft etc. (50 children registered during the week). In the evenings, secondary age young people gathered for games and Bible study (32 young people registered).

The congregation prayerfully and financially supports its two missionary families servicing in Turkey and Mexico, and apart from Free Will Offering, the Buildings and Repair Fund, and the Missionary Fund, the congregation and associated organisations has contributed towards the work of Tear Fund & Open Doors, at special services. The congregation makes funds available to support members involved in summer outreach in Ireland and overseas.

As part of its Missionary Fund, 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 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 congregation responds generously to special appeals made by our denomination.

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Presbytery

The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our minister and 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

During the year the roof of the entrance to the church halls Scotch Street was repaired. In addition various maintenance & repairs – minor plumbing and electrical work - were undertaken in both Dungannon Church & Halls, Moygashel Hall & the manse.

Organisations

Sunday School – Sunday School meets each Sunday morning from September to June @ 10.45am prior to the service in Scotch Street, & during the 10am service in Moygashel Hall. Moygashel: There are 9 children in the Primary Sunday School (ages 4-11) & 6 young People in the Senior Sunday School (ages 12-15).

Dungannon: There are 20 children in the Primary Sunday School (ages 4-11) & 12 young People in the Senior Sunday School (ages 12-15).

The children & young people follow the ‘Go Teach’ programme, & support various Christian missions through a weekly offering.

Soul Resort Youth Club – Meets on Saturday nights 7.30-9.30pm, from September to May, with an attendance of 40-50 young people aged between 12 & 15. There are 6 leaders supported by a number of our elders on a rota basis. Activities include table tennis, pool, video games, football, uni-hockey, trail-biking etc. There is a short epilogue each week from one the leaders, & occasional visiting speakers. There are 2-3 outings each year to activities within the community or in Belfast.

Noah’s Ark Mothers and Toddlers Group – Meets on Tuesday mornings 10.00-12Noon from September to May, for approx. 20 babies & pre-school children, accompanied by parents & grandparents. There is a team of 6 helpers who run the Group.

PW – Meets the third Tuesday of each month from September to April, with 40 ladies coming along. There is a speaker each month, with an offering taken up for the cause represented by the speaker, and contributions are made to PW Home & Overseas Missions.

Bowling Club – The 12 members (ladies & men) meet on a Monday evening, with occasional matches against local churches.

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Knit & Natter – Meets on Monday evenings in Moygashel Hall 7.30-9.30pm from October to April. 15-20 ladies meet to knit jumpers, hats, scarves & blankets, which are given to Christian charities working in Eastern Europe – The Smiles Foundation and Highways & Byways.

Volunteers

The Trustees acknowledge their indebted to the Sunday School teachers and Bible Class leaders, and the leaders in our organisations, for their heartfelt commitment to the work and witness of our congregation, giving untiringly of their time and talents.

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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

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 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.

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TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The congregation’s main source of income is members’ contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 350 contributors during the year donating a total of £118,671 [2018: 360 contributors donating a total of £120,207)

Total Income of the congregation during the year was £269,000, compared to £266,000 in the previous year.

Total expenditure decreased from £293,000 in 2018 to £279,000 in 2019.

RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPECT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements of the congregation in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the congregations and the financial activities for that year. In preparing the financial statements the Trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Funds will continue in operation.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the funds transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the congregations and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities (1 January 2015)”. 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.

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THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND

ANNUAL REPORT

For the year ended 31 December 2019

GOING CONCERN

The activities of the congregation are dependent on ongoing contributions from its members. The Trustees are confident that the congregation has sufficient resources at the date of approval of these financial statements to meet commitments which will arise in the year from the date of signing this report and subject to the continuing support from members to fund on an ongoing basis the congregation’s current activities and other financial commitments.

RESERVES POLICY

The Trustees have considered the level of unrestricted reserves that it is appropriate to hold taking account of current and ongoing commitments. At the year end unrestricted reserves were £30,977 The Trustees however, consider it prudent to hold reserves at this level as the funding of its present activities is dependent on the ongoing financial support of members.

RISK REVIEW

The principal risks are most likely to be with regard to the expectation of ongoing financial support from members, given Dungannon is an ‘aging’ congregation! These risks are addressed by the Trustees, and the Congregational Committee, regularly considering the various activities of the congregation at stated meetings and by encouraging members in their regular giving.

Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on Monday 12[th] October, 2020 and signed on its behalf by

Name: Rev Alan Thompson Name: Mr David Miller Date: 12[th] October, 2020 Date: 12[th] October, 2020 Signature: Alan S. Thompson Signature: D. Miller