BALLYCLABBER REFORMED PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE REFORMED PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH OF IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC106375}
BALLYCLABBER REFORMED PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE REFORMED PRESBITERIAN CHURCH OF IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DEfAILS Ballyclabber Reformed PresbV(erian Church congregation of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland Address 35 Ballyrashane Road Coleraine Co. Derry BT52 2NL Registered Charity in Northern Ireland {NIC106375) CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustee5 at the date of this report were Rev James Blair Mr. John Mccollum Mr. Robert Car50n Mr. Morrell Mccollum Mr. William Mccollum PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Pastor Clerk of Session Treasurer Rev James Blair Mr. William Mccollum Mr. lan Mcclelland
BALLYCLABBER REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT INDEPENDElr EXAMINER Dr R I Peters Gallagher, OBE, FCA Moore (N.I.) LLP 32 Lodge Road Coleraine County Derry Northern Ireland BT52 INB BANKERS Ulster Bank Limited 30 The Diamond Coleraine County Derry BT52 IDP The Progressive Building Society 9 The Diamond Coleraine County Derry BT52 IDP
BALLYCLABBER REFORMED PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE REFORMED PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH OF IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) STRUuRE AND MANAGEMENT The Session The charity trustees of the congregation are the members of its Session. Under the congregation's governing document, The Code, the book of the constttution and government of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland, the Session seek5 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 Sessions has delegated to its Diaconate/ Board of Deacon, the temporal affairs of the congregation including administering all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Members of the Session are ex-officio members of the Diaconate/ B03rd of Deacons. The 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 and the ministers in active duty in the congregation, have no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the session are held at least once a month. To be chosen for the office of the eldership in the congregation a man must be a member and a regular attendant on it5 ordinances. The selection of those proposed to be called to the office can be called either by the congregation or by the Session. Member5 are elected if they obtain two-thirds of those who vote. Presbytery Under the Reformed Presbyterian Church of 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 Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland. Ballyclabber Reformed Presbyterian Church congregation of the Reformed Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Northern Presbytery of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland. The membership of the Presbytery consists of: (l} Minister5 of the congregation in the district defined by the synod; (21 One ruling elder commissioned from each session; (3) Ordained missionaries whose credentials are with the Presbytery; (41 Ministers without charge; (5) Retired ministers.
BALLYCLABBER REFORMED PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE REFORMED PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH OF IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conVd) The Synod of Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland The Synod is the Supreme court and has authority over all its presbyteries, sessions and congregations. Its decisions are final. The Synod consists of all the ministers of the church and of ruling elders, one ruling elder to be commissioned by each session. The Synod is normally constituted during the 2nd full week of June each year for worship and business. At the end of business, it Is dissolved. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The charitable purpose of the congregation is the advancement of religion. BALLYCLABBER REFORMED PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH congregation of the Reformed Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland. The Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland is 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 seeks to enable her members to playtheir part in fulfilling God's mission to our world. Ballyclabber, by the grace of God, endeavours to bring God's never changing word to His ever-changing world. We hope to do this in 3 ways: To serve God in worship, by giving God the glory for who He is; To serve His redeemed people, through the faithful ministry of His Word; To serve this lost world in witness, by actively and creatively, both corporately and individually reaching out to a lost world with good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.
BALLYCL4BBER REFORMED PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) A1VITIEs AND OBJEcfivES The congregation meets for worship every Sunday and visitors are welcome to join. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is observed on several occasions during the year and all those who are full members and those visiting 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 organisations including Sunday School Covenanter Youth Badminton Parents and Toddlers Holiday bible club Youth Group ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Worship and prayer The congregation normally meets for worship each Sunday at 11.30am and 7.00pm. During the week the Bible Study provides an opportunity for members to meet for fellowship, to Study the scripture5 and for a time of prayer. As well as our regular services during the year we observed the Lord's Supper four time5 in the year, gave thank5 for the faithful service of God's people, and sought to comfort those who had been bereaved during the year. At 31 December 2023 there were 67 communicant members and 39 families connected with the congregation. The average weekly attendance at morning worship is 74 and at evening worship is 38. 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 visltors.
BALLYCLABBER REFORMED PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE REFORMED PRE5BYfERIAN CHURCH OF IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {conVd) Mission and outreach At a local level the congregation seeks to unite the community in a number of ways: Holiday Bible Club: held in June brings nearly 100 children to our premTses for 4 nights of bible teaching, singing, crafts and games. Outreach Week: 6000 leaflets are delivered into local homes with an evangelistic message with an invitation to worship services. A family fun day is held to bring members of the local community together. Re-love: this is an outreach where over 40 ladies come to our hall twice a year to take part in a crafts activity, have tea and coffee, and listen to a message from God's word from one of our ladies. Our Sunday School takes place before morning worship and children from outside the church attend. Covenanter Youth or C.Y is our young people's meetings. These are held on 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month between September and March. A large number attend from outside the church. During the year we also have visiting speakers coming to us to tell us about the work that their Organisations are involved in.
BALLYCLABBER REFORMED PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE REFORMED PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH OF IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) Presbytery The congregation wa5 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. Synod The minister and one of our elders were nominated to attend the meeting of the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland in June. Property Following a significant refurbishment of the church building in 2019 only minor repair work was carried out in 2023. Organisations The following Organisation5 were held between January and March 2020: CY- This is for different three different age ranges: PI-P4, P5-Yr8, and Yr9+. It is held during term time. 50 young people of primary and secondary school age gatherto take part in Bible teachings and social activities. Parent and Toddlers- an average of 16 attend on Thursday mornings from 10 to 11'.30. 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.
BALLYCLABBER REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CONGREGATION OF THE REFORMED PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH OF IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (convd) PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland meets the public benefit requirement by providing benefit to its members and the 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 and Missionaries who receive benefits as a result of their holding office or employment. However, this is incidental and necessary in orderto further our charitable purpose. There are no other private benefits. The beneficiaries of this purpose are members, their families, other individuals that the Reformed Presbyterian Church of 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 5UPPOrt for both Christian and other secular organisations, charities and individual members of the publio The Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were a number of contributions during the year donating a total of £66.207 compared to £68,960 last year. Total Income of the congregation during the year was £105,616, compared to £101,378 in 2023. Total expenditure increased from £100,578 to £118,052. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES The Trustee5 are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements of the congregation in accordance with applicable law and generally accepted accountin8 practice. A5 the congregation's total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 6413} 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 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 Session at a meeting and signed on its behalf by Mr. lan Mcclelland Rev. James Blair Date: 2211012024 Date: 22/10/2024 10