# **THE TEMPLEPATRICK PRESBYTERY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND** **Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023** **Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC106434)** 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 DETAILS** The Templepatrick Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 56, Largy Road, CRUMLIN. BT29 4RW. . Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC106434) ## **CHARITY TRUSTEES** The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Rev. C.K. McDowell Rev. E.S. McDowell Rev. C.M. Glover Rev. S. Simpson Rev. W.J. Murdock Rev. T. McNeill Rev. R.C. Kerr Rev. S. McNie Rev. C. Wilson Rev. D. Morrison Very Rev. Dr S.J. Dixon Rev. W.J. Sleith Rev. Dr J.H. MacConnell Rev. T. Pollock Rev. J. Holmes Rev. G. Moore Rev. W.D. Weir Very Rev. Dr W.D. Patton (resigned 6[th] February 2024) Rev. T.H. Wilson Rev. S. Lockington Rev. A.W. Moore Rev. G. McFadden Rev. B. Johnston (resigned 1[st] February 2024 Dr Gordon McIlroy (appointed 1[st] March 2023) Mr Fred Hand (appointed 1[st] September 2022) Mrs Joan Wallace (appointed 1[st] March 2023) Mr Sam Pollock (appointed (5[th] March 2024) Mr.Graeme Lutton(appointed:5[th] March 2024) Mrs M.M. Kempston Mr. T.J. Livingstone Mr I. Fletcher (resigned 5[th] March 2024) Mr J.M. Rea Mr G.G. Moore Mr R.J. McKee Mr T.J.I. Johnston (resigned 28[th] February 2024) Mrs M. Robinson Mr I. Thompson Mr L. Fleming(resigned 28[th] February 2024) Mr B. Simpson Mrs A. McClure (resigned 28[th] February 2024) Mr R. Duff Mr T. McKnight (resigned 4[th] March 2024) Mrs O. O’Neill Mr D. Murphy Mr N Drennan Mr P Melville Mrs W. Mackarel (resigned 28[th] February 2023) Mr D Beatty (resigned 5th March 2024) Mr D. Jones (appointed 1[st] March 2023) Mr Robert Dunlop (appointed 1[st] March 24) Mr Colin McClean (appointed 1[st] March ## **PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS** Moderator Clerk of Presbytery Finance Convener Rev. Gareth McFadden Mr. James Livingstone Mr. Dennis Jones ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER** Mr Alex Chestnutt, 2 Braeside Gardens, Antrim. BT41 1HB ## **BANKERS** Ulster Bank Ltd, 8 Market Square, Antrim. BT41 4AT. ## **SOLICITORS** O’Rorke, McDonald & Tweed, 37-39 Chruch Street, Antrim. BT41 4BD ## **STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **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. The following congregations of the Presbyterian Church have been assigned to The Templepatrick Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. |ssigned to The Templepatrick|Presbytery of the Presbyterian C| |---|---| |First Antrim|Greystone Road, Antrim| |High Street, Antrim|First Ballyeaston| |Second Ballyeaston|Crumlin| |First Donegore|Second Donegore| |Dundrod|Duneane| |Hydepark|Kilbride| |Killead|Loanends| |Lylehill|Muckamore| |First Randalstown|OC Randalstown| |Second Randalstown|Templepatrick| A presbytery makes arrangements for the election of ministers in congregation, ordains licentiates and installs or inducts and appoints ministers in the congregations assigned to it. They also ordain or install and appoint elders, commission and appoint deaconesses, senior lecturers, auxiliary ministers, lay agents and missionaries who have been called by an authorized body in the Church. A presbytery has a role in seeing that ministers preach the Word faithfully to their congregations, regularly visit the families under their charge, visit the sick, promote peace and temperance and see that the duties of the eldership are property discharged. Presbyteries oversee the resignation and retirements of ministers and elders. Presbyteries provide advice to Kirk Sessions and Congregational Committees when required and have a role in approving matters in relation to congregational property. They report annually to the General Assembly and have the right to make a nomination for the office of Moderator of the General Assembly. 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. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church. Stated meetings of Presbytery are held on the first Tuesday of February, March, May, November, December and the second Tuesday in September. (Covid -19 restrictions dictated that not all meetings could be held and a Standing Commission was appointed to transact necessary, non-controversial business.) All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator has no deliberative but only a casting vote. ## **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 presbytery is the advancement of religion. The Templepatrick Presbytery is a presbytery 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 Presbytery’s mission purposes are in line with 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. ## **GOD CALLS US TO A SHARED LIFE** in which we love, honour and are reconciled to one another whilst respecting our diversity within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. We are called to encourage the exercise of the gifts of every member of the Body for the work of ministry and, seeking the renewal of the whole Church, to co-operate with other parts of Christ's Church without betrayal of our convictions. ## **GOD CALLS US TO WORSHIP HIM with our whole lives,** meeting together in groups large and small and gathering especially on the Lord's Day for the preaching and study of His Word, the celebration of the sacraments and the offering of prayer and praise with reverence and joy, using language, form and music appropriate both to Scripture and to our time and culture **GOD CALLS US TO MISSION as witnesses to Christ** through both evangelism and social witness challenging the values of the world in which we live with the values of God's kingdom and winning men and women to faith and discipleship. This mission is to be pursued amongst all the people of Ireland and the peoples of the European Community and the whole world: those with whom we feel comfortable, those from whom we feel alienated and those who are in any way distant from us in culture and faith. **WE OURSELVES ARE CHALLENGED with a biblical discipleship** which is radical in its self-denial, simplicity of lifestyle, stewardship of money, faithful relationships, prayerfulness, concern for the world which God has created and love for its people whom he loves and for whose salvation He gave his Son. ## **ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES** The Presbytery meets on the first Tuesday of February, March, May, November, December and the second Tuesday in September. All meetings commence with a time of worship and are opened and closed with prayer. The Presbytery carries out the following activities - Supports those candidating for the Ministry - Installs ordained ministers - Provides pastoral support for ministers and their families - Holds a number of events such as Elders’ Breakfast, Praise Service, Divine Healing Services and Mission in Ireland Information Evening - PW Link is an initiative of Presbyterian Women intended to improve communications and build relationships between Presbyterian Women. PW links include a representative from each congregation and run events to support the mission and outreach of Presbytery. ## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** ## **At the 31 December the following numbers of personnel were under the care of Presbytery** ||2023|2022| |---|---|---| |Minister in active service in congregations|12|13| |Retired Ministers|12|12| |Licentiates|2|2| |Students for the Ministry|1|0| During the year no credentials were received from other Presbyteries. Credentials were presented to other Presbyteries in respect of 1 minister who will be installed in congregations assigned to those Presbyteries. 2 licentiates and 1 student were received under the care of Presbytery during the year. The Presbytery encourages the congregations assigned to it to support 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 supports congregation in the areas of worship, discipleship, global mission, outreach, leadership and pastoral care. The Presbytery also encourages congregations to contribute to the denominations annual World Development Appeal, Sunday School project and any other special appeals. ## **General Assembly** Presbyteries are represented on the various Councils of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and report on an annual basis to the General Assembly ## **Property** No property is owned by the Presbytery ## **Volunteers** The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by serving on Presbytery, its commissions and panels. ## **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 congregational churches and 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 Charity’s beneficiaries are its 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 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 Presbytery has had regard to the Charity Commissions Public benefit requirement statutory guidance. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** The Presbytery’s main source of income is an assessment that is levied on the congregations assigned to it and £16,835 was received in the current year (£18,781 in 2022) Total Income received during the year was £23,336 compared to £24,074 in 2022 Total expenditure was £19,273 (£21,755 in 2022). This includes payments made to the Clerk of Presbytery and Deputy Clerk of Presbytery for the responsibilities of those positions. ## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES** The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements of the Presbytery in accordance with applicable law and generally accepted accounting practice. As the Presbytery’s total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 64(3) 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 Presbytery’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time its financial position. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Presbytery and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Presbytery at a meeting on 10[th] September 2024 and signed on its behalf by