2023-12-31-annual-report - The Iveagh Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

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THE IVEAGH PRESBYTERY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND

Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023

Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC 106456)

THE IVEAGH PRESBYTERY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

The Iveagh Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland c/o 28 Ardaluin Heights, Newcastle, Co Down, BT33 0RA. Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC106456)

Contact: Mr Jim King E: jim.king28@icloud.com M: 07484 270355

CHARITY TRUSTEES

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

Rev B. Martin (Retired 31 10 23) Mr J Smyth Mr J. Potts Rev L. Rutherford Mr S Magowan Mr V Morrison Mr W Anderson Rev Dr M. Gray Mr F. Arnold Rev C. Harris Mr G Radcliffe Rev A. Downey Mr D. Harte Mr B. McCammon Mr I Megaw Mr J. Ervine Rev A. Moffett Mr R. Fleming Rev R. McKibben (Resigned 31 3 23) Mr D Shilliday Mr M. Elliott Rev P. Cleland (Resigned 31 8 23) Dr A. Chestnutt Mr T Redmond

Rev D. Conkey Mr H McNellis Mr D Crory Rev N. Kane Mr G Elliott Mr A Martin Rev P. McBride (Retired 30 9 23) Mr F. Cairns Mrs R Porter Rev A. Boreland Mrs B. Barrett Rev. G. Best Mr M McKeown Rev S. Burke Mr K. Bready Mr A. Groves Rev M. McMaw Mr A Johnston Rev G. McClelland Rev. A. Clarke Rev Dr S. Matthews Rev W. Orr Rev Dr I Patterson Rev K. Nelson

PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS

Moderator Rev A Boreland Clerk of Presbytery Mr J King Finance Convener Rev N. Kane Treasurer Rev A. Moffett

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Mr Richard McClay FCA, MTS Speers Chartered Accountants, 33 Church Road, Holywood BT18 9BU

BANKERS

Danske Bank PO Box 183 Donegal Square West, Belfast BT1 6JS

SOLICITORS

Mr T McBurney 37-39 Rathfriland Rd, Banbridge BT32 3LA

THE IVEAGH PRESBYTERY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

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. Iveagh Presbytery is one of 20 Presbyteries in the island of Ireland. The following congregations of the Presbyterian Church have been assigned to The IVEAGH Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

ANAGHLONE BALLYDOWN BALLYRONEY BANBRIDGE – SCARVA STREET BANNSIDE BROOKVALE CASTLEWELLAN CLONDUFF DONACLONEY DONAGHMORE (Co Down) DRUMGOOLAND DRUMLEE GARVAGHY GILFORD GLASCAR HILLTOWN KATESBRIDGE KILKINAMURRY LEITRIM LOUGHBRICKLAND MAGHERALLY NEWCASTLE NEWMILLS (Co Down) RATHFRILAND – 1[st] RATHFRILAND – 2[nd ] & 3[rd] SCARVA TANDRAGEE TULLYLISH

The following applies to all Presbyteries including the Presbytery of Iveagh:

A Presbytery makes arrangements for the election of ministers to a congregation, the installation and where necessary, the ordination of ministers, ordains licentiates and installs or inducts and appoints ministers in the congregations assigned to it. It also ordains or installs and appoints elders, commissions and appoints deaconesses, senior lecturers, auxiliary ministers, lay agents and missionaries who have been called by an authorised body in the Church. A Presbytery has a role in seeing that ministers preach from the Bible 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.

A Presbytery provides advice to Kirk Sessions and Congregational Committees when required and have a role in approving matters in relation to congregational property. It reports 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 of the active ministers of congregations listed above, ministers who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation. This provides an important link between the congregations and the wider structures of the church.

Records are kept by a clerk, appointed by the Presbytery, who remains in office at the will of Presbytery.

Stated meetings of Presbytery are held First Tuesday of February, March, May, September, October, November and December.

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 ministers 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 Iveagh 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.

ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES

The Presbytery meets according to the timetable given above and on other occasions as required. All meetings commence with a time of worship and are opened and closed with prayer.

The Presbytery carries out the following activities

Supports those candidates for the Ministry
Installs and ordains ministers and elders
Provides pastoral support for ministers and their families
Oversees the work of all congregations under its care
Oversees work assigned to it by the General Assembly
Holds a number of events such as mission events and pastoral care seminars
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 of events to support the mission and outreach of Presbytery. During the year, PW Link meets at least twice to plan its activities and organise its events

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

At the 31 December 2023 the following numbers of personnel were under the care of Presbytery:

Presbytery:
Minister in active service in congregations	12
Retired Ministers	8
Licentiates	2
Students for the Ministry	2

During the year a recommendation (known as credentials) was received from another Presbytery in respect of 1 minister who was installed in one of the congregations assigned to the Presbytery.

Each year, the Presbytery encourages the congregations assigned to it to support charitable works which benefit people within NI and outside NI through 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 promote works which benefit the community through spiritual and practical activities. This provides a synergistic approach which increases benefit on a denominational basis beyond what one 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 denomination’s 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

The Presbytery does not, of itself, own property. During 2023, it continued to act as holding trustee for property owned by a number of congregations. This arrangement is being transferred to a new, centrally based, holding company and should be complete in 2024.

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.

THE IVEAGH PRESBYTERY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND 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 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 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 charities 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.

THE IVEAGH PRESBYTERY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont’d)

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The Presbytery’s income derives from two sources: an assessment that is levied on the congregations assigned to it and offerings taken up at meetings or events. Income from assessments is set at a level to meet anticipated expenditure. In 2023, income totalled £17,813.51, compared to £8695.95 in 2022.

£3,000 was transferred to the incidental fund.

A total of £9.51 bank interest was received

Total expenditure increased from £14415.38 in 2022 to £15547.60 in 2023. This includes payments made to the Moderator and Clerk of Presbytery for the responsibilities of their position, donations to other missions and charities, event costs, insurance and governance costs and other related charitable activities.

The combined closing balances at 31[st] December totalled £4001.96, compared to combined opening balances of £1736.05.

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 7th May 2024, and signed on its behalf by:

REV Mark McMaw(Moderator) Mr J W King (Clerk)