TRUSTEES REPORT and Accounts of BANGOR CHURCH of the NAZARENE for the year ended 30[th] September 2021.
NICC Reference: NIC107096
This Report includes:
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STATEMENT of the TRUSTEES
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REPORT of the INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
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ANNUAL ACCOUNTS of the CHURCH
1. STATEMENT of the TRUSTEES
(i) Current Elected Trustees:
Mrs Joan Massey Mr J Mills Mr Tom Penman Mr J Carty Mrs Alice Penman Mr R Ashfield Mr G Thompson
Contact Address:
C/o Mr T Penman, 7 Dunkeld Grove, Bangor, BT19 6RH.
APPOINTMENT of TRUSTEES is by election to the Bangor Church Board by the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) of the Church annually. Trustees are elected to serve for a period of one year with each trustee retiring and being eligible for reelection each year. The Minister of the Church who is a salaried employee of the Church acts as chair of the Trustees but is not an elected trustee.
(ii) Governing Document:
The Church is autonomous within the British Isles North District (“BIND”) which is an administrative area of the international Church of the Nazarene, and guided in structure, governance and Practice by “The Manual” of the denomination. This forms its constitution. Each local congregation in the denomination is autonomous in all respects of governance and financial responsibility including employer obligations.
(iii) Charitable Purposes:
Our purposes, as recorded in the Manual, are the advancement of the Christian Faith through Mission, Discipleship, Fellowship, Teaching, and Works of Compassion.
(iv) Activities and Achievements:
The period under review covers the accounting period 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021. The activities of the church have been severely disrupted due to the Covid 19 pandemic. At all times during the period from 23 March 2020 the church was closed and reopened in accordance with Government guidelines. When services were permitted, we have only regularly held a morning service on a Sunday rather than the usual morning and evening services and all mid-week
activities were suspended. However, we resumed evening services on one Sunday per month from October 2021 with a special singer/speaker taking the whole meeting. The Pastor has been placed on part time furlough with full pay from May 2020 with his written agreement and full adherence to Government guidelines and regulations. When services were held social distancing and mask wearing were compulsory. The Pastor was taken off the Furlough arrangements and recommenced full-time activities from 30 September 2021. Live singing was reintroduced on a phased basis from the same time with worship using DVDs gradually phased out.
The midweek meetings remained suspended until June 2022. The Ladies prayer group that took place each Wednesday was reactivated following the relaxation in Covid guidelines and is going well and increasing in number. Similarly, the Craft class recommended, fortnightly, again with a suitable number attending and the Girls Brigade restarted planning to work towards holding a display provided that restrictions permitted.
Again, following the easing of restriction guidelines Board meetings were held each month. At each meeting, the church finances were reviewed with an updated income and expenditure statement produced at each meeting and discussed. Additionally, the church/manse maintenance, missions, goals, activities and church ministry, were reviewed and appropriate actions taken.
During the AGM it was clearly stated that new members were required to add to the board and in order to do that in the future, there will be a review of the current criteria for Board members which will hopefully encourage people with the requisite skills and talents to become involved. The new Nomination criteria may not require the Nominee to be in membership for a minimum 2-year period provided the requirements of the Constitution are still met.
A review meeting was also planned to consider the future for church departments and activities using as a basis “
How will we get there - How will we do things differently”.
2. ACCOUNTS:
The Accounts that follow show the income and expenditure raised and expended in the operation of the church and our regular activities. The income is largely sourced from income and donations from members, adherents and visitors by way of specific gifts, other donations and offerings. We also claim Gift Aid and GASDS from HMRC where possible. Due to Covid, a claim for loss of income was successfully made to the Church insurers.
Those attending the AGM and members had received, in advance, copies of the church accounts. The Treasurer also provided a presentation using PowerPoint to show a summary of the main income and expenditure.
The church also received a legacy from a past member which will be reflected in the accounts next year. Bank and loan finance commitments were maintained, and a short loan holiday was granted by the bank.
Whilst Church income has been adversely impacted by the Covid 19 pandemic since March 2020 the Treasurer is negotiating with the church insurers under a Business Interruption clause and hoped to get a further compensation claim.
It is church policy from a good governance perspective that all Department funding and expenditure is regularly reported to and accounted through the Church Treasurer. This ensures open and fair reporting and minimises the risks of defalcation.
Restricted and Designated funds and annual expenses are retained as separate balances at the close of each financial year. Each is assessed from time to time as to its appropriate level and potential for use within its own designation. Sufficient funds are retained in a readily accessible account to ensure that at least 3 months working capital is available at all times and any loans to the charity can be repaid.
The accounts have been independently examined by a suitably Independent Examiner and her report is attached to the financial accounts.
Approved by the Trustees and Signed on their behalf:
Tom Penman (Church Treasurer). 30 June 2022