## **Mountpottinger Baptist Church** ## **Annual Report and Accounts** for year ended 31 December 2022 Registered Charity NIC 107369 Page 1 Mountpottinger Baptist Church, CCNI report for the year ended 31 December 2022 ## Reference and administrative information Charity Name and Number Mountpottinger Baptist Church Registered Charity NIC 107369 HMRC Charity Reference Number: XN46424 Correspondence Address Web Presence Trustees Mountpottinger Baptist Church Templemore Avenue Belfast BT5 4FR mountpottingerbaptist.org Facebook.com/Mountpottinger Victor Stitt Elder Ian Foster Elder & Secretary William Houston Pastor & Chair Jonathan McConnell Treasurer Andrew McQuillan Timothy Houston Archie Harvey Iain Sanders All Trustees are resident in Northern Ireland |Staff|Full-time pastor – William Houston| |---|---| |Bankers|Ulster Bank, Arches Retail Park,| ||Connswater, Belfast, BT5 4AF| |Independent Examiner|Bridge, Chartered Accountants| ||Unit G| ||Forestview Office Park| ||Purdy’s Lane| ||Belfast BT8 7AR| |Solicitors|Hewitt & Gilpin, 14-16 James Street South,| ||Belfast, BT2 7GA| Page 2 Mountpottinger Baptist Church, CCNI report for the year ended 31 December 2022 ## Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 December 2022 The Trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the Church for the year ended 31 December 2022. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in Notes to Account and comply with the applicable law. Mountpottinger Baptist Church Completed Registration with Charity Commission Northern Ireland on 15[th] April 2020 ## Objectives and activities The principal charitable object of the church is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the teachings of Scripture, the Doctrinal Statement and Baptist principles. In furtherance of this object the church: 1. conducts regular services for public worship each Sunday and also meet during the week for prayer and Bible study. 2. provides pastoral care to the sick and elderly in our congregation. 3. provides activities for local young people by the provision of a Boys Brigade Company. 4. is involved in Christian mission activities further afield, which involves providing help and financial support to communities in other countries who live in needy circumstances. The Church employs various methods to pursue these objectives as is deemed suitable by the Trustees. Page 3 Mountpottinger Baptist Church, CCNI report for the year ended 31 December 2022 ## Achievements and Performance We began 2023 with a motto reminding us that the Church exists to exalt God, examine herself, edify herself, and evangelise the lost. These tasks have always preoccupied us throughout 2022-2023. We completed yet another evangelistic course called: The World We All Want. A number of members (Timothy and Claire Houston) went to Romania to lead the English camp again in the summer (accompanied by Adam Skinner from Dundonald and Peter and Lindsay Mulligan from Strandtown). Many in the church supported financially and in other ways. The report back in September encouraged us all. 2022 was a year of completions for Iain Sanders (graduating with his theology degree) and Claire Houston (graduating with her doctorate). We congratulate them both again. Iain continues to study for his Masters in Theology and Claire continues to do research at Queens University. Timothy Houston is nearly finished his last year of study at the Irish Baptist College and we wish him well for his future. He has informed the church of an interest from Dundonald Baptist church to work alongside their pastor. The last year has also seen Billy Houston complete 14 years as pastor of the church with a welcome reward of a sabbatical break throughout the year. Many thanks are due to members and students of the College who stepped in to assist with the preaching and other duties in Billy’s absence. A special word of thanks to Iain Sanders who took on a whole month of preaching in July. The church has not emerged unscathed from the pandemic having lost a number of members who have resigned and moved on. Still we continue to fulfil our motto for the year while trying to figure out the will of the Lord for us in the light of our declining numbers. During the summer of last year we were encouraged by an approach from Strandtown Baptist church to consider a partnership with them in church revitalisation. Elders of both churches have had discussions and two joint prayer meetings have taken place already. Finally, this year has begun with the Hope Explored course over a three week period during which we saw a number of interested people join us to hear the Gospel presentation. I Page 4 Mountpottinger Baptist Church, CCNI report for the year ended 31 December 2022 encourage you all to keep on praying for God’s blessing. I also ask you to keep on keeping on. The needs are great but our God is greater than all. Amen. ## Financial Review ## Results The Trustees are once again thankful for the Lord’s blessing throughout another year and are grateful for the continued generosity of members of the fellowship, regular attendees and legacies provided. ## Gifts and Gift Making Policy It is the fellowship’s policy to make gifts to Christian workers commended by the fellowship to the Lord’s work, former members of the fellowship and others known to the elders and members of the fellowship who are engaged in Christian ministry in Ireland and worldwide. ## Reserves Policy The Trustees seek to maintain a property reserve in order to facilitate exceptional expenditure on the building maintenance. We also maintain a general reserve to manage fluctuations in income. ## Risk Management The Trustees have examined the major business and operational risks which Mountpottinger Baptist faces. They have appointed a deacon as treasurer. All cheques issued are signed by two people authorized as signatories. The Trustees monitor the finances regularly throughout the year and are confident that the risks are relatively minimal given the nature of its work, and the modest costs. ## Taxation Status As a charity recognized by HM Revenue and Customs the fellowship has no liability to taxation on its charitable activities. ## Structure, governance management Mountpottinger Baptist Church is a local independent church and a charity recognised by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The Church registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland on 15th April 2020 as required by the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. Page 5 Mountpottinger Baptist Church, CCNI report for the year ended 31 December 2022 Trustees are appointed by the Church for as long as they serve as an elder or deacon respectively and there shall be a minimum of three Trustees serving at all times. A formal meeting of Trustees takes place on a minimum of two times per annum. The Church operates under a congregational system of governance with leadership authority vested in the elders and practical responsibilities carried out by deacons. Officers are selected on the basis of biblical stipulations from 1 Timothy and Titus. Elders serve for five years and deacons for three years and are re-electable after this period. No payments were made to any of the Trustees in their role as Trustees. The Pastor receives remuneration for his role as a Pastor, but no payment is made in respect to his duties as a trustee. The two students who are also Trustees received payments in line with the provisions of the constitution. However their benefit is not related to their role as Trustees. ## Risk The Trustees consider that there are two main areas of risk facing the church, as follows: - Financial The church relies entirely on the income received from offerings to achieve its charitable objectives. With any significant reduction in income, the Trustees would implement a cost review to ensure the church's financial stability. - Reputational Risk A child protection policy has been drawn up in relation to work with children and the elders have appointed a designated child protection officer. This policy is reviewed annually, and everyone who assists with the children's work is vetted. Page 6 Mountpottinger Baptist Church, CCNI report for the year ended 31 December 2022 ## Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the Charity's financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in business. The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (as amended). They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Trustees and Elders and signed on their behalf. |Name|Signature|Date| |---|---|---| |William Houston||| |Jonnathan McConnell||| Page 7 Mountpottinger Baptist Church, CCNI report for the year ended 31 December 2022 ## Notes to Accounts ## Grants No grants were made during the year. ## Trustee remuneration The only trustee to receive remuneration during the year was Pastor William Houston. Indemnity insurance for Trustees’ and Officers’ liability is included as an integral part of the general church insurance policy. ## Trustee expenses Expenses were incurred during the year by Pastor William Houston within his remit as Pastor. ## Transactions with Trustees and connected persons No transactions were undertaken with Trustees or connected persons. ## Other information All assets are fully owned by the church. They are valued according to their insured value. The Trustees are the controlling party. ## Taxation Status As a charity recognized by HM Revenue and Customs the fellowship has no liability to taxation on its charitable activities. Page 8 Mountpottinger Baptist Church, CCNI report for the year ended 31 December 2022