an FINTONA CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 Registered Charity in Northern Ireland 105632 an FINTONA CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present theirAnnual 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 Fintona congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 6-8 Craigavon Road Fintona BT78 2BN Registered Charity in Northern Ireland INIC105632) CHARITY TRUSTEES The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of thi5 report were Rev J Cowan- Convenor K Boland W Liggett C Crawford PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS Convenor Clerk of Se55ion Treasurer Rev Jonathan Cowan Keith Boland Hilary Jobb INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Cathy Clyde 22 Botera Upper Road Omagh Co Tyrone BT78 5DG BANKERS SOLICITORS Danske Bank Po Box 183 Donegal Square West Belfast BT16JS A F Colhoun The Old Library 41 Dublin Road Omagh County Tyrone BT78 IHE an FINTONA CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT {cont'd) STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT The Kirk Session The charity trustees of the congregation are the members of its Kirk Session. Under the congregation's governing document, The Code, the book of the constitution and government of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Kirk Session seeks to watch over and promote the spiritual interest of the congregation and of persons not connected with any congregation who a re within its bounds. It ensu res pastora I care is in place in the congregation and seeks to further the contribution of the ChLfjrch to Christia n witness and service in the local community. The Kirk Sessions ha5 delegated to its Congregational Comm ittee the temporal affa irs of the congregation includi ng ad ministering all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Members of the Kirk Session are ex-officio members of the Congregational Committee. The Kirk Session consists of the ordained minister and the ruling elders of the congregations. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the ministers in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk session are held at least twice in each yea r or as appropriate. To be chosen for the office of the eldership in the congregation a person must be a voting member and a regular attendant on its ordinances. The selection of those proposed to be called to the office can be either by the congregation or by the Kirk Session. Members are elected if they obtain two- thirds of those who vote. 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 spiritua l a nd temporal affairs of the congregations assigned to it by the Genera l A55embly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Fintona congregation of the Presbyterian Church has been assigned to the Omagh Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. 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. an FINTONA CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) 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, adm inistration and judicial a uthority, in dealing with all matters brought before it. The General Assem bly 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 Fintona Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyteria n Church in Ireland. The Presbyteria n 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 congregation exists to worship God and to draw people into a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The congregation meets for Worship every Sunday and for other activities during the week. These include Sunday School, PW, Choir, Boys, Brigade, Walk and Talk Group and Bible study group. The Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper are celebrated throughout the year. Pastora I ca re is provided to everyone in the congregation and in the local community. The Minister and elders all contribute to providing pastoral care within the congregation. At a local level the congregation has a wide-ranging mission and ministry to the local community. Mission happens in many ways in our congregation, We host special mission events such as Ladies nights, family barbeques, family events, summer walk and talks and special church services. We contribute to the following Christian charities,. Christian Aid, TearFund, Bible Societies, Scripture Union, World Development, Presbyterian Children's Society and other good causes as the need arises. None of this outreach, ministry and service to the community would be possible without the large number of people who volunteer to be involved in the work and witness of Fintona Presbyterian Church. The Trustees recognise their commitment, dedication and their willingness to share their time and abilities. an The church committee are responsible forthe church property and this includes the church building, church hall, graveyard, the Manse and associated lands. The committee a150 oversee the day to day finances of the church. The Kirk Session as trustees are responsible for all the financia I matters. PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Presbyterian Church in Ireland meets the public benef it requirement by provid ing 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 d irect benef its which flow from the purposes of the Church include the gaining of a n 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 practica l expressions of Christian belief5 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 membe rs, or a re facilitated through presbyteries or are organised and delivered centrally. Loca I 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 including Facebook or in other ways. The benefits are demonstrated through regular evaluation of the services and informa5 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, Missionaries, Deaconesses, Irish M ission 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 beneficiaries of this purpose a re members, their families, other individuals that the Presbyterian Church i n Irela nd is in direct and indirect contact with, the comm unity in which pastoral services are provided and other communities throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and worldwide which benefit from our engagement with a nd support for both Christia n and other secula r organisations, cha rities and ind ivid ua I members of the public. The Kirk Session has had regard to the Charity Commissions public benefit requirement statutory guidance. Presbyter an FINTONA CONGREGATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. Total donations received from the congregation during the year as General Congregational Funds, General Congregational Activities, Income on Bequests, General Donations, FWO and loose change and Gift Aid was £44,036. Amount collected as weekly free will offering was £29,583 (from 81 contributors) compared to £21,354 Ifrom 81 contributors). Other amounts received for donations, specific charitable collections, from investment income and to off-set specific expenses totaled £43,397. Total expenditure of £75,724 was spent during the year in achieving the church's charitable objectives. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements of the congregation in accordance with applicable law a nd generally accepted accounting practice. As the congregation's total income does not exceed £250,000, the Trustees have elected under Section 64131 of the Charitie5 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 congregation's transactions and d isclose with reasonable accuracy at any time its fina ncial position. They a re 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 Kirk Session at a meeting on ioli oIILtr signed on its behalf by Rev Jonathan Cowan Mr Keith Boland ZOL¥