Page 37 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

sian d o m e s t i c helpers w h o h a d b e c o m e h o m e l e s s b e - l i m C o m m u n i t y ( M r . M o h a m e d Alii D i n a n d his
c a u s e o f unfair dismissal b y their e m p l o y e r s d r e w the secretary), o n e f r o m the Catholic C h u r c h (Mr. E d w a r d
attention of the H o n g K o n g m e d i a . After investigating H s u e h ) a n d t w o f r o m the H o n g K o n g Christian C o u n -
the matter, a partnership service m o d e l h a s b e e n e s - cil (Rev. H a n s L u t z a n d m y s e lf ) m e t for the first time.
tablished t h r o u g h the Council's initiative. T h e H o n g W e g reeted e a c h other, i n t r o d u c e d o urselves a n d e x -
K o n g C o u n c i l o f T h e C h u r c h of Christ in China, Chris- p res se d the willingness to establish friendship a m o n g
tian Action, T s u n g Tsin M i s s i o n a n d H o n g K o n g C hris- the three religious c o m m u n i t i e s . W e f o u n d it to b e a
tian C o u n c i l will join in establishing a shelter for those v e r y g o o d beginning.
I nd o n e s i a n m a i d s to live in d ur i ng their period of stay
b. J o i n t A c t i o n f o r P e a c e in t h e M i d d l e E a s t
in H o n g K o n g w h i l e ap pealing for u n p a i d w a g e s .
S i n c e the b e g i n n i n g o f this year, n e w s o f figh-
b. A C a r i n g C o m m u n i t y
ing a n d killing b e t w e e n Israelis a n d Palestinians h as
In 2 0 0 1 , the G e n e r a l Secretary invited several n e v e r stopped. In order to e xpress o u r c o m m i t m e n t to

h e a d s of Christian N G O s to jointly issue a proposal to peace, the C o u n c i l d e c i d e d to d o t w o things. First, w e
the Central Policy Uni t of the H o n g K o n g G o v e r n m e n t issued a letter a dd r e s s e d to bo t h the C o n s u l G e n e r a l of
w i th the following points: (1) T o set u p a special f u n d Israel in H o n g K o n g a n d to the Palestinian A m b a s s a -
( w h i c h w e n a m e d "Quality C o m m u n i t y F u n d " ) to m e e t d o r in C h i n a u r g i ng b o t h sides to stop all military a c -
the n e e d s o f the m a r g inali ze d groups, (2) T o organize tion a n d to negotiate for a resolution in the m o s t peace-
a special c o m m i s s i o n for fam i ly affairs helping H o n g ful w a y . S e c o n d , w e o r ganized a n interfaith prayer vigil
K o n g p e o p l e to val ue f a m i l y life, a n d (3) T o expl ore for p e a c e in the M i d d l e East. O n the afternoon o f P e n -
the possibility of inviting representatives f r o m the three tecost ( M a y 19, 200 2 ), a special p r a y er gathering for
sectors - g o v e r n m e n t , business, c o m m u n i t y - to dis- the p e a c e o f the M i d d l e E a s t w a s h e l d in a Christian
cuss important social issues. W e w e r e delighted to k n o w school. O v e r 1 5 0 Jewish, M u s l i m a n d Christian p a r -
that the G o v e r n m e n t g a v e a positive response, particu- ticipants attended. B y this joint action w e are telling
larly to the first item. O n F e b r u a r y 26, 2 0 0 2 the G o v - the w o r l d that in spite o f differences in ethnicity, cul-
e r n m e n t officially a n n o u n c e d the c o m m e n c e m e n t of ture a n d tradition, religious p e o p l e c a n w o r k together
the C o m m u n i t y I n v e s t m e n t a n d Inclusion F u n d . for p e a c e a n d h a r m o n y .

2 . P r a y i n g f o r P e a c e
a. A S p e c i a l Invitation in A d v e n t

L a s t y e a r the G e n e r a l S e cr et a ry o f the W o r l d
C o u n c i l o f C h u r c h e s w r o t e a letter to all m e m b e r s a s k -
ing t h e m to d o t w o things: (1) Invite all local C h u r c h e s
to p r a y for the p e a c e o f the w o r l d in their gatherings
d uring the A d v e n t season, a n d (2) T r y to d e v e l o p c o m -
m u n i c a t i o n a m o n g J e w s , M u s l i m s a n d Christians in
e v e r y c o u n try w h e r e v e r it is possible. T h e "three A b r a h a m i c
religions" - J u d a i s m ,
O n the a ft e rn o o n o f D e c e m b e r 4, 2 0 0 1 , at the Christianity a n d Islam -
h e l d a joint p r a y e r
c on f er e nc e r o o m o f the 3 rd floor o f the Christian E c u -
meeting.
m e n i c a l Building, o n e representative f r o m the J e w i s h
C o m m u n i t y ( R a b b i L e e D i a m o n d ) , t w o f r o m the M u s ­