Page 30 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

General Secretary’s Report

(September 2003 - August 2004)

2004 is the year of the 50th Anniversary of the Hong
Rev. Eric S.Y. So
Kong Christian Council. The Executive Committee of the
Council has organized a series of programs to celebrate this
milestone. Through this celebration, we give thanks to God Anglican Church, the Evangelical Church as well as
and reaffirm our vision from God as well as find the Muslim leaders. Through this historic trip, Christians in
opportunity of breaking new ground in the ecumenical Hong Kong have been given a deeper understanding on the
movement. meaning of the Body of Christ and the vision of
ecumenism.
Programs of the 50th Anniversary celebration are:
5. The visit of the General Secretary of WCC to
1. The Symposium on Ecumenical Movement Hong Kong
The Symposium under the theme: “Ecumenical
Dr. Samuel Kobia, the new general secretary of the
Movement in the 21st Century: Challenges and
World Council of Churches, took Hong Kong as the first
Opportunities” was held successfully from January 15-17,
stop in his first official visit to Asia. He spent three days in
2004 at the Chinese YMCA. Around 100 participants from
Hong Kong during the first week of July visiting member
different Churches attended.
Church representatives, meeting with Church leaders and
engaging in dialogue with 70 youths which shows the
2. “Witnessing for Social Justice” Youth Training
solidarity of the Global Churches with the Christian
Program
communities of Hong Kong.
The opening ceremony was launched on February 7,
2004 by the Chairperson of the Legislative Council, Mrs. 6. Ecumenical Publications
Rita Fan and the Council’s Chairperson, Rt. Rev. Thomas
A collection of the speeches of the Symposium on
Soo with more than 80 youths attending. Eight teams of
Ecumenical Movement in the 21st Century will be
young people coming from Christian schools, youth
published in the last quarter of this year. We hope this
centers and local Churches joined the program. They
publication will foster more Christians becoming active
submitted their project study on various areas of social
enablers in the ecumenical movement.
issues at the end of August.
7. Hong Kong Christian Council and Hong Kong
3. Delegation of Amity Foundation
We, Hong Kong Christian Council, identify ourselves
A delegation of 6 persons from Amity Foundation
not only as a Christian organization, but also as an
under the leadership of Rev. Cao Sheng-jie, President of
ecumenical body for our community. Therefore we decided
China Christian Council, visited Hong Kong on February
to publicize our work and ministry in the media on
11-15, 2004. It was the first official visit of the Amity
September 24, 2004 so that people will know that our
delegation to Hong Kong. Through this visitation, mutual
mission is to serve Hong Kong including Christians and the
understanding on social issues and development programs
whole society.
in Mainland China and Hong Kong has been built and
possibility of further collaboration has also been explored. 8. Sharing for Thirty Years
Since in the middle of the 1970s when the “Five
4. The first visit to Coptic Church
Loaves and Two Fish” project was started, the spirit of
With the support and help of the General Consulate of
sharing and giving to the poor and needy has been
Egypt in Hong Kong, a 13-person delegation under the
developing among Christians and non-Christians of Hong
leadership of Rt. Rev. Thomas Soo paid the first official
Kong. It is a time for us to give thanks and to review our
visit to the Coptic Church in Egypt from March 25 - April
accomplishments by producing a VCD “Sharing for 30
6, 2004 and met with its Pope Shenouda III. Besides the
years”. Christ’s servanthood sets the guidelines of our
Coptic Church, the delegation also visited other Christian
sharing and the teaching of Jesus Christ encourages us to
communities such as the Greek Orthodox Church, the
move forward. That is our strong belief.