Page 58 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

Statement of Mission Consultation

of the Hong Kong Churches

Foreword “To Whom Shall We Go?” The church must reaffirm

The Hong Kong Christian Council organizes its mission to walk with the One who has the words
the Mission Consultation of the Hong Kong of eternal life, witnessing to the power of faith,
Churches every 10 years. The conference was resisting the current society that twists humanity
held from November 10-12, 2009 at the Chinese and destroys relationships, bringing unity and
Methodist Church (Wanchai) with the theme "To harmony, restoring our land, and building caring
Whom Shall We Go?" Before the conference, bonds among peoples and all creatures.
a Women's Forum and a Youth Forum were
organized, full of energy and bringing new Therefore, we urge the church:
perspectives and ideas on the mission of the Hong
To listen, respect and trust the youth, open the
Kong Church. Participants of the Consultation
church and societal platform for their participation;
came from different denominations and Christian
organizations. It was encouraging to know that To face the situation of females by setting
there were over 120 people to join the conference up gender justice mechanisms, and building up a
with many of them being young pastors and staff gender equality culture;
from Christian organizations.
To offer holistic life development and caring,
with special emphasis on ministries to elders, racial
Situation
minorities, sexual minorities, physically disabled,
A decade ago, we were full of expectation for
and mentally disadvantaged minorities etc.;
the opportunities and challenges brought about
by globalization and the rapid development of To show concern for the situation and rights of
mainland China. However, Hong Kong society migrant workers, asylum seekers and refugees;
and churches could not keep up with the dramatic
To care for the need of Hong Kong people who
changes of the past 10 years. Obviously, Hong
reside and work in mainland China and to deepen
Kong was lagging behind, not able to respond
ministries to the new arrivals;
quickly to the issues. Facing the rapid growth of the
gap between the rich and the poor, the devastation
To show concern for the break-up in family
of the natural environment, and the malfunction of
relations caused by economic development, and to
the government and the market, Hong Kong people enhance family intimacy and support;
were dragged down from their proud, successful
past to the current collective powerlessness and To preserve the tradition of local community
and village culture, to regard the relationship
sense of loss. Meanwhile, Hong Kong Churches
also became trapped in this situation. Many of the between humans and land, and to resist urban
development that only aims for economic gain;
churches narrowed their focus to efficiency as the
leading quality of the church, losing the vision and
To act out the prophetic role, to be a watchdog
direction of its mission.
of the government, to participate in public policy
Today, as we move ahead to the next decade, making, to set up just, gracious and trusting values
we would like to call upon the church to take this and to promote social justice and democratic
opportunity to reflect profoundly on the question: participation;

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