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V. STAFF RETREAT

An Executive Staff Retreat was held at Tao Fung Shan on
Thursday and Friday, December 12th and 13th, 1968. Present were
Mr. Calvin Ngai, Rev. Paul R. Webb, Rev. William Tung, Rev. Tom
Lung, Miss Margaret Kane and Rev. Lonnie Turnipseed.

The first session included a review of the present constitution
ard committee mandates, discussion on the background and aim of
the reorganization of the Council and EACC comments on national
Christian Councils, taken from the Kandy Report.

This was followed by a "brainstorming session" on the question
of what we would like to see happen in Hong Kong, and the Council's
role in making it happen.

Session three dealt with some basic principles or questions:
Is the Council an operating body or a coordinating body? How
this Council relates to local churches? What should our relation-
ship be with Roman Catholics? What are the implications of local
financing and overseas financing? How can we encourage more local
financing?

Possibilities of a unified structure were discussed. It was
felt that steps should be taken to give greater unity to the total
work of the Council and relationships with the present auxiliary
bodies.

Session five dealt with the responsibilities of each division,
the committees and staff relationships. Several suggestions were
made concerning the division to which certain committees are
related.

It was felt that essential step in the near future would
be to draft terms of reference, aims and purposes for each of
the committees and auxiliary organizations of the Council.

Session Six dealt with immediate practical problems and
possibilities.

The last session was planned to discuss the purpose, aims,
goals, objectives and long-range plans of the Council and follow-
up on the retreat.

It was felt that long range issues might include the Church
and education; issues in laity and lay training, and self-support.

It was suggested that the theme for the 1969 Annual General
Meeting be "The Church in our Community", with major emphasis on
support for the United Christian Hospital and on church union.
Recommendations from the Staff Retreat were approved by the
Executive Committee of the Council.

VI. COOPERATION WITH THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICES IN KOWLOON

During the year, the Council had the privilege of working
together with the City District Offices in Kowloon by presenting
them with information on church activities and from time to time
expressing our views on social issues such as youth, blacked-out
bars, etc.

VII. CONSULTATIONS WITH MISSION BOARD, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
AND WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES SECRETARIES

In the Spring 1969, a series of Consultations were held in Hong
Kong attended by the Mission Board Secretaries, NCC Secretaries
from North America, Europe and New Zealand. The Council took the
opportunity and organized a one-day Consultation with the visiting
secretaries on March 3rd. The representatives from abroad were
as follows: