Page 17 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

SUGGESTION FOR SPECIAL SUNDAYS 1971

In order to encourage Christians to act together in various
areas of Christian concern, the Council has asked all churches in
Hong Kong to observe the following Special Sundays for 1971:

Christian Unity Sunday January 24th (4th Sunday)
Labour Sunday April 25th (4th Sunday)
Christian Family Life Sunday May 9th (2nd Sunday)
Social Concern Sunday July 11th (2nd Sunday)
Christian Literature Sunday August 22nd (4th Sunday)
Christian Education Sunday September 26th (4th Sunday)
Worldwide Holy Communion Sunday October 3rd (1st Sunday)
Medical Sunday October 17th (3rd Sunday)
Bible Sunday December 12th (2nd Sunday)
It is encouraging to learn that many churches have cooperated
in this united effort.

COOPERATION WITH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS

During the year, the Council had the privilege of working
together with Government departments such as City District Offices,
the Education Department, Labour Department, and Information Services
by providing information on Church activities and expressing our
views on social issues.

At the request of the Government Information Services the
Council supplied information on the activities of the Protestant
churches in Hong Kong which was included in the chapter on Religion
of the Hong Kong Annual Report 1970.

MISSION OF THE CHURCH IN HONG KONG

A second Consultation on the Mission of the Church in Hong Kong
was held at Morrison House, January 4th-5th, 1971, and involved
seventy church leaders. The Consultation focused on preaching
services, Hong Kong situation reports, and on the development of
concrete suggestions for church action on: (i)Lay Training; (ii)
Youth; (iii) Education and Schools; (iv) the City of Hong Kong;
(v) Development in Hong Kong; (vi) Church Unity.

The suggestions that evolved included: (a) design a curriculum
for laymen; (b) hold a leadership training conference; (c) strengthen
youth leadership training; (d) provide further training for teachers
in church-related schools; (e) offer evening classes in industrial
areas; (f) prornbte a social security system in Hong Kong; (g) develop
Christian stewardship programs; (h) encourage people to register
and vote, so that they may have a voice in matters affecting them;
(i) re-orient academic education to meet Hong Kong's development
needs; (j) define and disseminate the concept and theological basis
for development and social justice; (k) consider the possibility of
establishing a united church based on the organization plans of
Christian councils.
A full report of the Consultation has been mimeographed, and a
printed report for both the 1970 and 1971 Consultations is being
prepared.