Page 21 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

The Church and Development

After the Asian Ecumenical Conference on Development was held
in Tokyo, Japan in July 1970, representatives of the Hong Kong
Christian Council and the Roman Catholic Church in Hong Kong formed
a Joint Committee on Development. Although the Committee is still
exploring its task, it has defined development to include more than
"economic” development. Rather, total development improves the
social, physical and economic aspects of life ty deliberate efforts;
it involves building consensus, and inducing change in order to
enhance the life of the people. It includes the promotion of self-
reliance, social justice and has a spiritual as well as economic
dimension.

The Committee's initial thinking points to three areas where the
church may have a role in development:
1) education for development or, utilizing present church-related
schools to promote development values, and providing technical
training for industry's needs and manpower development;
2) the promotion of social justice; and
3) economic development.
The Committee is now formulating concrete plans.

Ecumenical Church Loan Fund

A Constitution has been drafted to establish in Hong Kong and
Ecumenical Church Loan Fund related to the Council. Loans will be
made available to members of the Council at a rate of interest to
be fixed by the Committee. The proposal is for loans up to a
maximum of HK&150,000 to be repaid over a 7-10 year period. Imple­
mentation of the Fund now awaits approval of the Constitution from
the Geneva ECLOF Committee, and the availability of funds.

Missionary Fellowship

The Missionary Affairs Committee sponsored two fellowship even­
ings for missionaries of churches related to the Council. Various
service agencies related to the Council presented displays, and
attendance was good both times. The Committee also considered a
prpoosal from the World Council of Churches, "Ecumenical Sharing
of Personnel," and offered a number of suggestions. The Secretary
of the Division gave considerable time to a "Consultation on
Missionary Service in Asia", a Methodist-sponsored Consultation
held in Kuala Lumpur, February 18th - 23rd, 1971. T h e report of
this Consultation will be available to interested persons.

The Ecumenical Library

The Ecumenical Library continues to be available for study and
reading, and contains a wide selection of books related to Christian
unity, Christian education, Hong Kong and the, ecumenical movement.
All publications of World Council of Churches, East Asia Christian
Conference, World Council of Christian Education and Chinese
Christian Literature Council are in the library.