Page 46 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

This committee is encouraging the study of the 1970/1971
Report on the Consultation on the Mission of the Church in
Hong Kong, with a view to developing concrete ways to follow
up.

2. Church Unity

A major aim of the Hong Kong Christian Council is to foster
Christian unity. This responsibility is lodged in the Division
of Inter-Church Relations. Basically, this involves creating
a consciousness of the importance of Christian unity,
providing opportuhities for contacts between Christians from
different churches, and offering assistance and support for
church union schemes.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity continues to be a
major means of fostering relationships especially between
Protestants and Catholics. During the Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity 1972, one of the significant programs was
the District Prayer Meetings. These were well attended
and related many churches not previously involved in the
Week of Prayer activities.

What is the present situation of church unity in Hong
Kong? There is an understanding of the importance of the
unity of the Church and the importance of churches working
together, several organizations include such a statement in
this Constitution. Three organizations have as their basic
purpose providing opportunity for Christian relationships
and work together. They are:

(a) The Hong Kong Christian Council which relates 12
churches and 9 Christian agencies;

(b) The Chinese Christian Churches Union which relates
147 local congregations;

(c) The Evangelical Mission's Fellowship which relates a
number of mission organizations now working in Hong
Kong.

Relationships continue to be good between the churches,
although working for unity and cooperation does not appear
to have a high priority.

Two church union conversations continue. The Chinese
Methodist Church Synod voted to unite with the Wei Li Kung
Hui and to request permission for this step from the British
Conference. This was a step forward.