Page 47 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

3. Ecumenical Library

The Ecumenical Library makes available some 1,000 volumes
in English and Chinese in five basic areas. Primarily a
research library, consideration is being given to making it
a lending library, and setting up study facilities for pastors.

4. The Mission of the Church

The Division seeks to provide a way whereby through
consultations and seminars, the churches in Hong Kong can
consider together their present situation, the new demands
of mission, and ways in which the mission of the church can
be more effectively carried out. In this connection, two
seminars were held on Church Renewal Movements - they were
(a) the Taize Community in France, (b) the Local Congregation
Renewal Project of the Ecumenical Institue in Chicago.

Within this broader concern for mission, there are two
special concerns namely - the role of laity and the role of
missionaries in the mission of the Church in Hong Kong.
Churches are becoming aware of the important role of the
laity in and through their daily work. They are also becoming
aware of the many Christians of different nationalities living
and working here in Hong Kong. What is the church's
responsibility for including them in its concept of its
mission? In an international city such as Hong Kong, are
not significant contributions possible by this international
group of Christians? Plans are presently under discussion
regarding the possible ways in which the churches through
the Christian Council can provide a significant program
which would involve laymen of many different nationalities.
Although the number of missionaries in many churches is
decreasing, their number is still not small and there
continue to be a number of concerns concerning their role,
their function, their relationships with the church, and their
relationships with one another. The number of new missionaries
has all but ceased and therefore the joint orientation is no
longer a necessity. Two seminars on "Ecumenical Sharing of
Personnel" considered possible new ways for exchanging people
in Asia today.

5. Development

In recent years, there has been a growing interest among
churches in "Development" and especially as this relates to
"Third World" countries. What is the role and contribution
of the Church in the field of development - which includes
economics, politics, education, medical and health programs,
etc? Obviously, one of the key issues here is that of
poverty - the gap which keeps growing between the rich and
poor and the gap which keeps growing between rich and primarily
western nations and the poorer countries of Asia.