Page 20 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

GENERAL SECRETARY’S REPORTS

INTRODUCTION of the church (as so explicitly expounded in the
synoptics), it seems to me the pastoral tone of the
In every age, the church is called to declare the Johannine writings are even more relevant at this
Absolute Sovereignty of God, — that God is the Only stage. The churches in Hong Kong also need to re­
God of us all. He is known by what He has done in hearse again and again what the Old Testament Faith
the whole of human history. This was the witness of is about; the confessing recital of God's Saving Acts
the Fathers of Israel, the Prophets, the Remnant, the in History. This is not an easy task. Churches in Hong
Early Church Fathers, the Reformers, the German Kong must be planning and working TOGETHER.
Confessing Church in the 1930’s, and, of late, the For the past three decades, the Hong Kong
Ecumenical Movement. Christian Council has served as a forum where
As the technological and scientific areas of churches have shared ideas, and as an agency through
human life advance in leaps and bounds, the world, which joint action for mission has been carried out.
(which includes the church as a human institution) The Hong Kong Christian Council belongs to all of
seems to be wanting to build another Tower of Babel, the churches in Hong kong, not just to the so-called
to be wanting to put "self” before God. People want mainline churches. It becomes a strong agent when
to play God. They want to hold on to what obviously church leaders and churches participate in it and use
does not belong to them alone. Some national leaders it fully. When churches want to do their own thing,
want to hold on to their power even at the expense of then the HKCC becomes a superfluous body.
gross violations of basic human rights, too often at Looking back over the previous year, we enjoyed
the expense of the lives of many innocent people. the trust of all church leaders within the HKCC family
Others use the excuse of national security and global and thus together we were able to accomplish a lot in
balance of military as well as economic power to mapping out the future of the Council.
spend lavishly on arms. They are responsible for During the past year, we worked a lot more
allowing the gap between the rich and the poor to closely with churches who traditionally found it
grow wider and wider. Millions of human beings are difficult to identify with us. We learned not to dwell
without a home and are starving to death. on our theological differences, but to stress what we
In Hong Kong the same mentality persists. That have in common, such as our concern for social
is why we are so worried about the political future of justice and for the well-being of the under-privileged.
Hong Kong. A great majority of citizens in Hong After all, we all confess the same Lord who demands
Kong, when asked about the question of the sover­ our absolute obedience to Him and not to any other
eignty of China over Hong Kong in or before 1997, gods.
deep down in their hearts, would be willing to remain We also became more aware of the importance of
colonized by the British in order to avoid it. grassroots Christian support and participation. During
Hong Kong now has a ’’confidence crisis’’ because the past year, we succeeded in drawing the concerns
our life style has been too free and too bourgeois, to of the Council a lot closer to the people.
the extent that we have forgotten the needs of others We are keenly aware of the high expectations of
and have forsaken our cultural heritage (both of the readers of this report, be they church leaders,
which are crucial in terms of finding genuine meaning pastors or laymen. We are ready to meet all demands
in our lives). as we face a rather uncertain future in Hong Kong.
The church in Hong Kong can no longer stay But we also expect all of our members to give us their
within its four walls. Yes, more Christians will emigrate unreserved support: their ideas, their moral support
overseas in future months and years. But the great and encouragement, their participation in the work of
majority cannot go, and thus we have a crucial the Council and their financial contributions.
pastoral (both counselling and educational) role to Let us strive together to serve God and His whole
play. While we should not forget the evangelistic zest creation which He loves so much.

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