Page 21 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS Our Public Policy Commission, as well as staff
concerned, voiced our opinions from a wider Christian
1. LITURGICAL LIFE
perspective on important government policies and
The church is first and foremost a worshipping
decisions affecting the life of the common people.
community. As in previous years, last year we tried to
Though so far it seems to have been in vain, we did
provide opportunities for Christians to cross con­
try to push for a comprehensive social security
fessional boundaries to-worship together the one God
system to be introduced in Hong Kong.
who is the Father of us all. The World Day of Prayer
Our staff played a helpful, supportive and some­
drew hundreds of Christians together in both Chinese
times even key leadership role in the Coalition for
and English services. The theme for this 95th World
Monitoring Public Utilities. After a year’s hard work,
Day of Prayer was "New Persons in Christ", with the
the coalition has become an influential and well-
service liturgy being prepared by a group of women
respected pressure group in Hong Kong. Recently we
in the Carribean.
tried to contact all District Board Members who are
Many local congregations observed 10 special
Christians so that later, when necessary, we can solicit
Sundays . During these special worship services, they
their joint support in improving local community
were requested to focus their concerns on specific
affairs.
ecumenical issues. The Roman Catholic Church and
3. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION
our staff helped to prepare background information
and material for the following Sundays: Christian Our monthly Chinese publication "Message”
Unity Sunday, Social Concerns Sunday, Asia Sunday, served as an important forum wherby experienced, as
Communications Sunday and Education Sunday. We well as emerging, theologians and concerned laymen
gave full support to other special Sundays as well, like analysed key social and ecclesiastical issues and re­
Honour the Elderly Sunday, Bible Sunday, Medical flected on them theologically. These articles also
Sunday, Christian Family Sunday and Sea Sunday. indirectly helped our estimated 5000 readers to be
The highlight of common worship was the more alert and serious about "How to be a Christian
ministers, and church leaders’ joint communion in such a fast-changing and utterly secular world."
service and breakfast fellowship during the Week of Seminars were held frequently. Two were especial­
Prayer for Christian Unity. This year the Hong Kong ly noteworthy: one a pastors’ conference on the
Council, the Church of Christ in China, played host Church and the future of Hong Kong; the other a
to 120 pastors and church workers. For the first time, series of four meetings on the World Council of
representatives from the seminaries and pastors from Churches VI Assembly theme: "Jesus Christ, the Life
several independent churches were invited to attend. of the World”. Both series were extremely well
It was a very moving experience. attended.
( 、 2. SOCIAL ACTION With regard to the 1997 issue, the Executive
’
Committee held an informal meeting and reaffirmed
The Church has an important role in helping to
the church’s commitment to our ministries in Hong
shape a more Just, Participatory and Sustainable
Kong. A collection of essays written by Christian
Society. Social action which leads to changes in that
academicians, theologians and laymen on the same
direction is a legitimate and necessary means.
issue, was published last autumn. We are planning to
During the year under review, our resource
publish a second book on 1997 this autumn. We have
centre staff provided vital data, statistics and infor­
commissioned a dozen professors of theology to each
mation to a great many social action groups. For the
write an essay. These should be completed immedi­
fourth consecutive year, 30 issues of EPA Resources
ately after the summer break.
dealing with important social issues were published.
The circulation reached 2,500.

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