Page 22 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

Whenever there were visiting scholars passing Early this year, a survey was held enquiring as
through, and whenever we had people coming back to what extent church youth are concerned about
from an ecumenical conference, we regularly scheduled 1997.
lectures or report-back sessions. These give and take In ministries to high school students, much was
meetings often became great learning experiences for achieved. The Forms I to V "Faith and Life" series
those who did not have opportunities for other forms religious education textbooks were completed and
of ecumenical exposure. published in Chinese. They were used by some 50
schools. The Form I and Form III textbooks were
4. CHURCH RENEWAL
revised. The Publishers also agreed to publish the
In order to try to meet the ever changing social
same series in simplified English, with the Form 1
demands and human needs, the church must con­ book scheduled to appear at the end of this year.
stantly renew itself. Renewal of the church means re­
A subcommittee of our Educational Concerns
focusing its mission on the world. It means taking
Committee started the tedious job of reviewing Hong
self-evangelism very seriously. It also means encou­
Kong’s secondary school textbooks in a search for
raging members to adopt a life style that is Christ-like
any material that might be racist, seist, imperialist,
— to empty oneself for the sake of fulfilment of the
etc. in nature.
lives of other people. We view ecumenical exposures,
The 9th Senior Students’ Retreat Camp was held
Bible studies, and corporate liturgical life as some of
in June with 100 Form V participants. The "Summer
the most important factors in bringing about renewal.
with a Purpose" Programme — a 4 -week programme
For the past year our target groups were church
for Form 4 students — was expanded in the year
women, youth and students.
under review. Six college graduates from the U.S. and
For church women, we continued to work
six local graduates from Hong Kong were recruited and
through the Women Ministers and Evangelists Fellow­
trained as staff. There were two programmes taking
ship. The role of church women and the ordination of
place simultaneously, one at Church of Christ in
women were seriously explored. Several small group
China’s Kei San Technical School and the other at the
informal meetings and seminars were held. A joint
Lo Wu Army Camp, with 33 participants at each site.
women's choir was organized and sang beautifully for
In October this year, our Education Committee
the World Day of Prayer Service.
will cooperate with Caritas in the holding of a regional
For ecumenical exposure, a group of church
conference for Asian representatives on a Christian
women are planning a study tour to the Philippines.
perspective on adult education. This should provide
Six of our women leaders went to attend the 7th
important input for the UNESCO conference on
Asian Christian Women’s Conference. Planning for
Adult Education to be held later this year.
the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the A.C.W.C.
is now underway. 5. COMMUNICATIONS
A mass rally for women to express concern for Our Communications Centre had a very good
the elderly was held. It was extremely well attended. year due to the redeployment of an Executive
A joint statement requesting the Government to in­ Secretary to head it up and the strengthening of the
troduce a more comprehensive social security system production team by employing additional qualified
was issued and widely publicized. workers. We rebuilt a very strong Advisory Com­
In working with youth, two exchange tours to mittee consisting of representatives from Radio
Guangzhou, each consiting of 16 young people, were Television Hong Kong, the Roman Catholic Church,
held. A third on one with 30 participants will take the Anglican Church, the Baptist Church, the United
place in July. Six young people were sent to ecumenical Methodist Church, and the Church of Christ in China.
meetings. Several seminars and report-back sessions The top priority for the Centre last year was
were held. radio broadcasting. Our staff produced or assisted in

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