Page 32 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS

Hong Kong Christian Council is celebrating its Council must be looked upon as a whole. It is
thirtieth anniversary this year. The focus of its therefore appropriate for us here to pay tributes to
celebration is a seminar on "Church Unity” . This is our founders, all church leaders and members of all
in line with the thinking of our founders. The purpose committees and staff of the Council throughout
of establishing a council is to promote ecumenism. these thirty years for their contributions made to
The idea of sharing and working together has long the Council and to the churches in Hong Kong.
been the tradition of the churches in Hong Kong. The While we are expressing our gratitude to those
Cemetary was originally offered to one denomination who have made contributions to the Council, we are
which in turn offered it to be shared with other sorry that we lost a great leader of the church and of
churches. The Home for the Poor operated by one the Council this year with the passing away of the
denomination was later turned out to be the Kwong Rev. Dr. Peter Wong. Dr. Wong has served the Council
^um Home for Aged for all members of the Hong as its Chairman for eight years, the longest term that
Kong Chinese Christian Churches Union. Chung Chi one has ever served in that capacity. His leadership
College was started by one denomination but now is is well recognized and his contributions to the Council
an ecumenical institution. There are plenty examples is invaluable. We must thank God for his ministry.
like these. In view of this, the primary role of the Let us hope that we may be able to follow his steps in
Council is to be a servant to all churches in Hong helping the Council to be a true servant of God and
Kong by promoting closer and better cooperation of the churches here in Hong Kong.
among churches with the hope of achieving church As we look ahead to the next thirty years, if the
unity eventually. churches in Hong Kong is to have an effective way of
In the last thirty years, under the leadership of exercising our ministry and make the Gospel better
many church leaders, the Council has been moving known and accepted in Hong Kong, it will be even
toward this goal with a little result even though in a more important for us to work together as it has been
very slow speed. Membership of the Council has in the past, with better mutual understanding, closer
grown even though the percentage is not high. The cooperation, and more sharing with the fervent
Council has tried hard to promote dialogue, discussion, hope that we shall truly be united as one body in
cooperation and sharing among churches. We have our Lord, Jesus Christ.
indeed achieved much more than we ourselves are + Peter Kwong
able to realize at any one time. The success of the
Chairman