Page 35 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

Executive Committee meetings are held from different denominations. They have
monthly rather than bi-monthly. The five officers contributed their gifts to serve the Lord and our
of the Executive Committee meet with the community with an ecumenical and co­
General Secretary once a month, setting the operative spirit.
agenda for the Executive Committee meeting.
As for the work of the individual commissions Last year, the Executive Committee resolved
and committees, prior approval by the that all committee members must be represen­
Executive Committee is necessary before they tatives of the Council's members, unless and
until such necessities arise that other people
can do anything. The result of this change of
should be co-opted. The resolution has ex­
style in management and work is that much
work could not be implemented smoothly or cluded many supportive ex-members from
had to be abandoned because the Executive these committees, consequently affecting the
quality of their work and achievements. The
Committee failed to make a timely decision.
Report of the Committees are stated hereunder.
Moreover, formerly the Executive Secretaries
were invited to attend the Executive Committee
meetings so as to strengthen the communica­
tion between the staff and the Executive
Committee, but since last July, this arrangement 1. Unity Committee
has been abandoned.
As its name suggests, the objective of the
Due to the various changes mentioned Unity Committee is to promote unity in Christ
above, it is regrettable for me to report that the through various types of projects. Last year, the
follow-up of the recommendations of the Mid-
Committee set the following targets for its work:
Decade Mission Consultation could not be — to advance the communication among
implemented. Recently, more and more people pastors of local churches;
have been expecting the Council to continue — to promote dialogue among denomina­
to play a pioneering role during Hong Kong's
tions;
political transition, to make the Christian voice — to promote concerted action amongst
heard on major events and issues, to bear lay people.
witness to the glory of God, and to arouse
Christians to put their faith into practice.
The Committee believes that church pastors
Unfortunately, the new style in management play an important role in promoting church
and work stood in the way of our work last year unity. Therefore, a Clergy and Ministers Retreat
and affected the staff morale.
is held every year to give an opportunity for
pastors to enjoy fellowship in (Christ, and to
We can only hope that the internal struggle
within the Council will soon become history and breakaway from the walls imposed by territorial
the Council will again contribute to the Church and conventional limitations.
and our society in the near future.
Regarding dialogue among denominations,
the Committee has also worked hard to pro­
mote the ‘‘Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry"
Document published by the Faith and Order
W O R K O F C O M M IT T E E S Commission of the World Council of Churches.
Pastors from different denominations are invited
The Council has all along relied on the to participate in discussions and exchange their
support of committees to implement its views concerning sacraments and church
concerns. Members of these committees come order.

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