Page 42 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

Chairperson’s Remarks

L i P in g K w ong

Thanks be to God! By His grace we have accomplished another come. The denominational diversity, the sectarian prejudice, the
s
year’work. tension between churches and para-church groups, the lack of

understanding between clergy and laity, the lack of congeniality in
Throughout this past year the Council has constantly tried to human relationships, the bias and misunderstanding, all weaken our
reflect on and evaluate the proper role the Council should and could capacity to witness, injure our spirit, fragment our resources, and
play during this period when Hong Kong is facing many challenges dissipate our strength. My wish is that we will all have a contrite
and undergoing drastic changes. What can we really contribute to the attitude and be willing to make a fresh start. Let us strive together to
Church in Hong Kong? Some may say that the work of the Council improve so that the Council may play an ever more important role in
should be confined to merely coordinating and harmonizing the life the days to come.
and work of the churches and Christian organizations in Hong Kong,
while others expect the Council to play a more prophetic role. There May I take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Dr.
are some who feel that since the Hong Kong Christian Council does Heyward Wong and to all the members of the staff for their hard
not represent the entire Christian community in Hong Kong, it work during the past year. Through the 35th Anniversary
therefore should not assume a leading role，but rather a supporting Celebration, the Consultation On the Mission of the Church in Hong
one of serving, coordinating and caring. Kong in the 90's and other large scale activities, they showed their
excellence in all their presentations. Besides expressing our
In the past the Council took a very active role in social admiration, we also want to give them our hearty thanks.
participation. This led to some misunderstanding and to the
development of different viewpoints. However, it is important for us Special appreciation should be extended to Dr. Wong. Even
to recognize that Christian involvement in social concerns is not though he had already reached his retirement age, he was still willing
amiss. Since the Church is the continuation of Jesus Christ's to assume the heavy responsibilities of serving as our General
incarnation, we therefore should live among the masses to witness Secretary. He undertook his task with vigor and energy. He has
for our living Christ, to identify with those who suffer and to share achieved a great deal in administrative strategy, personnel
their burdens. We must, through our Christian faith and love, build coordination and the strengthening of relationships among churches.
up trust and hope among the people of Hong Kong. The problem is, He deserves our respect and appreciation. He will be retiring from
how do we express our concern? How do we put our concern into the Council in September. We certainly will miss him greatly, and we
action? Furthermore, how can these actions be recognized and give him our best wishes for a happy retirement life. His
supported by the churches? All these are problems that need urgent contributions to the churches in Hong Kong and to the Council will
solutions. These are the problems that the Council has been long be remembered.
struggling with during the past year.
Beginning as of September this year, the Rev. Dr. Man-King
In my opinion, being a coordinator, a prophet, a servant of the Tso will become our new General Secretary. We want to give him
Church and a witness for truth are all our responsibilities. However, our warmest welcome. We are thankful for being able to find the
we should place greater emphasis on the implementation of our right person. We pray that God will fully use him in this new post to
mission to promote church unity. Establishing a united testimony lead the Council into a new era to fulfil our new mission together.
should be the main task of the churches in Hong Kong in the days to