Page 66 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

7. In order to participate in the building of a more human and just continued a very good relationship with the churches in China
society, last year the Council responded to a comprehensive through The Three Self Movement and the China Christian
social security scheme suggesting that the Government Council. We expressed solidarity with a great many churches or
establish a standing body to monitor the public utilities; issued a church councils when they were forced to face difficult
strong statement against the Legislative Council's decision to situations and demands such as the case of Australia,
ease up on rent control; actively involved in the Committee on Philippines and South Korea. We also continued to maintain an
Comprehensive Review of Education in HK; suggested that excellent working relationship with the RCC. A joint pastoral
each District Board should be allowed to elect one of its elected letter was issued by the RCC Bishop, the Anglican Bishop and
members to the Legislative Council; sponsored a seminar to the Chairperson of the HKCC to mark the World
reflect the Mission of Church in HK. Communication Sunday. This was the 9th year that the HKCC
8. The Education Committee ran a Retreat camp for Form V conducted the “Five Loaves and Two Fish Movement”. Up to
students and a special summer program for Form IV students. May this year, more than HK$700,000 was raised.
9. The Youth Committee sent a representative to the CCA 7. Last year, moral education was the dominant issue for
Seminar on “Asia Militarism", and also organized two Canton discussion for the six major religious seminars aimed at
study tours. understanding each others religious traditions and theologies
10. A seminar was held for over 40 ministers on how to make were held bi-monthly.
church life more family oriented. 8. The Council members were very interested in the draft of the
New Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, and
especially concerned about the freedom of religious activities.
Small group was formed to study these clauses and a forum was
1982-1983 also held. Our views were articulated and sent to the Beijing
Government.
1. The World Day of Prayer drew hundreds of Christian together
in both Chinese and English services. The common worship
during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was the
ministers’ and church leaders’ joint communion service and
breakfast fellowship. For the first time, representatives from 1983-1984
the seminaries and pastors from several independent churches 1. The Pentecostal Holiness Church was officially received as a
attended the service. member church; the Christian Family Service Center was also
2. The Public Policy Commission, as well as staff concerned, accepted as an affiliated agency of the Council.
voiced out opinions from a wider Christian perspective on 2. The World-wide Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 1984 was
important government policies and decisions affecting the life of on January 18-25. The Lima Liturgy was used for the first time
the common people. The coalition for Monitoring Public in HK on the occasion of the annual ecumenical eucharist for
Utilities, after a year’s hard work, became an influential clergy and ministers, theological students and lay leaders.
pressure group in HK. During the week, worship services were held in three
3. Our monthly Chinese publication “Message” served as an churches, and a joint pastoral letter, written by Bishop Wu and
important forum, the writers included theologians and Bishop Kwong, was issued.
concerned laymen analysed key social and ecclesiastical issues 3. Two seminars on Christian Unity were held to help Christians
and reflected on them theologically. Seminars were held to understand the issues and trends of Christian Unity.
frequently and two of them were especially well worthy: one 4. Two services for the 1984 World Day of Prayer were held in
was on the “Church and the future of HK” and the other a HK. The offerings from the services were sent to the HK
series of four meetings on “Jesus Christ, the Life of the World. ” Council of Women to support their shelter for “Abused
A collection of essays on “The Church’s Commitment to our Women”.
Ministries in HK" was published in book forum. 5. Women ministers and full-time women workers in the church
4. Six of our women leaders went to attend the 7th ACWC. Three held regular meetings. The Council published in a special issue
exchange tours of youth to Guangzhon were held. Also six of our “Economic and Public Affairs” Bulletin.
young people were sent to ecumenical meetings. The 9th 6. Two youth tours to China were organized and the Youth
senior students' Retreat Camp was held in June with 100 Form Committee also helped to arrange and prepare for the Christian
V participants. There were two programmes on the “Summer Conference of Asia's Youth Assembly to be held in October in
with a Purpose" taking place simultaneously at two sites with 33 Delhi.
participants at each site. 7. A special committee—Commission on Mission was formed in
5. It was decided to discontinue the “HKCC Monthly Newsletter” October, 1983 to look at and discuss about the WCC's
and “The General Secretary’s Monthly”. The latter was document on Mission and Evangelism, how the two missional
resumed after a lapse of almost two years. concepts applied in HK and to review the role of the church in
6. The HKCC worked closely with the WCC and EACC and relation to social welfare work in HK.

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