Page 29 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

GENERAL SECRETARY’S REPORT

Rev. Tso Man King
September 1992 - August 1993

Forward to stabilize the Hong Kong society, especially in
the areas related to the ministries of the church
It has been three years since I returned to Hong and church organisations, helping the Hong Kong
Kong. The issue of 1997 is still the issue of most people to move beyond 1997 smoothly.
concern as well as a hot topic among the general
population of Hong Kong. The British and During the past year, the Council did make some
Chinese Governments have just finished the efforts achieving some operational breakthroughs.
eighth found of talks on the 94/95 election, For instances, the Executive Committee
political reform, the building of the new airport established the Self-Reliance Development
and the through train as I prepare this report. Committee to try to strengthen our economic
There has not been any distinctive breakthrough. resources and future development. It worked
The ninth round of talk is scheduled to continue cooperatively between the Council and the the
next month (August 1993). Lutheran Theological Seminary to sponsor the
Doctor of Ministry (D. Min) degree program.
In the two months from March 15 to May 14, This program will not only provide continuing
1993, the Hong Kong Hang Seng index fluctuated education opportunities for ministers to further
sharply with ten slides of more than 100 points their studies, but also to improve the high quality
each. Obviously, it reflects the uncertainty of the of ministerial education preparing clergy with a
Hong Kong political future. high sense of ecumenism and to deal with the

serious "Brain drain11problem among the church
If we want to take a pessimistic world view, we leadership caused by the 1997 issue. If
could find more situations which could take our everything works out as planned, the program
faith and courage away. For instances, the could start from the fall of 1994. The Council
conflicts and uEthnic cleansing in the Bulkan worked very hard to deepen our exchange
Peninsula, where tens of thousands of women were programs with the church in China from different
raped and hundreds of thousands more live in fear, levels, to improve mutual understanding and
just trying to survive; the irresolvable problems in concerns which would help mutual cooperation.
the Middle East, the ambition of Sadem Husein, The Council also assisted LTS to make direct
the hunger in Somalia, child prostitution in contact and visit the Nanjing Union Theological
Southeast Asia, the rapid spreading of AIDS, the Seminary (NUTS) in reaching an exchange
floods in America's Mid West, northern part of program. Beginning from September, 1993, the
India, China and Bangladesh, the earthquakes in NUTS will send a seminarian to study in LTS.
Hokkaido, Japan, the world-wide economic Since the reopening of China, this will be the first

recession, etc., —we will be seared to death if we seminarian from China to study in Hong Kong
keep in this direction. If the people in Hong which is a very important breakthrough between
Kong arc searching for the rose garden, I really seminaries in Hong Kong and China. LTS should
don't know where they can find one better than be an ideal seminary to start an exchange program
the one in Hong Kong. with China because of its beautiful campus, good
library, strong sense of ecumenism, and
The Hong Kong Christian Council has never international team of well qualified faculty and a
been discouraged or lost our objectives of strong spiritual fellowship.
functions by these uncertain and unstable factors.
Contrarily, because of these special circumstance, As far as relationships with international
the Council has been striving for a breakthrough ecumenical bodies, it has been overwhelming.

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