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2. Education Program
2.1 Courses and Seminars
One of the functions of the Hong Kong Christian Institute (HKCI) is to encourage Christians to reflect on their faith and to act upon it in accordance with the local context and to widen the vision of society and their faith through reflection and practice. With regard to Hong Kong’s social context, HKCI has organised a variety of seminars and education courses that have addressed different social issues in the past year. HKCI has also tried to stimulate the reflection of readers through its publications.
In the past year, a seminar entitled The Clash and Coexistence of Civilizations was organised in response to the Sept. 11 event in the United States based on religious, cultural and political perspectives. It also looked for an alternative viewpoint instead of the so-called “clash of civilizations” that has been described by U.S. academic Samuel P. Huntington. In addition, a seminar was held about the recent disclosure of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in the United States and Hong Kong in which lay people and clergy from various Christian traditions gathered together to share their thoughts on the problem.
Another workshop entitled Enneagram and Spiritual Growth was led by the Rev. Yung Chuen-hung to help participants explore their personality types. The participants were also encouraged to cultivate their gifts, spirituality and service in accordance with their own personality types. HKCI also joined hands with the Ngau Pang Sue Yuen, a local education organisation promoting grassroots education, in organising a course called the People’s Movements in Asia. Speakers familiar with the issues in several Asian countries—Burma, India, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong—shared their experiences about the people’s movements in these countries and territories, which projected a tapestry of concerns and responses in Asia.
To promote the Sunday before December 10 (International Human Rights Day) as Human Rights Sunday, HKCI prepared and distributed a programme of service, both a message and a prayer, for churches in Hong Kong.
In addition to organising courses, HKCI also provided opportunities for gathering HKCI members and friends together, such as the fund-raising walkathon in November 2001 and a trek in a country park during Chinese New Year.
As a bridge between the Church and society, HKCI invited participants from churches, seminaries and frontline Christian organisations to discuss issues pertinent to the mission of the Church in Hong Kong and to explore possible visions. Issues about women, right of abode and unemployment were shared with the participants by the people affected.
To cultivate and expand the space for dialogue and conversation, HKCI planned a series of gatherings called Dialogue with Compassion. The conversations were not only between the guest speakers but also between the participants. Presently, the series has involved these guest speakers: Mr. Anthony Lam and Ms. Chine Chan (“Patriotism of Hong Kong’s People”), Ms. Paris Law and Ms. Yim Yuet-lin (“Human Rights Issues Concerning Marginalised Labourers and Sex Workers”), Mr. Sze Pang-cheung (“My Life in the Amazon Rainforest”), Ms. To Kit-lai and Ms. Liu Ngan-fung (“Battered Women”) and the Rev. Lee Kin-wah and Ms. Lau Wai-chin (“Evaluation of Comprehensive Social Security”). Moreover, members from the Student Christian Movement in Hong Kong (SCM-HK) were also invited to share their experiences during their trip to the town of Mei Lung in southern Taiwan.
Furthermore, HKCI’s office was also a venue for creative expression. An art exhibition of our former executive secretary, Ms. Agatha Wong, was held at HKCI.
2.2 Publications
The literary ministry is a crucial and significant part of HKCI’s education programme, which includes publications by HKCI and other authors in newspapers and magazines.
HKCI’s regular publications include the Chinese and English monthly newsletters and a bimonthly Chinese theological journal, Reflection. Messages and religious reflections from management committee members and the staff were shared in these newsletters. HKCI members and staff members also expressed their views on current issues in a critical manner.
Reflection is regarded as a Christian witness of Hong Kong society in print form. It also records Christian reflections on Hong Kong’s issues. The themes in the past year included “Social Tolerance” (No. 75), “China-Hong Kong Relations” (No. 76), “The Clash and Coexistence of Civilizations” (No. 77), “Work Ethic in the New Economy” (No. 78), “Ethnic Relations in the Metropolitan” (No. 79) and “The Spiritual Façade of Hong Kong Society” (No. 80).
During the past year, the Rev. Yung Chuen-hung’s Enneagram and Pastoral Care: Theology for the New Century Vol. 1 (edited by Dr. Kwok Hung-biu and Mr. Too Kin-wai) and Dr. Kung Lap-yan’s Ministry of Reconciliation: The Identity of the Church were published. Moreover, the second edition of Dr. Kwok Hung-biu’s Survey on Christian Spiritual Traditions was reprinted within the past year as well.
2.3 Writers Group
In addition to its regular publications, HKCI channels voices through articles and columns. Among the contributors in our writers group, there are insightful and well-informed HKCI members and supporters. Articles on different issues were published in various local newspapers, such as the Christian Times, Apple Daily and Ming Pao.
TOO Kin-wai
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