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4. Social Ministry Project
Social ministry is a project to explore an alternative model of ministry which seeks to integrate social concern and church ministry in Hong Kong. The project has three dimensions:
4.1 Theological Education
In succession to last year course of "Exploring Social Ministry" at Lutheran Theological Seminary, we run the course of "Social Policy and Christian Values." While inviting guest speakers for critically examination of various social policies, we encouraged students to think about how Christian values have to do with social policies and how they can be involved in the social policy issues. Besides, we also run "Ethics, Church and Sex" at Divinity School of Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
In the summer, HKCI had three interns from Lutheran Theological Seminary (Mr. Tung Wang Pak), Divinity School of Chung Chi College (Ms. Phyllis Wong) and Cultural Studies Department of Lingnan University (Ms. Alice Ho).Each of them participated in our programmes in relations to particular issues like globalization, CSSA for single-parent and sexual orientation.
In view of the Sixth Ministerial Conformer of World Trade Organization in Hong Kong, HKCI joined hands with Hong Kong Christian Council and Divinity School of Chung Chi College and formed the "Church and Globalization Theological Task Group." The Group tries to consolidate efforts from theological circle and church leaders by drafting a consultation and organizing a series of meetings, exploring the impacts of globalization and soliciting theological reflection and plan of action.
4.2 Local Church Collaboration
The exploration of local church ministry is a critical component of social ministry project. HKCI has been endeavoured to connect local churches and build up networks as resources for community needs. HKCI had jointly organized with Tsuen Wan Caritas Community Centre a series of activities "Building a Multicultural Community" for youth from different ethnic backgrounds. But it was not successful to attract participations from local churches in Tsuen Wan. However, the young people with Chinese, Pakistani, and Nepalese background had expressed and exchanged their perceptions and experiences in the community through photography. Furthermore, two photo exhibitions had been held to attract the local residents and tourists. On the other hand, the programme in Tsuen Wan had paved the road for another one "Re-engineering Journey of Multicultural Community: Building, Sharing and Caring Sham Shui Po." HKCI had invited Shum Oi Church (C.C.C.) and St. Thomas Church (S.K.H.) to participate in the planning stage. This joint venture has both community activities and ecumenical gatherings.
4.3 Youth Ministry
HKCI co-organised "Hong Kong Youth and Adolescent Ministry Meeting 2005" with Social Work Department of Hong Kong Baptist University and Hong Kong Christian Council. The meeting discussed the issue of the orientation and development of youth ministry in wake of social change in the last decade. The main theme of the meeting was "Pastoral Care by Knowledge and Political Participation," along with panel discussions on twelve youth issues for pastors and frontline workers to explore the post-July 1 youth culture, and to cultivate diverse models of youth ministry.
Besides, we had held ten social concern gatherings on issues of LegCo election, church and community relations, youth sub-culture, gender and culture, poverty and Christians and June Forth Event in eight congregations and school fellowships.
4.4 Community and Local Church Support
The dispute over Sexual Orientation Discrimination legislation is overwhelming. HKCI has upheld and presented the human rights principle on the issue. Furthermore, we collaborated with Blessed Minority Christian Fellowship and held a series of workshop for pastors to foster care for gay and lesbian Christians. We also organized gatherings for pastors and lay Christians to share their views. A title of Gay Hearts in Pastoral Care was also published for them.
Jason TOO Kin-wai & FAN Lap-hin
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