2.1       Theological Education
2.1.1　Theological Reflection on Globalisation

HKCI was greatly honoured to have Prof. Ofelia Ortega, a feminist theologian from Cuba, with us last year. We invited Prof. Ortega to co-teach with our director, Rose Wu, and Prof. Kung Lap-yan at the Lutheran Theological Seminary and Divinity School of Chung Chi College respectively a course entitled Globalisation and Theology. The course widened students’ horizons in understanding Latin America and the ecumenical movement as well as to theologically reflect on globalisation. In addition, the course Theology and Feminism was offered at the Divinity School of Chung Chi College.

2.1.2　Internship

In the summer, HKCI had two interns from the Lutheran Theological Seminary (Ms. Phyllis Lam Pui-fun) and Divinity School of Chung Chi College (Mr. Leung Wai-yip). Each of them participated in our programmes and chose particular issues, such as a women’s ministry for single mothers and democratisation in Hong Kong, for in-depth exploration and participation.

2.2 　 Christian Education Programme
2.2.1　Christian Social Awareness Enhancement

HKCI is dedicated to the facilitation of members of the Christian community to reflect and critically examine our faith and the integration of our faith in our lives. In the past year, HKCI organised a variety of programmes-seminars, workshops, Bible study groups and fellowship gatherings-to discuss different social issues for Christians to learn about and reflect on. Globalisation, human rights advocacy, freedom of religion and anti-discrimination legislation regarding sexual orientation are some examples. Not only did HKCI organise a series of public seminars, but it also reached out to 11 local congregations and three theological seminaries to discuss with lay Christians and theological students in a more critical manner on various socio-political issues, such as globalisation and the neo-liberal economic model, anti-discrimination and human rights.

In addition, HKCI invited Yu Jie and Zhang Qian Jin from the Noah Church of China to share their thoughts through a gathering entitled “Rights Advocacy and Religious Freedom.” Last year HKCI also organised a seminar entitled “Pastoral Care to Christians with Different Sexual Orientations: The Taiwan Experience.” Pastor Tsang, the former pastor of Tong Kwang Lighthouse Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, was invited to share and exchange experiences.

In view of Christians’ interest in going on pilgrimages, HKCI organised the talk entitled “Pilgrimage to Peace: A Reflection of the Holy Land Tourism.” We also invited Dr. Sze Man-hung, a scholar with expertise on film studies, to conduct the course Film and Faith Reflection. The aim of the course was to help participants reflect theologically in such areas as sin and salvation, violence, faith, life and so on by examining the classical films. Lastly, HKCI organised a talk to discuss the film Brokeback Mountain and to critically reflect on culture, religious values and faith with scholars of cultural studies, gay Christians, theologians and lay Christians.

During the summer, HKCI organised two courses, Human Rights and Christian Values and Women Theology Studies: The Gospel of Mary Magdalene. The second course was co-organised with the Hong Kong Women Christian Council (HKWCC).

The second retreat camp, focusing on the theme “Trespassing Theological Boundaries,” was also held. The camp was a valuable occasion for HKCI’s members to experience different dimensions of practicing our faith and enriching our spiritual journey.

2.2.2　Collaboration with Local Churches to Respond to Community Needs

HKCI developed networks with local churches and explored possible ministries which may benefit the residents of the community. In May 2006, HKCI collaborated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance Tai Wai Church to hold a bible study for single mothers and began to build a network with single parents in the community. HKCI will compile the resources and experiences to share with other churches and organisations.

2.2.3　Platforms for Putting Theology into Practice

HKCI endeavours to provide platforms for lay Christians to reflect on and put our faith into practice. In the past year, HKCI created several platforms for these purposes, namely, the Working Group on Globalisation and Theology, Erosforum, Human Ways and the Kingdom of God and Lay Prophets. These platforms facilitated Christians and theologians to collectively construct their theological discourses.

A new direction was the production of sermon scripts on particular topics, addressing both local and international issues. HKCI circulated eight sermons to churches for their use during Sunday worship, Sunday school and fellowship. Our sermon scripts were also published in a local Christian weekly newspaper, the Christian Times, to reach a wider audience.

2.3　Re-engineering Journey of Multicultural Community

HKCI is keen to develop platforms and networks with local churches and community organisations. Last year HKCI collaborated with the YMCA of Hong Kong Cheung Sha Wan Centre, the Hong Kong Christian Service (Project South Asian Support Alliance) and the Church of Christ in China Shum Oi Church to launch the project Re-engineering Journey of a Multicultural Community: Building, Caring and Sharing Sham Shui Po (ReMi.com). The aim of this project was to regularly gather a group of youth from different ethnic backgrounds to reconstruct the multiple dimensional images of the district of Sham Shui Po.

In this project, HKCI recruited 30 youth from diverse backgrounds - Pakistanis, Nepalese, Indians, Indonesians and Chinese. They participated in various workshops and camps to foster cultural exchanges. In addition, they paid home visits to families and conducted community field studies in Sham Shui Po. Through this process, participants had learnt the cultural and religious aspects of the community and its residents. All these exposures facilitated their understanding of the whole community, which was diversified in terms of the residents’ background and life experiences. Some people, for instance, were minorities, new immigrants and elderly. The participants also acquired a historical lens through which to explore the community and gain a greater understanding of its development over the course of time. Consequently, their scope of understanding a multicultural community was widened.

Afterwards the youth participants organised community exhibition and forum using various creative means - poems, photos, videos and other visual arts - in order to present the different faces of Sham Shui Po to the residents to arouse the concern of the community.

In this project, HKCI also networked with people of different backgrounds in the community to encourage their participation. They included minorities, district councillors, government officials, representatives from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and pastors, etc. They were invited to work together to build an inclusive community that respects diversity.

After the completion of the programme, we consolidated our experiences by compiling a multicultural community educational kit and VCD as a teaching tool. Not only did we seek to share our experience with others through these materials, but we also wished to advocate and extend these multicultural concepts to local churches, community centres and schools.

2.4　Publications
2.4.1　Books

The book Theology for the New Century Vol. 1, edited by Kwok Hung-biu and Too Kin-wai, were sold out and well received by theology students. This volume of the book was reprinted this year in order to respond to the needs of theology students and lay Christians.

        Co-sponsored by the Cultural and Religious Studies Department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Justice and Social Concerns Committee of the Hong Kong Christian Council (HKCC), HKCI organised a series of seminars, The Challenge of Sexual Orientation Discrimination Legislation to the Christian Community. All speeches of the seminars were compiled and published in a book with the same title as the seminars. The book provided different perspectives for Christians and churches to examine the issue of anti-discrimination legislation to end discrimination against homosexuals. The articles contributed by various scholars and church leaders were also important educational resources for further discussion related to this issue.

2.4.2　The Globalisation and the Church Book Series

HKCI published the book series Globalisation and the Church after a number of local seminars were held. The book series included The Church Response to Globalisation: An Overseas Experience by Mary Yuen, Globalisation and Theological Reflections of Hong Kong by the Working Group of Church and Theology and An Ecumenical Response to Globalisation: Reflection of a Cuban Theologian by Prof. Ofelia Ortega.

2.4.3　Reflection

In the past year, the Chinese-language journal Reflection covered the following themes: “World Trade and Economic Justice” (Issue 96) as a response to the sixth ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) held in Hong Kong in December 2005, “Reflection on Society’s Attitude and Perception to Children” (Issue 97), “Anti-discrimination against HIV/AIDS” (Issue 98) and “Poverty in Hong Kong and Policies on Fighting Poverty” (Issue 99). The 100th issue of Reflection was published this year on the theme “Reflection 100” in which different readers over the years were invited to share their views and suggestions on the journal.

2.4.4　Bimonthly Newsletter

Since early 2005, HKCI began publishing its Chinese-language newsletter bimonthly instead of monthly. The contents of the newsletter are enriched by increasing articles and exchanges on civil society and the work of HKCI. We also publish a monthly English-language newsletter to communicate with our overseas readers and partners about important issues in Hong Kong.

2.4.5　Listening to the Neighbourhood E-newsletter and Other Publications

Listening to the Neighbourhood is circulated through the electronic media. It is through such e-media that HCKI can deliver messages about its programmes and the community’s social issues to churches in order to promote their concern, response and reflection on our faith.

We also compiled other written materials as “Bible Study for Single Mothers,” “Sermon Scripts and Prayer Sharing” and “Storytelling and Sharing.” They are regarded as valuable sources for sharing and exchange with Christians on the internet.

Jason Too Kin-wai, Davy Wong Mei-fung