The Birth of the Hong Kong Christian Institute

     The Hong Kong Christian Institute (HKCI) was born in 1988 out of a sense of urgent need as well as frustration among Christians-the need for sharing a common concern for the future of Hong Kong and active participation in it and frustration because the churches did not seem to be able to offer much guidance in this regard. The social concerns were controversial and often divisive. If the churches themselves did not take the risk in taking a stand or getting involved in social and political action, perhaps a voluntary agency like HKCI could be formed alongside the churches to help fill the need.

     Thus, 120 individual Christians came together to form HKCI as an ecumenical Christian NGO outside of the institutional constraints of the Church, a vantage point which has permitted more freedom to exercise the prophetic vision of the Church for Hong Kong.


Objectives

     To gather concerned Christians together and to enable them to make a continuing contribution to Hong Kong and the Church in Hong Kong.


Functions

• To be a Christian Center: to assist Christians to reflect on the Christian Faith and to act upon it.
• To be a Forum for Christians to share their views and experiences.
• To be a Support Base for Christians and Christian groups actively engaged in putting their faith into practice.
• To be a Think-tank: to search for directions in mission for Churches and Christians and to develop a contextual theology in Hong Kong.
• To be a Resource Center: to interpret the Hong Kong situation to overseas Christians and to introduce ecumenical activities and thinking to local Christians.
• To be a Sign of a continuing quest for human rights, democracy and justice.