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Member Church News
CWM Welcomes the New Year with Staff Holy Communion Service “The Holy Seed of Remnants”
Council for World Mission (CWM) held its New Year Worship Service with Holy Communion during the staff devotion on 10 January 2022 at 5:00 PM Singapore Time, attended virtually by CWM global staff from various regions. The General Secretary, Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum, delivered the sermon, followed by the Holy communion service led by Rev. Julie Sim, Mission Secretary to East and South Asia. The staff members brought their own communion elements signifying cultural diversity and participated in the communion remembering Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection as a sign of hope in the midst of the ongoing pandemic.
During his sermon titled “The Holy Seed of Remnants”, the General Secretary spoke about three theological terms: “remnant”, “revival”, and “renewal”.
The term “remnants” echoes the biblical reference to Israelites who remained faithful to their covenant with God in Babylon, during a time when Israel and Judah remained divided kingdoms enslaved by foreign powers. Speaking from Isaiah 6:8-13, he said, “Even when the world is like a “cut-down tree” and there seems to be no hope, God still preserves “the remnants” as “the stump” and “the holy seed” in order to work through them.
The second term, “Revival”, refers to Isaiah’s promise that the remnants would return to Jerusalem for a God-given purpose after their Babylonian exile, where they will truly rely on the Lord, and not on secular power – a promise made concrete in the restoration of the Temple.
While the temple’s reconstruction symbolised the “revival” of faith in Yahweh, the remnant community of Israel had to undergo “Renewal”, or social transformation, to establish a fair and just society.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, mission works are like the ‘cut-down trees,’ with their activities curtailed. Dr Keum emphasised Isaiah’s promise that God still preserves “The Holy Seed of the Remnants” for the renewal and revival of the inhabited earth and asked, “Who shall be the remnants for God’s mission?”
In a world where accumulation of power and wealth and survival of the fittest is the norm, God chooses the poor, foolish and powerless (1 Corinthians 1:18-31) to further His mission of justice and peace so that life may flourish.
Believing that God has chosen CWM as the holy seed of remnants, Dr Keum called the staff members to be the ‘transforming disciples’ who constantly open to being transformed, individually and communally, into people who reflect the Lord Jesus in their words, actions, and attitudes. He highlighted that in our discipleship journey, “we are privileged to join in the mission of the Triune God, working together towards life, living out the values of the Kingdom of God, and engaging in mission from the margins.”
Dr Keum had also emphasized vulnerability in mission, a concept which requires us to confront with every theology and mission strategy that glorifies money, power, success and greed, and to find practical ways to live as one Body of Christ, knowing that God opposes the proud, welcomes and empowers the poor and afflicted, through the power of the Holy Spirit manifested in our vulnerabilities.
Finally, Rev. Dr Keum exhorted the staff, as transforming disciples, to proclaim the hope and joy that God is creating from the margins. As he closed, he reminded, “In the midst of agonies, despair, and cries of life in this pandemic-stricken world, it is our mission to seek alternative values, ways of life, and communities to reveal the shalom in God’s kingdom on earth by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
The sermon was followed by intercessions and the Holy Communion before the worship service was closed by General Secretary’s benediction.
AFRICA Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA) Moderator’s letter on the passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu
The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA) Moderator Right Rev. Sipho J Mtetwa, was among those who paid tribute to the late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Prize Laureate for his anti-apartheid work in South Africa. In the UPCSA Moderator’s statement, he saluted Archbishop Tutu as a “courageous and fearless leader of the laos (people) in South Africa and the globe, who fought fiercely and relentlessly against apartheid as though each day was his last on earth”.
Image by Peter Williams, WCC.
An epitome of what it meant to “act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8), Rt Rev. Mtetwa said that the late Archbishop stood for justice, peace and reconciliation for the “rainbow nation” of South Africa and the world. “We celebrate his life of integrity and ethical leadership within the Anglican Church, within the ecumenical movement in South Africa and beyond, and within the international community of Christian leaders the world over,” he added.
Investment policy and tree-planting initiative covered in United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Synod Bishop’s Message
Rev Sydney Sichilima, United Church Of Zambia Synod Bishop Image by UCZ
The United Church of Zambia (UCZ) has “adopted the missional approach by placing emphasis on congregations where mission takes place and the higher courts be merely coordinating bodies”, said the UCZ Synod Bishop in his Advent Message last December. Rev. Bishop Sydney Sichilima was updating the church about an investment policy crafted to avoid the situation of the Church being fully dependent on church members’ financial offerings. With the COVID-19 pandemic upending traditional ways of doing church and mission, “the idea is that at every court of the Church, different fundraising activities should take place in order to make the church financially sound to carry out mission effectively”, said Rev. Bishop Sydney Sichilima.
Having witnessed floods and droughts that adversely affected food security in Zambia, the church leaders had also agreed to a prior plan to plant trees in mission stations to do their part in mitigating the effects of climate change and deforestation. He called on church members to “exercise prudent stewardship by caring for nature”, and to avoid activities damaging to the environment.
Image by UCZ
SOUTH ASIA Identify people and concerns that have been overlooked, says Church of South India (CSI) General Secretary in Christmas Message
Church of South India (CSI)’s General Secretary, Rev. C. Fernandas Rathina Raja has encouraged church members to identify people and genuine concerns that have been overlooked, so as to take steps to find out or
redeem what has been lost, during the Christmas season.
Image by CSI Life.
Citing the example of the Shepherd in the parable of the lost sheep who took risks and strenuous efforts to make his flock whole, the CSI General Secretary urged church members to identify themselves with the lost, suffering, oppressed, abandoned and neglected just like Jesus did. When Christians surrender to God and are willing to be used by Him to reach out to those who are socially, economically and spiritually left alone even if this results in criticism or our suffering, the church can then remain whole, he said.
Medical camps in Rayalaseema Diocese, Coimbatore Diocese, and Trichy-Tanjore Diocese
CSI Christ Church, Tarigonda, Gurramgonda Mission organised a Community Medical Camp, assisted by Mary Lott Lyles Hospital (MLLH), Madanapalle in CSI Rayalaseema Diocese last August. This was based on their new missional engagement as part of active accompaniment through grassroots outreach efforts. Similarly, medical checkups, diagnoses, awareness education were provided by CSI Trichy-Tanjore Diocese at Karatupathi Village near Amaravathy Dam, Udumalaipettai and by CSI Coimbatore Diocese for the village people in Kolli Hills last September.
PACIFIC Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ) collaborates with partner churches to offer support after Tonga’s volcanic eruption
Rev Sydney Sichilima, United Church Of Zambia Synod Bishop Image by UCZ
Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ) has expressed “deep concern” and “its heartfelt prayers” for the people of Tonga following the eruption of a massive underwater volcano on Saturday, which triggered tsunami waves around the Pacific. In a statement released on 18 January, PCANZ said that it is working collaboratively with Christian World Service and partner churches in New Zealand to assist Tongans in practical ways by providing food, water, and other necessities. Further information about an appeal will soon be available.
Pacific Islands Churches continue to voice prayers of support and care for Tongans
Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) General Secretary Rev. James Bhagwan has called for prayer for Tonga and “our Pacific household of God in these challenging times of activity in the Pacific Ring of Fire, cyclone season, COVID-19, all continuing to be exacerbated by climate change”.
This came as the situation in Tonga after the volcanic eruption was initially unclear since “most outside communication was disrupted and only satellite phone is accessible to a few”. Fiji and many other Pacific islands and Pacific Rim countries were affected by the tsunami and tidal surges that followed the eruption.
See Jesus’ coming in this unsettled, COVID-riven Christmas time as a divine signpost, says PCANZ Moderator
In the PCANZ Moderator Rt Rev. Hamish Galloway’s Christmas Message, he
wrote about what Bible scholar NT Wright identified as “signposts” to life such as justice, love, beauty and freedom, which are broken by our personal, collective and global failures. This contributes to the sense we have of life not being as we know it should be. Wright goes on to show that the coming of Jesus depicts “how God is putting things right again, and how we can be part of this restoration”.
Image by Peter Williams, WCC.
The PCANZ Moderator concluded with the encouraging question: “Could we see the coming of Jesus in this unsettled, COVID-riven Christmas time as a huge signpost in divine lettering? A majestic sign that …
God has arrived on planet earth
Fixing broken signposts
Pointing the way
Calling us to join in”.
Read Rt Rev. Hamish Galloway’s full letter at https://www.cwmission.org/ wp-content/uploads/2021/1 2/PCANZ-Moderators-2021Christmas-message.pdf
EUROPE Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN)’s initiatives for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Image by PKN
On the eve of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from 18-25 January, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN) organised a national prayer programme to gather pastors of churches around Netherlands to pray for issues arising from the pandemic and the polarisation it is causing in families, faith communities and society. Having received prayer pointers from partner organisations and churches which offer help to those suffering from violence, injustice and oppression, PKN will publish a new prayer written by pastors each day.
Image by PKN
This year’s materials are prepared by the MECC - The Middle East Council of Churches, on the hope and joy in Matthew 2:2 “We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him. The Magi have sometimes been seen as a symbol of the world’s diversity – different religions and cultures – that comes to pay homage to the Christ-child, and the resources affirm “a light to lead the way to the Saviour who is the light that overcomes darkness”.
PKN’s Easter outreach campaign to those imprisoned
Every year, prisoners in the Netherlands and Dutch people imprisoned abroad are sent an encouraging Easter greeting card, as part of PKN’s Easter greetings campaign. During Lent, PKN and Kerk in Actie organise for tens of thousands of Easter cards to be bought, written, and sent to prisons by municipalities. This year’s theme is “Your light heals what is broken”.
Image by PKN
Gerry van Wijngaarden, who coordinates the campaign, shared a prisoner’s perspective of it being “a little compassion, a handful of love”, especially since it’s one of the few connections they have with the outside world. With the Easter greeting card, inmates
receive an extra card with a stamp that they can use to send mail to their family.
Easter greetings for prisoners. Image by PKN
For more information, please visit https://protestantsekerk.nl/n ieuws/paasgroetenactie-stu ur-gedetineerden-een-bemo edigende-groet-met-pasen/?
Union of Welsh Independents (UWI) General Secretary’s New Year’s Message
UWI General Secretary Rev Dyfrig Rees. Image by UWI
The last two years was the first time in the Union of Welsh Independents (UWI)’s history with chapels closed for extended periods of time, breaking the link between buildings and their congregations, said the UWI General Secretary Rev. Dyfrig Rees in his New Year’s Message. However, the way ministers and congregations rose to the challenge to use virtual means to hold services “created a new dynamic and re-energised churches”. For example, a pre-recorded Welsh language church service attracted higher viewership, even after pandemic restrictions eased.
In Rev. Rees’ message, he also repeated the invitation to tap into the Innovation and Investment Fund, reminding them that the church is a body of believers, not merely a building. While developing a stronger online presence, it enables congregations to explore innovative ways to extend the use of their buildings in the community. He expressed his belief that for some churches, 2022 heralds the start of a new era of embracing a new, exciting approach to practising Christian faith amongst the congregation and in the community.
Read the full message at https://annibynwyr.org/the-g eneral-secretarys-new-years -message/
After the fatal stabbing of MP Sir David Amess in a Methodist Church building, the United Reformed Church (URC) has shared a resource on safety guidance for religious buildings from the government’s Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure. The resource focuses on two main areas of security-minded communications – ensuring those with malicious intent are not unintentionally given useful information, and showing how to use communications to deter these individuals.
A photograph of Conservative British lawmaker David Amess, who was fatally stabbed, is pictured prior to a service at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, a district of Southend-on-Sea, in southeast England on October 15, 2021. [Photo/Agencies]
It contains practical advice such as using community bulletin boards to display posters promoting community vigilance, being ambiguous about when the venue is being occupied, and avoiding posting images that the extent of your security features.
Download the resource at: https://www.cwmission.org/ wp-content/uploads/2021/1 2/Security-guidance-for-chur ch-buildings.pdf
The Hong Kong Council of The Church of Christ in China (HKCCCC) is one of the founding members of CWM in 1977 as well as presently the only member church of CWM in Hong Kong.
A Centennial Movement of Church Unity Background
In the 19th and early 20th Century, China was suffering from Imperialism and Colonialism, particularly that from the West. Christianity was accused of being an instrument of this Imperialism and Colonialism. Church leaders in China jointly advocated the movements of unity, indigenisation, and Three-Self: Self-Governing, Self-Supporting and Self-Propagating. In 1918 in Nanjing, China, The Presbyterian Church in China invited representatives from The Congregational Church and London Missionary Society (LMS) to discuss the agenda of unity. In 10-14 January 1919, delegates from The Presbyterian Church, The Congregational Church and LMS with the representatives from the British Baptist Church and the Quakers met in Nanjing to discuss the draft of a United Christian Church in China. In 1927, the First Assembly of The Church of Christ in China was officially convened.
Structure of The Church of Christ in China
National Assembly, Provincial Synods, District Councils, Local Churches.
Founding Churches of The Church of Christ in China (CCC)
The Presbyterians, The Congregationalists, LMS, The British Baptist, The United Brethren, The Swedish Missions, The Berliner Missions.
Establishment of the HKCCCC
1949 The People’s Republic of China was founded. 1950 Missionaries were forced to leave China. 1954 CCC local churches in Hong Kong had to separate from the Guongdong Synod. Hence the Hong Kong Council of The Church of Christ in China (HKCCCC) registered as an independent Church body in Hong Kong. Since Hong Kong is a city, the churches of CCC in Hong Kong and Macau comprised as the church body known as Hong Kong Council.
Confession of Faith and Principles of Union of HKCCCC The Doctrinal Basis
1) In our faith in Jesus Christ as our Redeemer and Lord whom the Christian Church is founded, and an earnest desire for the establishment of His Kingdom throughout the whole earth; 2) In our acceptance of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the divinely inspired word of God and the supreme authority in matters of faith and duty; 3) In our acknowledgement of the Apostles’ Creed as expressing the fundamental doctrines of our common evangelical faith, which faith has been the heritage and strength of the Christian Church through all its history.
Principles of Union of HKCCCC
1) Support the Unity Movement 2) Emphasize on Democratic Participation 3) Advance Three Self Principles 4) Believe in Equal Rights of Genders 5) Practice the Principles of “Mutual Respect, Trust and Sharing”.
Membership of HKCCCC
In 2016 HKCCCC has a total baptised membership of 36,000, 74 local churches, over 38,000 students enrolled in 80 schools and 10 several service units serving around 100,000 people per year.
Principles of Mission Strategy
1) Following the mission statement of Jesus Christ: Preach the good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, recover of sight to the blind, set at liberty those who are oppressed and proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord 2) Serving God and serving the people: sharing God’s love to the communities in Hong Kong and Mainland China 3) Doing God’s mission in partnership with others 4) Equipping every local church to be a missional congregation.
New Initiatives in Capacity Development and Mission Programme Capacity Development Building Life-Affirming Communities (since 2014)
As of 2017, there are 80 schools under HKCCCC with over 38,000 students enrolled. Under the education vision: 「Together we nurture fullness of life, hand in hand we witness the love of Christ」, HKCCCC has been given the task of addressing these community issues by serving through their schools at least 40,000 families. Through the ministry for Building Life-Affirming Communities, people could receive the promise of the fullness of life from God.
There are 22 HKCCCC churches which have been carrying out the project on the campuses of 12 secondary schools and 10 primary schools respectively. In order to implement the ministry of the project, ministers and members of the churches have to be trained by taking courses and attending seminars. Up to 2016, there have been 61 pastors trained and 22 teams are now serving on the campuses. Ministers and church members involved in the project are the trained persons and being equipped to be facilitators.
