THE Rev Khoo Cheng Hoot, President of the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC), has urged CAC churches to stay focused in three ways in the new quadrennium.


In his Presidential Address on the opening day of the 29th Session of the CAC Conference on Nov 16, held at Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church, he called on the churches to:
STAY RELEVANT in a fast-changing society;
STAY CONNECTED through common goals, covenantal relationships and sharing of resources; and
STAY IN THE LORD to meet the challenges and reach out to the lost.


The Rev Khoo was re-elected President on the third ballot on the first day of the conference session, which began
with an early morning Holy Communion Service.


Bishop Dr Robert Solomon administered the Holy Communion. He was assisted by Bishop Emeritus Wong Kiam Thau; the Rev Khoo; the Rev James Nagulan, the newly-elected President of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference; the Rev Dr Isaac Lim, President of Trinity Annual Conference; the Rev Dr Daniel Lee Kok Pheng, City-East District Superintendent; and the Rev Chua Ooi Suah, City-West District Superintendent. The Rev Ho Yu Choy, Pastor-in-Charge of Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church, was the worship leader.


In his address before the election, the Rev Khoo told the conference: "We are facing a fast-changing society. Therefore, we must change in order to remain relevant. Faith in God can move mountains. The call of God must be obeyed if you want the power of God to work through you and the church.


"We have a responsibility to reach out to the Chinese population and immigrants," he said, adding that while English is the main working language, Hokkien is an effective dialect to use in evangelising the Chinese in Singapore."


Reminding the delegates that "we are a connected church", he said: "We need to keep ourselves connected internally and yet be relevant in a changing world.


"As a conference, besides having a vision, the people have to take ownership of our conference. The process begins with pastors; pastors train their lay leaders, and the leaders then train the people."


On the third point, he said: "Stay in the Lord. As the word was given to Joshua to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land - 'Take courage and be strong' - so let us move on as a conference with the same faith into the new quadrennium."


The Rev Khoo's seven-page address also highlighted some breakthroughs in the 2000-2004 quadrennium and dealt with plans and programmes for the new quadrennium.


The CAC now has 14 new preachers and 10 new elders, and there are more Local Ministry Staff in the local churches.


It is expecting 10 new graduates from Trinity Theological College in May 2005. With their addition, the CAC should have at least one pastor for each language or dialect group, and the ratio of pastors and church members will be about one to 200.


Churches have seen positive growth with the net growth in membership, after the removal of "lost members", being slightly more than 2 per cent.


The Rev Khoo said: "We are also building up relations between the local churches and the conference. Pastor-Parish Relations and Staff Committee dialogues and other sessions have brought about better understanding among one another."


Through the joint effort of the World Federation of Chinese Methodist Churches, of which the CAC is a founding member, more books on Methodism in the Chinese language have been printed. In addition, one has been translated into the Indonesian language and another into the Myanmar language.


Among future plans, Kum Yan Cantonese Methodist Church is raising funds to rebuild its sanctuary in 2005, and Geylang Chinese Methodist Church has committed itself to building a chapel in Geylang Methodist Secondary School in 2006.


Elder and
3 deacons
ordained
The guest speaker for the morning devotions throughout the four-day conference session was the Rev Dr Ezra Kok, Principal of Seminari Teoloji Malaysia, in Seremban.


The Rev David Liew Chuan Jih, Pastor-in-Charge of Hinghwa Methodist Church, was appointed the new City-East District Superintendent. He replaces the Rev Dr Daniel Lee Kok Pheng, who has been appointed Pastor-in-Charge of Bukit Panjang Methodist Church. The Rev Dr Lee, who had been the Pastor-in-Charge of Charis Methodist Church for the last nine years, replaces the Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan, who will be on sabbatical.


A newly-ordained Elder, the Rev Erick Tan Eng Ghee, was appointed the new Pastor-in-Charge of Chris Methodist Church to replace the Rev Dr Lee.


The Rev Chua Ooi Suah, Associate Pastor of Sengkang Methodist Church, was re-appointed the City-West District Superintendent.


Mr Goh Say Pin, Lay Leader of Geylang Chinese Methodist Church, was re-elected the Conference Lay Leader.


The conference session ended with a Service for the Installation of the Conference President and the Ordination of three Deacons and an Elder on Nov 19. The Rev See Ping Eik, Pastor-in-Charge of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, was the worship leader. Bishop Dr Robert Solomon gave the sermon entitled "Being A Pastor", which was interpreted by the Rev Goh Nai Lat, Director of The DISCIPLE Agency.


Following the installation of the Rev Khoo as President by Bishop Dr Solomon, Pastors Louis Chai Shung Chee, Chin Yan Chong and Susan Lim Bee Yong were ordained as Deacons, and the Rev Erick Tan Eng Ghee was ordained as Elder.

CAC PICTURES BY PHILIP LAM OF
GEYLANG CHINESE METHODIST CHURCH

The Rev Khoo presenting his Presidential Address. - CAC picture by PHILIP LAM of Geylang Chinese Methodist Church.


ABOVE: Ordination
of the three Deacons,
from left, Pastors Susan
Lim Bee Yong, Chin Yan
Chong and Louis Chai
Shung Chee.

LEFT: The Rev Erick
Tan Eng Ghee receiving
his Elder's stole from
Bishop Dr Solomon.
Looking on are his wife
Shanti and elder son.