34^TH SESSION OF THE CHINESE ANNUAL CONFERENCE: NOV 9-12, 2009

CAC President identifies 2010 challenges

IN HIS FIRST ADDRESS as President of the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC), the Rev Dr Chong Chin Chung recalled the blessings he had received during the past year and identified a number of challenges and concerns for the coming year.

One challenge is to strengthen the bonds of local churches with the Annual Conference.

Another challenge is the future development of Changi Methodist Church whose leaders expressed their vision to plant a church in Punggol, reaching out to the community by preaching the Gospel and making disciples. The Rev Dr Chong prayed that the Holy Spirit would inspire everyone to pool human resources to bring this to fruition.

Yet another challenge is the completion of the final lap of Sengkang Methodist Church’s fund-raising towards its church building project. Of the $1.5 million still outstanding, Sengkang MC has agreed to raise $700,000, leaving $800,000 to be supported by the rest of the churches of the Conference.

The Rev Dr Chong also highlighted the need to work together to fulfil the mandate expressed by the Conference theme – to be a disciple-making church by studying God’s Word, by showing mercy, by acting justly and to be ready to be sent forth in mission. Thus, Bible study was particularly relevant, and local churches should review or continue to use existing materials beneficial to their members like the familiar DISCIPLE Bible Study and the newly-launched Companions in Christ by the Board of Discipleship and Nurture which will be conducting training for DISCIPLE facilitators.

He also stressed the need to deepen the understanding of Wesleyan distinctiveness, especially in the spiritual disciplines and proclaiming the faith in the church, community and society. To understand and fulfil our duties as citizens in the light of Wesley’s teachings, the Conference will be holding regular teaching sessions led by a team of clergy and laymen to teach his doctrines as well as to look into The Book of Discipline. Current and new stewards and those involved in various ministries are encouraged to sign up for the classes.

Of significance during the past year was the re-zoning of the Conference into three Districts. At the Special Conference, the Executive Board’s proposal to re-zone the 16 local churches into three Districts was accepted: East, Central and West, of which the Rev Dr Goh Nai Lat, the Rev Khoo Cheng Hoot and the Rev See Ping Eik will be their respective District Superintendents.