Lively exchange at 125^th Anniversary Dialogue

The three challenges MCS faces

Stories by Peter Teo

THE METHODIST CHURCH IN SINGAPORE (MCS) faces three challenges today as it celebrates its 125^th Anniversary.

It needs to:

·         Acknowledge God’s absolute authority and supremacy in our lives, both personally and corporately;

·         Strengthen our “togetherness” both as a spiritual reality and as an operational reality; and

·         Widen and deepen our mission that should be engaged in by all Methodists.

This was stated by Bishop Dr Robert Solomon when he was rounding off the presentations at a Dialogue he and the three

Annual Conference Presidents held with the Methodist family at Paya Lebar Methodist Church on May 21.

Touching on the implications for the MCS now and in the future, he said the issue of authority would be a growing challenge. We have to safeguard the authority of the Bible; we have to manifest the authority of the Lord in our lives; and we have to consider what forms of authority we should have in the church – for example, Can the church be fully democratic? Is that the biblical way?  

On connectionalism, he asked whether we should re-organise ourselves to strengthen our connection so as to function more effectively, and how we should effectively keep and disciple the next generation.

As for our mission, he wondered what steps we should take in the coming years, for example, how should we reach out to new Singaporeans such as migrant workers, expatriates and Permanent Residents.

          

The Dialogue was a no-holds barred session, and the 300 or so pastors and church leaders who turned up went home happy and satisfied given the time and circumstances in which it was held.

It was the first Dialogue of its kind to be held. The panel speakers dealt with topics based on the theme of the 125^th Anniversary of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS), “Together in God’s Mission”. Those who came were only disappointed that the session, which started at 7.30 pm and ended at 9.45 pm, was too short.   

 

The moderator, the Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian, Chairman of the Council on Communications, took questions from the floor, and they were answered by the panel. It was one of those rare occasions when a good number of questions were raised at a fast pace.

The first speaker, the Rev Dr Chong Chin Chung, who dwelt on the topic being “Together”, plunged head-on into the importance of forging “Togetherness” in the ministry and life of the MCS.

Speaking in Mandarin, the Rev Dr Chong, who is the President of the Chinese Annual Conference, referred to the May 2010 issue of the Episcopal Letter in which, he said, the Bishop’s “clear expounding of the meaning of ‘togetherness’, with its scriptural basis, as well as the exhortation to all in the Methodist family, is inspiring reading”. 

Basing his talk on the three points raised in the Bishop’s article – Spiritual togetherness, Operational togetherness and Visible togetherness – the Rev Dr Chong said: “In order to have a testimony of unity and togetherness and to make optimal use of resources, members of an organisation must strive and work as one. This is all the more true of The Methodist Church in Singapore – a connectional church.”

He touched on the lack of support given to events organised by the Annual Conferences or the General Conference. He pointed out that pastors and leaders participate enthusiastically in the affairs of their local church because they feel connected with their own church and they identify with their work.

In the second talk, the Rev James Nagulan, President of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference, looked at the Word “God’s” in the theme “Together in God’s Mission”.

He said that mission in every sense of the word is the work of God amongst His people.

Said the Rev Nagulan: “We are pleased that God has blessed us with such rich resources in the Methodist Church. When we avail ourselves to God and His Spirit to teach and guide us we will begin to see the witness of the Holy Spirit in our own lives and the Methodist Church.

“And as we continue in this work that was begun 125 years ago with His people – His missionaries, the early Methodists – we are joined together in the great scheme of God’s work, God’s mission in this part of the world. This mission of God continues for His purpose and for His Glory.”

The third speaker, Trinity Annual Conference President Rev Dr Wee Boon Hup, emphasised that every follower or disciple of Christ is “sent off on a mission”.

This sending is not to places, as is often thought of in world missions, he said. It is sending to the various conditions or situations of things in this world and into the lives of people. It is a sending not to a geographical place, but to the various worlds in which we live.

“For example, the world of the migrant construction worker is different from the world of the domestic helper. The world of the middle-class Singaporean corporate banker is different from the world of professional artiste, musician or person who works in the entertainment industry. Every industry is in fact a different world.

“Every disciple of Christ lives in one of these overlapping worlds, and is sent to spread God’s Kingdom in each of them.”

Mission, therefore, is not just the work of people who are professional in missions, like pastors, full-time workers, church staff, and missionaries, nor only the concern of people elected to serve in the leadership of the local church or agencies.

“Every disciple of Christ is sent off on a mission. In today’s context, when we neglect to instil into every believer that wherever he is sent, he is there on a mission from God, we have wiped out the largest missionary force on earth, the ordinary believers in Christ,” added the Rev Dr Wee.

Peter Teo is the Editor of Methodist Message.