By MICHAEL POON
ONE hundred and one participants
from China, Britain, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore
met at Trinity Theological College (TTC) from Aug 10 to 13, 2005
to discuss Christian contribution to the society and nation today.
The "Seek the Welfare of the City" Conference was sponsored
by the Centre for the Study of Christianity in Asia (CSCA) of
Trinity Theological College, the National Council of Churches,
and Tyndale House, Cambridge. It took three years in planning.
The conference marked the first time in South-east Asia that leaders
from the state authorities, church and academy in China come together
to reflect on Christian contribution to society with Christian
leaders, leading biblical scholars and theologians in our region
and the West.
The opening ceremony of the conference, chaired by the Rev Dr
Ngoei Foong Nghian, the TTC Principal, was packed with participants
and students of the college.
Bishop Dr Robert Solomon gave the Welcome Address in his capacity
as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of TTC. He underlined
the social contribution of Christianity throughout history and
in the building of the Singapore nation.
The Guest-of-Honour, Mr Lim Siong Guan, Permanent Secretary of
the Ministry of Finance, gave an incisive presentation on "Religion
in Governing a Country: A Positive or Negative Factor?" He
challenged the audience to ask how religion could be "harnessed
to raise moral standards, social conscience and responsible citizenship"
in today's world.
Singapore 'an example
where peoples of
diverse cultures and
religions co-exist
in harmony', says China
religious affairs official
Mr Ye Xiaowen, Director-General of the State Administration for
Religious Affairs of the People's Republic of China, was the other
Guest-of-Honour. His address, "A Message of Peace and Harmony
from the East to the West", was the first public address
he made in his first visit to Singapore.
He began with the words "I had wished more Chinese people
would have the opportunity to learn about the valuable ethics
embodied in the Bible." He went on to affirm the positive
role that religions could play in building up a harmonious world.
He also praised Singapore as an example where peoples of diverse
cultures and religions co-exist in harmony. He envisioned a world
where unity and harmony would be achieved though dialogue, mutual
understanding and tolerance, and emphasised China's commitment
in building up a harmonious and peaceful world.
The conference sessions were held from Aug 11 to 13. Eleven academics
and church leaders delivered papers. The four keynote speakers
were leaders in their fields: the Rev Dr Cao Shengjie, President
of the Chinese Christian Council, Professor Oliver O'Donovan of
Oxford University, Dr Bruce Winter of Cambridge University, and
Professor Zhuo Xinping, Director, Institute of World Religions,
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. They set the pace in exploring
the theme under three headings: biblical perspectives, theological
and historical perspectives, and contemporary engagements.
Other speakers included the Rt Rev Dr Paul Barnett, Bishop Dr
Hwa Yung, the Rev Fr Kenson Koh, Dr Lee Soo Ann, Mr Richard Magnus,
the Rev Dr Michael Poon Nai-Chiu and Dr Tan Kim Huat. The Rev
Dr Daniel Koh Kah Soon, Lecturer in Christian Social Ethics and
Pastoral Theology at TTC and District Superintendent of TRAC District
West, chaired the session on "Historical and Theological
Perspectives". The conference papers are edited by CSCA,
and will be published next year by the Australasian Theological
Forum Press.
Other Methodists who participated in the conference included Mr
Chan Yew Ming, Dr Roland Chia, the Rev Chong Chin Chung, Mrs Kimhong
Hazra, Mr Richard Jeremiah, the Rev Khoo Cheng Hoot, Mr Leow Theng
Huat, Mr Lim Khay Tham, Ms Grace Toh, the Rev Wee Boon Hup, the
Rev Dr Yu Chin Cheak, and the Rev Lincoln Leung of Hong Kong.
The conference confirmed the servant role of Singapore churches
in promoting dialogue in East Asia and beyond. This "Singapore
Encounter" between Christian leaders from East and West was
marked with honest exchanges, earnest discussion, and Christian
charity.
The Centre for the Study of Christianity in Asia will continue
to work closely with local churches in reflecting on the nature
of Christian contribution in the young nations in our region today,
and on how to reinforce the moral and spiritual fabrics of our
society and nation.
Prof Zhuo and I agreed at the end of the conference to continue
the dialogue and cooperate in research projects in the years ahead.
The Rev Dr Michael Poon is Director of the Centre for the Study of Christianity in Asia at Trinity Theological College.
(Readers may wish to refer to the CSCA website http://www.ttc.edu.sg/csca/swc.htm for details on the papers presented at the conference.)