Church Partnerships in Asia: A Singapore Conversation

CSCA Christianity in Southeast Asia Series, No. 3
Church Partnerships in Asia: A Singapore Conversation (Singapore: Genesis Books, 2010)

Edited by Michael Nai Chiu Poon

This collection of essays introduces readers to what is important to the character and forms of church partnership at the beginning of the twenty-first century, as viewed by major Asian Protestant church leaders. The essays are based on the papers presented in a conference on ‘Cooperation and Partnership in the Mission of Church in the 21st Century’ held in Singapore in 2009.

The Singapore conversation took place amid huge volatility in the first decade of the new millennium: the 9/11 attacks, SARS outbreak, Indian Ocean tsunami, the Nargis cyclone, Mumbai terrorist attack, the H1N1 pandemic, and the still evolving global financial crisis. Perhaps for the first time since 1945, Asian churches can no longer rely on their Western counterparts to provide intellectual leadership and material support. This book offers a missiological reading on the fresh directions that Asian churches take amid radical social and ecclesial reconfigurations in the globalising age.

Table of Contents

Introduction — Michael Poon

Part One: Biblical and Historical Reflections
Chapter One Bible Readings
The Liturgical Context of Mission (Romans 15:14-19) — Simon Chan
A Minister’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) — Mark Chan
Conflict and Co-operation (Joshua 22) — Gordon Wong
A Cup of Water: Mission for Transformation (1 Kings 17:8-16) — Yu Chin Cheak

Chapter Two On Volatile Grounds: A History of Church Partnerships in Asia — Michael Poon

Part Two: Present-day Asian Churches: Realities and Challenges
Chapter Three Co-operation and Partnership in the Mission of the Church in China — Gao Feng
Responses
— Iman Santoso, Indonesia
— Masaki Makito, Japan

Chapter Four The Life and Witness of the Church in Myanmar: Past, Present and Future — Stephen Than Myint Oo
Responses
— Surakit Kamonrat, Thailand
— Bolly Lapok, Sarawak, Malaysia

Chapter Five Mizoram Presbyterian Church: Practice of Co-operation and Partnership — Zosangliana Colney
Responses
— Khamphone Kounthapanya, Laos
— Wee Boon Hup, Singapore

Part Three: Case Studies on Partnership
Chapter Six Short-Term Mission Trips
The School of Biblical Teaching and Short-Term Missions in India — Paul Swarup
A Case Study of the Lutheran Church in Singapore — Terry Kee
The Best Practices Document: A Guide for Foreigners to Vietnam — Pham Dinh Nhan Daniel

Chapter Seven Sharing of Resources
Forms of Partnership in Myanmar — Mar Gay Gyi
Compilation of the Khmer Indigenous Hymnal and Khmer Discipleship Manuals — Barnabas Mam
The Korea Research Institute for Missions — Steven Moon

Chapter Eight Leadership Formation and Training
Leadership Formation and Training in Malaysia — Tan Kong Beng
Partnership of Asian Churches in the Twenty-first Century: Theological Education and Asian Culture — Kan Baoping

Chapter Nine Migrant Workers
Chen Li Presbyterian Church Local Thai Mission: Reaching Out to the Thai Migrant Workers in Singapore — Phua Chee Seng

Chapter Ten Bible Translation
The Bontoc Scripture Society — Daphne Marie Falag-ey
The Bible Society of India: Partnership in Scripture Translation — G. D. V. Prasad

Part Four: Concluding Reflections
Chapter Eleven Forging Friendships for the Witness of the Church — Kimhong Hazra
Chapter Twelve Into Deeper Levels of Communion: Apostles’ Passion, Martyrs’ Depth — Michael Poon

About the Contributors

Singapore-Malaysia Local Church History Projects Updates

• An Yuejin, Fu Jiahui and Lin Sikai, All Saint's Church, Singapore, 1967-1975) (Anglican) (从诸圣堂的创建看圣安德烈座堂华语教会早期宣教植堂事工 [1967－1975])
• Bin, Shengtai, Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church, Singapore (巴耶黎峇卫理公会历史[1937-1951]), Transcript of Interview with Ong Heng Kok
• Bin, Shengtai, All Saint's Church (Anglican) Singapore (新加坡圣公会诸圣堂史略)
• Che Junguo, Su Weifeng, Bai Yurong [Che Jun Guo, Soh Wai Foon, Pai Yuh Rong], 专访陈清福牧师
• Gao Yongliang, Wu Qingming, Li Xiangshi and Xu Shiqin, CNEC Glory Joy Christian Church, Singapore（福音自传会荣乐基督教会30年历史探究）
• Jin Jihuan, True Grace Presbyterian Church, Singapore (长老会真恩教会"1+1学生团契")
• Jin Shoulian, Chen Yuying and Li Jiyao, Orchard Road Presbyterian Church Mandarin Congregation (乌节路长老会华语聚会初期宣教的发展)
• Liang Baoping and Huang Guo'en, Kepong Chinese Methodist Church, Kuala Lumpur (马来西亚吉隆坡甲洞基督教卫理公会堂会发展史)
• Lin Xin'ai, Zhao Lanying and Zheng Leguo, Renewal Christian Church, Singapore (探讨"2040崇拜"在更新教会整体发展中的意义)
• Liu Xiuzhu, Huang Liyu and Zhu Peijin, Eric Yong Ching Fah and his Ministry at Saint Andrew's Community Hospital (从堂会牧师转型成为圣安德烈杜区医院的全职院牧: 杨清华牧师牧会的回溯)
• Lu Lixia, Saint Andrew's Cathedral Mandarin Congregation, Singapore (圣公会圣安德烈座堂华语部历史探索)
• Lű Hong, Foochow Methodist Church 卫理公会华人年议会福灵堂妇女服务团 1997-2007年概况
• Miao Wenjuan and Sun Mingren, True Grace Presbyterian Church, Singapore (长老会真恩教会的历史[1984－2005])
• Ruan, Liwen, Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, Singapore (从宋尚节博士在美以美会直落亚逸堂的奋兴布道会看教会的成长，以及教会对社会处境的回应)
• Tan Xiuhua, Chen-li Presbyterian Church, Johor Bahru (马来西亚长老会新山真理堂发展史)
• Wang Qi'an, Wang Ruiqin, Feng Jintao, Ngoi Ngie Huai and the Oasis Family Life Education Centre (魏义 发牧师家庭生活教育的理念与实践)
• Wang Keyun and Zhang Fuqiang, Wong Kiam Thau and Queenstown Methodist Church, Singapore (王聪光牧师与新加坡卫理公会女皇镇礼拜堂)
• Xie Li, He Qingying and Huang Weixiong [Xie Li, Ho Khon Yin and Wong Wai Hung], 陈有敬牧师访谈
• Xue Shuzhen, Li Limei, Huang Zhiping and Peng Xibin, Bukit Panjang Methodist Church Chinese-speaking section and the Implementation of "Purpose Driven Church" Programme (为何「目标导向教会」模式可以落实在卫理公会武吉班让堂华文部)
• Xue Xiaqiang, Wu Lizhen, Xie Cheng [Xue Xia Qiang, Ng Lai Chun, Xie Cheng], 长老会荣耀堂叶淑仁长老青少年时期信仰成长过程探究
• Yang Guoqun, Luehan Zhonghua Jidujiao Hancheng Jiaohui, Seoul, Korea (旅韩中华基督教汉城教会)
• Ye Aizhu, Xinshan Heping Presbyterian Jiaohui, Malaysia (马来西亚新山长老会和平教会)
• Yu Genshun, Huang Qinmei, Zhang Shaoqing [Yew Kong Song, Wong Kueng Mee, Teo Sau Ching], 基督教新加坡生命堂王卿云长老的信仰传承与其教会的发展之互动
• Zhang Li and Kuang Xiuting, Queenstown Baptist Church, Singapore (新加坡女皇镇浸信教会历史探究)
• Zhou Juejing, Tu Jianhua, Hong Jiejing and Mo Shaoling, Simon Neo and the Breakthrough Mission (梁西门和突破宣道之家)
• Zhou Yongjiang, Yu Dongxiao, Liu Changyao, [Zhou Yong Jiang, Yu Dong Xiao, Lau Chong Yaw], 追寻邱仁发牧师在担任会长时 (2001-2008年) 以门徒培训为宣教的理念

Issues of Law and Justice in Singapore: Some Christian reflections

CSCA Christianity in Southeast Asia Series, No. 1
Issues of Law and Justice in Singapore: Some Christian reflections (Singapore; Armour Publishing, 2009)

Ed. Daniel K. S. Koh and Kiem-Kiok Kwa

Introduction Issues of Law and Justice in Singapore: Some Christian Reflections

Part One: Theological and Biblical Framework

Chapter One Justice: A Christian Social Ethical Perspective — Daniel K. S. Koh

Chapter Two Random Reflections on Law and Justice in the Bible — Gordon Wong

Part Two: Some Issues of Law and Justice

Chapter Three Criminal Law, Punishment and the Christian — William Wan

Chapter Four Religion and Abortion Discourse in Singapore — Tan Seow Hon

Chapter Five Reflections on the Law of Marriage & Divorce in Singapore — Debbie Ong

Chapter Six “To Act Justly, To Love Mercy...” Reflections on the Social Principles of the Methodist Church in Singapore — Kiem-Kiok Kwa

Chapter Seven Attending to the Weightier Matters of the Law: Faith, Hope and Love in the Public Square — Thio Li-ann

A Selection of books for Further Readings

Christian Movements in Southeast Asia: A theological exploration

CSCA Christianity in Southeast Asia Series, No. 2
Christian Movements in Southeast Asia: A theological exploration (Singapore: Armour Publishing, 2010)

Ed. by Michael Poon

Table of Contents

Introduction The Theological Locus of Christian Movements in Southeast Asia — Michael Poon

Chapter One Folk Christianity and Primal Spirituality: Prospects for Theological Development
— Simon Chan

Chapter Two Situating Southeast Asian Christian Movements in the History of World Christianity
— W. John Roxborogh

Chapter Three Present-day Independent Christian Movements: A South Asian Perspective
— Roger E. Hedlund

Chapter Four Understanding Southeast Asian Christianity — Roger E. Hedlund

Chapter Five A Missiological Reflection on Present-day Christian Movements in Southeast Asia — Charles E. Farhadian

Chapter Six Documentation and Ecclesial Deficit: A Personal Plea to Churches — Andrew F. Walls

Popular Spiritual Movements in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia: A Select Bibliography for Seminaries — Compiled by Michael Poon and W. John Roxborogh

CSCA Christianity in Southeast Asia Series

CSCA Christianity in Southeast Asia Series

Series editor: Michael Nai-Chiu Poon

(Published by Armour Publishing and Trinity Theological College, Singapore)

The CSCA Christianity in Southeast Asia Series consists of commissioned studies on present-day Christianity in Southeast Asia; specifically in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Contributors to this Series are mainly drawn from those in senior Christian leadership in the region. The papers presented here have often benefited from discussion in the regional conferences organised by the Centre for the Study of Christianity in Asia.

This Series aims to encourage much-needed theological reflections by local Christian practitioners on their own mission experiences. The past few decades has witnessed two significant shifts that have impacted how world Christianity is interpreted. First, social sciences now provide the fundamental categories for understanding religious worlds. Philosophical and theological disciplines are often dismissed as ideologically motivated and so no longer occupy the central role they once assumed. Secondly, world Christianity is now studied by academics who may have little first-hand cross-cultural and missionary experience; and even with no Christian conviction. This represents a significant change from the time when career missionaries were the chief exponents of world Christianity. Stephen Neill, John V. Taylor, Max Warren and Andrew Walls were perhaps among the last missionaries in the post World War II era from the old school. Missiological studies so runs the risk of becoming increasingly theoretical and academic, with little understanding of ground realities. World Christianity is often described and explained in concepts that may be alien to the Christian community. To be sure, these newer forms of scholarship have enriched and challenged our understanding of present-day Christianity. However, Christians cannot abdicate their own theological task in striving for an account of their own faith and mission tasks in Christian terms. This we owe to the faithful and to the wider communities we serve.

This Series hopes to introduce what Southeast Asian Christians think to the wider audience, in the hope that this would contribute towards a more rigorous account of world Christianity.

Published:

• No. 1 Daniel Koh and Kiem-Kiok Kwa, eds. Issues of Law and Justice in Singapore: Some Christian reflections (SGD 30)
• No. 2 Michael Poon, ed. Christian Movements in Southeast Asia: A theological exploration (SGD 20)