(Continued on p. 2)

English Quarterly Newsletter

33 Granville Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Tel: (852) 2368-7123 Fax: (852) 2724-2131e-mail: hkcc@hkcc.org.hk Website: http://www.hkcc.org.hk

Editor:Judy Chan

HONG KONG CHRISTIAN COUNCIL

WELCOME REV. PROF. LO LUNG-KWONG!Rev. Prof. Lo Lung-kwong was appointed the General Secretary of HKCC beginning on July 1, 2018. Rev. Lo is an ordained minister of the Methodist Church, Hong Kong, serving as the denomination’s President from 2006-2012. He received his PhD from Durham University, UK and was the Director of the Divinity School of Chung Chi College, the Chinese University of Hong Kong from 1995-2014. Rev. Lo shares his re� ections in the following interview.

N&V: You have been associated with Hong Kong Christian Council for a long time. Are you surprised to fi nd yourself as General Secretary?

Rev. Lo: Oh, a shock! When I was approached last year by the Chairperson Rev. Dr. Eric So about taking up the General Secretary position, I initially said no. I still had major responsibilities at Shantou University in China, so I wasn’t free. However, when I look back to my years of ministry since 1976, it strikes me that HKCC has played an important role in my ministerial development. � e Council gave me many opportunities for ecumenical exposure when I was a young pastor.  � en, I was chairperson of the Mission and Social Concern Committee for nine years and a member of the HKCC Executive Committee since 1981, except from 1985-1988 when I studied in U.K. So, � nally, when I knew how di� cult it is to � nd a successor to Rev. Po Kam-cheong, I considered again. My duties at Shantou University � nished up this year,  but I still have some other responsibilities elsewhere. � us, I agreed to become General Secretary on a part-time basis for two years.

Rev. Lo Lung-kwong

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N&V: What do you hope to accomplish in the next two years?

Rev. Lo: � e Executive Committee has agreed on several priorities. One is our Five Loaves and Two Fish charity program. � is is one of our very important and chief ministries for the past 44 years. Our focus has been primarily serving in mainland China, but there have been changes for NGOs working there. We expanded to other countries like Myanmar and Cambodia, but we still want to serve the needy in China. So, we need to reform and refocus Five Loaves and Two Fish to meet the challenges of this day and age. Another priority is to follow up on the Sexual Harassment Report recently issued by the Gender Justice Group. � is is one of the hot issues seldom tackled by any church organization in Hong Kong. We also want to  contribute to developing human resources for mainland China churches especially among pastors and laypeople. � en we need to give attention to our Eco-concern ministry because Hong Kong has  many  pressing  “green”  issues related to development, land use and high population density. Last but not least is to explore long-term � nancial strategies in view of the current resources.

N&V: What does the Hong Kong community need most from the Church right now?

Rev. Lo: Actually, the community doesn’t look at the Church to meet its needs. But if you ask me what the Church can contribute to society, I would say it is to be a bridge between di� erent groups to help the seriously divided Hong Kong society come together, especially for the younger generation. We need to voice out love for people who are di� erent from us instead of seeing them as enemies. Can we learn to listen and try to understand, rather than only � ght for our own interests? We need communion but we also have the one country, two systems policy.  In the coming 29 years, Hong Kong and the rest of China will have to come together more and more, to merge, to learn how we can be di� erent but still live in unity. � e Church could be a signi� cant bridge to bring people in con� ict together for dialogue and conversation, because we are not serving our own interests but working for peace and reconciliation for the whole society.

N&V: What gives you hope about the future of Hong Kong and China?

Rev. Lo: � e hope I have is Christian hope. It’s not talking about being optimistic or pessimistic because we put our hope in the mission of God. History has shown that even in the darkest times, people had hope and  they  prevailed.  My hope is that HKCC can � nd the next General Secretary who can serve for a longer period of time, a younger person who will reach out to the young people. We need to build trust and respect among all the di� erent sectors of the community so we can move forward as a city and a country with the same spirit.

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(Continued on p. 4)

Tso Hiu-tung, Jessica

HKCC Tackles Sexual Harassment in Churches

In 2011, there was a case that shocked Hong Kong Christians. Ms. K was sexually assaulted by her boss, a married Christian man that she had trusted. When she went to her pastor for help, he told her not to tell anyone or report it to the police. He only o� ered to pray with her. Ms. K decided not to remain silent. In May 2012, she wrote her story and sent it to Christian Times, a Hong Kong weekly newspaper. � e publication of her story was a wake-up call to the Church that sexual violence happens locally among Christians too.

HKCC o� cially launched its own policy against sexual harassment in October 2013. It includes mandatory training  for all staff and the establishment of the Complaint Handling Committee. We then took up the role of promotion and education in the wider church. 

One question that repeatedly came up was, “How many actual cases of sexual harassment in churches are there in Hong Kong?” In response, the Gender Justice Group developed a questionnaire that was sent out to 1,230 Protestant Hong Kong churches in late 2014. However, only 12 local churches were willing to take part. I think this re� ects the general belief that churches are “holy”, sex is a taboo subject, and sexual harassment is not a serious problem among Christian institutions in Hong Kong. 

Nonetheless, in these past few years, the Gender Justice Group still kept receiving complaints of sexual harassment in churches. In most instances, the reported churches or organizations did not follow up on the case. � us, we initiated the project “Break the Silence—Collect Cases of Sexual Harassment within Churches” from August to October 2017. We aimed to explore the relationship between the experiences of church sexual harassment victims and the structure of church,  the  discourse of Christianity, and the culture of Christian community. � e goal is to provide concrete recommendations to churches, together creating a sexual harassment-free Christian community.

Below is a summary of some of our � ndings from over 50 responses from victims and � ve in-depth interviews.

Half of the responses (51%) reported that the perpetrator was a pastor or church leader; 35% reported that the perpetrator was a church friend. Around 85% of the responses were cases of sexual harassment by male perpetrators against female victims; 11% of them were by male perpetrators against male victims. Forms of sexual harassment reported included: “unwanted body contact, e.g., touch, grip, rub” (33%), “forced intercourse” (17%), and “sexual comments, jokes, or questions” (5%).  More than half of the victims (54%) had sought help from pastors, church friends, social service organizations or the police. Over half (56%) had changed to a di� erent church, or ceased to attend church. Around 30% still went to the same church.

How do we interpret these results? Here are some conclusions:

• Church structures: Hierarchical but familial relationships

� e key to sexual harassment is power inequality. More o� en than not, victims and perpetrator are in very di� erent positions in terms of authority, years of being in church, and their in� uence onthe church community. Perpetrators abuse the trust that comes with their positions of authority to force sex-related behaviors on victims. Close interpersonal relationships in church contexts make it even more di� cult for victims to speak up. 

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• Church people: Communities that reveal vulnerabilitiesChurch life puts much emphasis on communal bonding through revealing one’s emotions and developing close relationships. Perpetrators o� en violate in the name of care and render victims confused and puzzled in severe self-blame.

• Church narratives: Teachings quoted out of context“Forgiveness,” “repentance,” “in God’s time,” “obedience,” “waiting,” are repeatedly mentioned by the victims. Knowingly or unknowingly, perpetrators and church leaders dealing with sexual harassment incidents o� en quoted Christian teachings out of context. When the incident in question has not been justly handled, these dogmatic narratives would turn into barriers that hinder victims’ motivation to report and seek help, or even cause dissonance in their faith.   

• Church culture: Harmonious unityHarmony of interpersonal relationships is highly valued as an integral part to the testimony of church life. � e way that Chinese societies prize collectivity attaches additional weight to it. Many victims would hide their pain rather than disrupt the group harmony. Instead of encouraging them to speak up, churches would try to prevent them from seeking help or reporting to the police in order to protect the “standing” of the gospel and the church.

• Church narratives on gender: Gender stereotypingHeavily shaped by patriarchal culture, churches are prone to adverse in� uence of gender stereotypes. In particular, the experience and feelings of male victims are o� en dismissed and denied easily, leading them to hide themselves behind silence. Besides, the prevalent stereotypes of marital status in churches hold that married people are more mature and reliable than singles. When a single victim is to report a case against a married perpetrator, s/he o� en faces challenges to his/her truthfulness. Single victims are also likely inhibited from complaining because of their sympathy for the family of perpetrators. 

• Diffi culties when seeking help: Secondary victimizationDue to their ignorance about sexual violence or perception of sex as a taboo, some supporters (e.g., family, church friends, counsellors, and law enforcement units) tend to blame the victims as the cause of sexual violence. � ey might further silence the victims by justifying the behavior of perpetrators and denying the feelings of victims. Such lack of awareness leads to secondary victimization of victims.

• Victims’ expectations for churches: Confronting the issue and setting up mechanismsMost victims expressed their hope for churches to confront the problem of sexual violence, rather than shunning and neglecting it. � ey pointed out that if the church upholds a “harassment-free” stance, such emphasis will serve as a reminder to the whole faith community as well as potential perpetrators. � is also shows its willingness to confront the issue and listen to the victims.

A� er the release of the “Break the Silence” research, we have been encouraged that more church leaders and  local churches in Hong Kong are beginning to take the issue seriously. We have made a good start but there is still a great need for more training and networking for Hong Kong churches fully to come to terms with sexual harassment. If you would like to read the “Break the Silence—Collect Cases of Sexual Harassment within Churches” executive summary, you can � nd it online at https://goo.gl/S7Cwzo. 

Ms. Tso Hiu-tung, Jessica is Assistant Executive Secretary of Hong Kong Christian Council with responsibility for Gender Justice Ministry.

Press conference for report release Rev. Phyllis Wong, Ms. Jessica Tso, Ms. Linda Wong, Rev. Wong Ka-fai

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It is very di� cult for some elderly and disabled persons who live in old buildings without elevators to go outside. Some will stay home all day due to the di� culty in getting help. In view of this, our Shamshuipo Integrated Home Care Service is running a one-year project of Stair Climbing Service to help those in need. � e project is supported by the Keswick Foundation through the help of Hong Kong Council of Social Service. Two stories illustrate how the Stair Climbing Service has changed lives. Aunty Wu lives on the 6th � oor. She used to join a lot of church activities. However, she stopped going out because of frailty. � is service helped her to join church activities again. She was very excited. Uncle Yeung was hospitalized for two months. He is so eager to go home. However, the stairs hinder him from doing so. He was so happy to go home again with the aid of the service.

Our On Wah Day Activity Centre celebrated its 15th anniversary by holding an open day to share fun and joy with the public. It is hoped that through the performances and artworks of the mentally handicapped persons, the residents of the community will know more about them. � ere were di� erent programs on that day, which included booth games, djembe, towel exercise led by users, cookies and mosquito-repelling-bars making. In addition, there was a booth to sell handicra� s made the centre’s users. � e open day not only showcased the users’ talents, but also enhanced the understanding of the public about mentally handicapped persons.

Stair Climbing Service

Our Shamshuipo East Happy Teens Club helped the youngsters to make their dream come true. A group of eleven youths and social workers � ew to Taipei on July 17 for cycling around Taiwan. � ey had undergone 16 months of intensive training beforehand. � e tour started from Hsinchu and then went anti-clockwise round the Taiwan Island. � e 16 days of cycling were full of sweat and tears. � e youngsters rode along the coastline and climbed over big and small mountains. � e friendship and understanding among the youth were developed from the tour as they know this journey cannot be completed by one person. � eir success is the result of perseverance and the support of many organizations and individuals. � e Happy Teens Club strives for holistic development of children and youth and particularly care for the disadvantaged and the neglected teenagers.

Dream Faith – Taiwan Bike Tour

Open Day for On Wah Day Activity Centre

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“Hope in the Dark”Ecumenical Summer Internship Program

Leung Wai-manHKCC held the annual summer social pastoral internship program from June 12 to August 11, 2018. � e program aims to nurture Christian university and theological students to participate in the ecumenical movement. � e students are provided with internship and study experience through project-based learning, as they re� ect on Christian faith and practice in the relationship between justice and peace. � is year's study focused on the theme “Hope

in the Dark —� e Lord in Hong Kong”. A total of nine students participated, coming from di� erent backgrounds —four local students, two from mainland China, and one from Malaysia, studying at the Divinity School of Chung Chi College (CUHK); one student from B.A. in Religious Studies (CUHK); and one from Chang Jung Christian University in Taiwan. � is diversity allowed the group to share their individual experiences that would help to deepen the understanding of the situation in mainland China, Hong Kong and Asia to broaden each other's horizons. Eight churches and organizations provided internship opportunities including Kowloon Union Church, Hong Kong Christian Institute, Hong Kong Christian Council (Gender Justice Ministry), � e Church of

Christ in China Kei Shun Church of Love, Midnight Blue, Society for Indigenous Learning (SoIL), CSSA Alliance, and Hong Kong Citizens.

Among the seminars that were especially moving for the students was one on the topic of “Dialogue between Di� erent Sexual Orientations”. � is was the � rst direct contact that most of the students had with Queer � eology and the stories of same-sex couple, transgender person and intersex activist. � e seminar and discussion resulted in deeper theological re� ection and understanding of pastoral needs for di� erent sexual orientations.

Another stimulating seminar was on the topic of “Interfaith Dialogue – Buddhist and Catholic, Non Violent Communication (NVC)” with speakers from both religious traditions. � is was a special occasion as students came face-to-face with di� erent religions at the same time and learned how each approaches con� ict through peacemaking. It was a true experience of “harmony in diversity”.

On the exposure trips, students visited a farm in Taipo, where farmer and teacher Chu Sir introduced farm work to understand the issue of ecological justice. At the end, students picked a box of fresh vegetables, and then we made a lunch together in the church. What a great experience! � en, the School of Poverty Caring led an exposure, including sleeping on the � oor in the tunnel, scavenging for cardboards on the street, and experiencing the lives of the poor. A� erwards, each student gave a � ve-minute theological re� ection on the experience.

� e graduation ceremony concluded the program with worship and a fellowship meal hosted by the students. � ey invited friends and relatives involved in the ecumenical movement to join them to share the results of student internships as well as blessings with each other.

Ms. Leung Wai-man is HKCC Project O� cer for Ecumenical Formation.

Praying together

Sleeping rough

Farmers for a day

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� e Taizé Community in France is one of most important sites of Christian pilgrimage in the ecumenical movement. I had a chance to visit there for one week by joining the trip organized by Tao Fong Shan Christian Centre in summer of 2016. During the retreat, one Taizé brother met with all of us and introduced the Taizé Community. Some of us were fortunate to be invited by Brother Alois, Prior of Taizé, to have lunch with all the Taizé brothers. A� er coming back to Hong Kong, I received an email from one of the brothers that the Taizé Community would have the international youth gathering in Hong Kong in August 2018. In response,

the leaders of the Hong Kong Christian Council, the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese, and the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (SKH Anglican Church) wrote a joint letter to express the churches’ welcome and support. At the end of 2016, during the European Meeting in Riga, Br. Alois announced before 15,000 young people that a stage of the Pilgrimage of Trust and Reconciliation would take place in Hong Kong from August 8-12, 2018.

A� erwards, I met with Fr. Paul Kam of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, Rev. Dr. Lam Chun-wai of SKH, Brother Han Yol of the Taizé Community, as well as a group of youth who had lived for few months in the Taizé Community before. We engaged in some preliminary preparations, such as to propose potential churches for the morning prayer meetings in di� erent districts of Hong Kong. We also organized some meal gatherings and public activities to introduce Br. Han Yol and other Taizé brothers to various church leaders and laypeople and share about the Taizé Community and upcoming youth gathering. Whenever Br. Han Yol and his colleagues were in Hong Kong, they continued to visit di� erent denominations and churches to spread the news of the August meeting. From February of this year on, about ten brothers and volunteers came to Hong Kong and started the arrangement and logistics for the youth gathering.

Besides the assistance of promotion of the event and application for di� erent activities, HKCC was involved in the matter of visa application for participants. We sent out over 320 invitation letters to youths from various Asian countries to obtain a visa in their countries and we also stood as guarantor for a few participants to apply for visa to Hong Kong with the Immigration Department. At last there are 1,400 youths from almost 50 countries, mainly from Asia, Europe and North America, and 800 registered Hong Kong participants. � ough without mass promotion, over a hundred to several hundred local Christians who did not register beforehand, also came

Br. Alois giving address

Evening prayers

Wan Hoi-wingWan Hoi-wingWan Hoi-wingWan Hoi-wing

“Pilgrimage of Trust and Reconciliation” Taizé International Youth Gathering

Hong Kong 2018

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and joined the evening prayers every night, such as some of my colleagues and friends. � ey were deeply moved by the well-known Taizé songs, chants and periods of silent prayer.

� e arrangement of the youth gathering followed the pattern in Taizé: prayer meeting and bible studies were conducted every morning; various workshops at the a� ernoon, and prayer meetings at the evening. With the logistical challenges in

terms of venues and accommodation, the participants had to be scattered to about 300 host families and various dormitories in di� erent districts around Hong Kong. � erefore the participants would join the morning activities in the churches near their accommodation. Later they gathered at the Hong Kong Catholic Cathedral of � e Immaculate Conception or SKH St John's Cathedral, where the mid-day prayers were held and lunch was provided. � en they would join the workshops in di� erent places and come back to the Cathedrals to have dinner and evening prayer meetings.

Besides the Taizé workshops, the other a� ernoon workshops re� ected local Hong Kong culture. � ey included visits to the Chinese-styled Tao Fong Shan Christian Centre, the Hong Kong Museum of History, guided tour to various temples and localities as well as workshops to meet with the most vulnerable such as migrant workers and refugees in Hong Kong. Another arrangement is also worth mentioning. At the evening prayer meetings in Taizé in France, a cross would be laid on the � oor once a week for the participants to come forward, gathering around it and entrusting the burdens to Christ with body and heart. During the youth gathering in Hong Kong, the same arrangements were made on two nights. Hundreds of youth quietly lined up and the scene was very moving. � e Taizé Community invited church leaders from various traditions and denominations to attend the evening prayer meeting on August 10. Rev. Prof. Lo Lung-kwong of HKCC, His Eminence Cardinal John Tong Hon and the Most Rev. Michael Yeung Ming-cheung from the Catholic Church, � e Rt. Rev. Andrew Chan and � e Rt. Rev. Timothy Kwok from Sheng Kung Hui, and Rev. Wu Chi-wai from the Hong Kong Church Renewal Movement came and prayed together around the cross for the needy and those who su� er.

Although the gathering lasted for few days only, the participants shared with each other during the activities and leisure times and experienced with all together a true pilgrimage of faith. � ey developed the deep bond of friendships with the youths from worldwide and found it hard to say goodbye to each other. All looked forward to seeing each other again at the next Taizé International Meeting or going to visit each other on the other side of the world in the future. � e International Youth Gathering is closed, but a new “Pilgrimage of Trust and Reconciliation” has just started. A new chapter in the history of the ecumenical movement of Hong Kong has also begun!

Logo and photos courtesy of Taizé and WSCF, Asia Paci� c. Used by permission.

Helping hands of World Student Christian Federation, Asia Pacifi c

Mr. Wan Hoi-wing is Assistant Executive Secretary of the Hong Kong Christian Council.

Prayers around the cross

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