About Us

• History
• The Hong Kong Council
• Our Belief
• Our Mission
• Conclusion
• Officers

The representatives met to draw up a scheme of union. Representatives from other denominations soon joint in. Subsequently, the churches in Canton declared in July 1919 the formation of The Guangdong Synod of the Church of Christ in China. Representatives from the Swedish Missionary Society, the Congregational Church, the London Missionary Society, the Presbyterian Church and the United Brethren also joined the declaration. In 1922, the Provisional General Assembly met in Shanghai and the unity movement gained further momentum. In 1927, the First General Assembly of the newly formed Church of Christ in China, which was attended by representatives from all over China, met in St. Mary’s Hall, Shanghai. In all, 88 commissioners attended, of whom 66 were Chinese and 22 were missionaries representing 11 denominations and 53 District Associations. This laid the foundation of unity on which the Church of Christ in China was built. The newly formed Church adopted a four-tier system: on the national level, the General Assembly; on the provincial level, the Synods; on the district level, the Associations; and on the local level, the churches.

The Second General Assembly met in 1930 in Baihedong, Guangdong. The Third General Assembly was held in Gulangyu, Xiamen, in 1933. And the Fourth General Assembly was held in Qingdao in 1937. In a period of 10 years, five synods and 34 associations were added to the union, making a total of 16 synods, 85 associations, 2842 local churches, 454 ordained ministers and approximately 130,000 communicants. Thereafter, World War II broke out and general assembly meeting had to be suspended until the war was over. There was an intention of calling a meeting of the Fifth General Assembly after the war, but because of the chaotic aftermath of the war and the poor condition of the land transportation system, the idea had not been materialized. In October 1946, an extended joint meeting of the Board members and deacons was held in Nanjing with 57 representatives attending. At that time, nation-wide, there were 20 Synods, 105 associations and 170,000 communicants. Altogether 17 Mission Boards from the West covering three continents were involved in the unity movement. They were the United Church of Canada, Women Missionary Society of the United Church of Canada, Presbyterian Church of Canada, Women Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, Congregational Church of America, Presbyterian Church in the United States (South), The Reformed Church in America, Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (North), Evangelical and Reformed Church, United Brethren, London Missionary Society, British Baptist Missionary Society, British Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Church of Scotland, Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and Presbyterian Church of Australia.

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The Hong Kong Council

The predecessor of The Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China was the Sixth District Association of the Guangdong Synod of the Church of Christ in China. Because of the political situation in China in the late 40s’, the Sixth District Association was unable to maintain a normal relationship with the Guangdong Synod. As a result The Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China was organized in 1953 in order to carry out its work independently. The governance was changed to a two-tier system, the council and the local churches, which membership included the churches, schools, and agencies of the Sixth District Association in Hong Kong, Kowloon, the New Territories and Macau. Also included in it were some new churches of the same background. However, these churches operated independently. The Council itself and some of the churches in the New Territories had to depend on the financial assistance of foreign missions. In 1955, subsidized by the mission boards, the Council was able to purchase an apartment in Carnarvan Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, as its headquarters. Many programs were still run by missionaries and financially supported by foreign missions.

The Council went through some fundamental restructuring in 1957. This included rewriting its constitution, strengthening the roles of its executive committee and employing more staff. In 1958, in order to expand its work, the Council was incorporated and registered as a non-profit making charity organization with the Hong Kong Government. In 1960, the new headquarters at 191 Prince Edward Road West, Kowloon, was built. This allowed the Council to further strengthen its operation. Between 1960 and 1965 the Council launched two “million-dollar fund raising” campaigns to help to build more churches and schools. In 1964, the Executive Committee passed a resolution to have the Council become self-supporting in 10 years’ time. In 1966, the Council called for a plan of “Consolidation and Renewal in Four Years, and Strengthening Development in Ten Years.” The Council became totally self-supporting in 1974, and the constitution was amended accordingly. In 1980, the Council formally announced herself a “three-self church” which means the church is now a self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating church. During this period of time the Council became a member of the World Council of Churches, the East Asian Christian Council (now the Christian Conference of Asia), and the Hong Kong Christian Council. In 1977 the Council also joined the Council for World Mission (formerly the London Missionary Society), sharing financial resources and manpower and participating in missionary work around the world. By virtue of its historical affiliation, the Council is a member of the World Methodist Council and the World Alliance Reformed Church, and continues to maintain a close relations with a number of other founding churches.

Due to the need for development, the constitution that was adopted in 1957 was amended in 1974 and again in 1997. The second amendment clearly defines three categories of membership: congregation, clergy and agencies, with detail outline of the responsibilities of each. The Annual General Assembly, which is the highest decision-making body of the Council, consists of all the ministers in office, representatives from the local congregations, directors of the Council’s agencies, school principals and delegates from affiliated organizations. Most members, together with 12 representatives elected during the Annual General Meeting, formed the Executive Committee and manage the Council when the Assembly is not in session. The Executive Committee is organized into six departments: the Church Administration Department, the Social Services Department, the Lay Training Department, the Mission Department, the Theological and Ministerial Department, and the Education (School Management Committee) Department. Chairpersons of these departments together with the Chairperson, Vice-chairperson, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Assistant Secretary, Hon. Treasurer and Internal Auditor of the Executive Committee formed the Standing Committee that plan all Council’s business. The Council also employs a General Secretary, an Associate General Secretary, and several Executive Secretaries to execute assignments from the Executive Committee and Departments.

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Common Dotrine

HKCCCC is an uniting church consisting mainly of churches with Congregational and Presbyterian traditions. Also included during its inception years were the London Missionary Society, British Baptist Missionary Society and others. They nevertheless share the same beliefs:

1. “Believe in Jesus Christ as our Redeemer and Lord on whom the Christian Church is founded; and in an earnest desire for the establishment of His Kingdom throughout the whole earth.
2. “Accept the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the divine inspired word of God, and the supreme authority in matters of faith and life.
3. “Recognize the Apostle’s Creed as the expression of the fundamental doctrines of our common evangelical faith.”

Any church wishing to join the union must observe the following principles:

1. Support the unity movement;
2. Emphasize on democratic participation;
3. Advance the three-self principles;
4. Believe in equal rights for both sexes;
5. Practice the principle of “Mutual respect, trust and sharing”

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Our Mission

For the last forty years, because of circumstantial needs, theme of work of HKCCCC might appear to have changed from time to time. However, the basic direction of thought and development remains closely within its main frame of reference. Following the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit, HKCCCC embraces “Partnership in Mission,” “Joint Action for Mission,” and “Sharing for Mission” which shows the Council’s willingness to share its manpower, financial resources, and vision with member churches to achieve its objectives of mission and service. The development of the Council can be described in three stages: Dependence, Independence, and Interdependence. Regardless of which stage of development the Council is in, its main goal is always trying to be the most worthy witness for Christ and to render glory to God.

The Council is a “three-self” church (self-support, self-governance, and self-propagation) and will always be so. In the stage of dependence, the church built its belief on the sufficient grace of God and was prudent in using its resources. In the stage of independence, the Council advocated a policy of simplicity. This means not to spend excessive time and resources and money on matters such as organization, rites, church polities and public relations. The emphasis is on everything for Jesus, that is, to raise the quality of work of its employees, to strength the efficiency and effectiveness of the Council, and to be ready for new involvement in evangelical work. In the stage of interdependence, the Council is willing to share the abundant gifts of God with those who are less fortunate. The Council has been raising money for such causes as preaching good news to the poor, caring for the weak, and serving the elderly. It also shares its resources with organizations in Hong Kong and overseas. It encourages its members to practice the spirit of sharing and caring, and to generously support those projects that eventually lead to self-supporting as well as on other ground-breaking development.

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Conclusion

Upon the return of Hong Kong to China, the Council becomes part of the Chinese church. Still believing in the absolute sovereignty and abundant grace of God, the Council continues to march forward in faith. The Council also hopes that all members of the Council will unite in one heart to work for church renewal, to benefit the society of Hong Kong and to give glory to God.

English version was translated by Mr. Hudson Soo (April 2004).

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Officers and Staffs

Last Updated: 2023/12/12

The Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China
Members of Standing Commitee
2023 to 2025

Ministries

• Laity Training Department
• Social Services Department
• Mission and Evangelism Department
• Theology and Ministry Department
• Education Department
• Special Projects

Laity Training Department

To promote joint training activities for the laymen in the CCC churches:

1. To plan and to promote activities related to the working theme of the Council.
2. To plan and to promote educational and volunteer training programs for the laymen in the churches of the Council.
3. To plan and to promote joint ministry for the youth and ladies’ groups in the churches of the Council.
4. To plan and to promote joint religious education training programs for the churches of the Council.

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Social Services Department

Vision

Together we nurture fullness of life;
Hand in hand we witness the love of Christ

Mission Statement

Be servants care for the suffered neighbours;
Be prophets advocate for a just society;
Be disciples commit side by side to the spirit of “Serving & Preaching” for blessing Hong Kong.

Core Values

Partnership in Mission, Joint Action for Mission, Sharing for Mission

Terms of Reference

1. To set policies and plan future directions for social services of the Council and to make recommendations and to submit reports to the Executive Committee.
2. To examine applications by the churches of the Council for subsidies for social service projects and to submit reports to the Executive Department.
3. To study and to respond to the Hong Kong social welfare consultation papers and to submit reports to the Executive Committee.
4. With the consent of the Executive Committee, to examine, employ, dismiss, and transfer salaried agency staff whose grades are below that of the supervisor/director and to decide on their contracts and salaries.
5. With the consent of the Executive Committee, to set up a committee to supervise and manage the daily operation of the agencies of the Council.
6. To recommend to the Executive Committee for a decision regarding the appointment, dismissal and transfer of the supervisors/director of the agencies.

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Theology & Ministry Department

Be responsible for the following affairs pertaining to theology, faith, ministers of the Word, and church polity.

1. To advocate the Council’s theological heritage, to expound the Council’s theological view points in matters pertaining to faith and work, and to set the direction for ministry of the Council.
2. To advocate and expound the Council’s tradition of and liturgy for the administration of the holy sacraments, to decide on the church order for the ordination of ministers and the installation of preachers, deacons and elders.
3. To interview and examine those candidates who wish to be ordained or received as ministers, or installed as preachers, of the Council; and those ministers and preachers from other denominations who wish to transfer to and serve in the Council.
4. To promote theological training for the Council and to assess the qualifications of those candidates who have made applications to the Council for scholarships to study theology.
5. To contact the ministers and preachers of the Council’s churches and to coordinate and process matters regarding their transfer of work places.
6. To investigate and handle cases concerning personal and professional misconduct of the Council’s ministers and preachers.

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Special Project – Macau Morrison Memorial Centre

Background

In 2007 the Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China celebrated the 200 Anniversary of Robert Morrison’s mission to China. In a series of events, the most significant one is the establishment of a Morrison Memorial Center in Macau to serve the community of Macau.

Originally, the Center is to be the Macau Liaison Office of The Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China, which mission is to liaise with the Christian bodies and other cultural and educational organizations in Macau to promote missionary, cultural, educational and social services in Macau.

Concept

To promote education in theology, with a view to achieving the ideal of “Priesthood of All Believers and Nation of Stewards”.

Goals

To train the Christians from knowing their faith to practicing their faith. .

Activities/Program

1. Faith Building Series
2. 34-weeks “Red Discipleship” curriculum in a local church or in the Center.
3. Diploma in Discipleship Theology (for laymen entering the ministry) – Co-organize with the Divinity School of Chung Chi College ,the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

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Members

• Congregations
• Secondary Schools
• Primary Schools
• Kindergartens
• Organizations

Congregations

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Secondary Schools

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Primary Schools

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Kindergartens

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Organizations

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Local Network

基督教文藝出版社
Chinese Christian Literature Council (CCLC)

世界傳道會／那打素基金
CWM-Nethersole Fund

香港中文大學崇基學院神學院
Divinity School of Chung Chi College, CUHK

香港華人基督教聯會
The Hong Kong Chinese Christian Churches Union (HKCCCU)

香港基督教協進會
Hong Kong Christian Council (HKCC)

Other Network

中國基督教協會 / 中國基督教三自愛國運動委員會
China Christian Council /
National Committee of Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China

亞洲基督教議會
Christian Conference of Asia (CCA)

世界傳道會
Council for World Mission (CWM)

台灣基督長老教會
Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT)

世界改革宗
World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC)

普世教會協會
World Council of Churches (WCC)

世界循道衛理宗協會
World Methodist Council (WMC)

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