46th Session of the Chinese Annual Conference
We praise God for the successful run of the 46th Session of the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) from 15 to 18 November 2021. In a manner similar to last year, this year’s conference was held both online as well as onsite, at Hakka Methodist Church (HKMC). We give thanks to God for our host church, HKMC, for their hospitality and significant support throughout the 4 days.
In his President’s address on the 2nd day of the 46th Session, Rev Dr. Gregory Goh drew attention to a couple of significant projects and ministries that CAC has recently undertaken. A new taskforce was formed by the Executive Board, for the purpose of developing a streamlined disciple-making pathway that our Local Churches can follow. President Goh also shared about the initiative of the Four Denominations Council of Chinese Churches to develop a set of Chinese Sunday School curriculum—teaching materials that will be better suited for children in Singapore. Setting aside the desires for the Covid-19 pandemic to be over, President Goh appeals for the continued contribution and coordination of our boards and churches as we strive to accomplish the work that God has called us to do. President’s full address can be found here.
As we labour for God in this life, we can be reminded through Bishop Dr. Gordon Wong’s sermon on Philippians 2:14-16 to do all things without grumbling. If our goal is to hold out His Word and be the light of Christ in this world, then there is no room for grumbling. In the words taken from the book of Philippians, Bishop Wong exhorts us to rejoice in the Lord always; and to hold on firmly to the Word of life so that when He returns, we know we have not laboured in vain.
In a similar vein, President Goh reminds us to obey His Word and to walk humbly with our Lord (Micah 6:8). At the Closing Service, President Goh further admonishes for the labourers of God to be clothed with the right attitude, that is, the humility of Christ. It is in Jesus’ humility that our relationship with God could be restored, and it will be through our imitating of His humility may we be brought into a rightful dependence on God. Regardless of our worldly statuses, we were encouraged to “be ashamed of nothing but sin, to be afraid of nothing but sin, and to desire nothing but God”.
This year, we give thanks for the faithful services of retired pastors, Rev Poh Heow Lee and Rev Louis Chai. We also celebrate the ordination of our new Deacons: Rev Shawn Koh, Rev Timothy Ang, and Rev Ong Bee Keow; as well as Elders: Rev Jasper Ngoh, Rev Jacqueline Ho, and Rev Glenn Tan. For more on the above-mentioned pastors, click here.
A total of 59 pastors were appointed to CAC’s 17 churches. Click here for the 2022 Pastors’ Appointments List. All glory to God for bringing CAC through yet another year. May He continue to work through the CAC and our churches for His great purposes. We look forward to the 47th Session of the Chinese Annual Conference which will be held at Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church.