48th Session of the Chinese Annual Conference
This year, church delegates gathered for CAC’s annual conference session at the newly renovated Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church (PLCMC).
今年，各堂代表聚集于新近装修的卫理公会巴耶黎峇堂，参加卫理公会华人年议会议会。
Opening Service
The opening service of our 48th Session commenced on the evening of 13 November, with a warm welcome from Rev Dr David Koh and Rev Wilfred Leow, the Pastor-in-Charge (PIC) and Associate Pastor of PLCMC.
That evening, Bishop Dr Gordon Wong preached from Matthew 5:43-48 on the topic: “Be Perfect”. Referencing John Wesley’s belief that all Christians should strive for Christian perfection in this life, Bishop Wong brought us to explore how Jesus Himself called for us to ‘be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect’ (Matt 5:48).
As we looked into how God’s perfection was described in Matthew 5:44-48 and Luke 6:35-36, we gleaned that to imitate His perfection means to love and do good to our enemies, to lend without expecting anything in return, and to show mercy and kindness even to the wicked and ungrateful. While these teachings may seem unnatural and countercultural, Bishop noted that neither the ways of the Father nor the Son were “normal” in the eyes of this world; our heavenly Father is perfect, and so perfect is what He desires His children to grow to be.
The Opening Service also saw the presentation of 11 Long Service Awards, seven Local Preacher Licences, and six Certificates for Lay Counsellors. We thank God for these pastors, brothers and sisters-in-Christ who have offered themselves to God in their respective ways to serve Him and care for His sheep.
开幕礼
第48届大会的开幕礼崇拜于11月13日晚上举行，巴耶黎峇堂的主理许亚才牧师（博士）和协理廖惠安牧师热烈欢迎大家出席议会。
当天晚上，会督黄昌荣牧师（博士）以马太福音5:43-48证道，主题为“你们要完全”。他提及卫斯理约翰的信仰，即所有基督徒应该于今生追求基督徒的完全，黄昌荣会督引领我们探讨了耶稣如何呼召我们“要像天上的父完全一样”（马太福音5:48）。
当我们思考马太福音5:44-48和路加福音6:35-36中关于上帝完全的论述时，我们学习到效仿祂的完全意味着施爱和行善于我们的敌人，借贷而不期待回报，甚至对那些邪恶和忘恩负义的人显示慈悲和善意。尽管这些教导可能看起来超乎自然并与文化相抵，但会督指出，在这个世界的眼中，圣父和圣子的道路都不是“正常”的；我们的天父是完全的，祂希望祂的儿女能成长成为完全。
开幕礼崇拜还见证了11个长期服务奖的颁发、七位新本处传道获颁证书，以及六位平信徒获颁辅导员文凭。我们为这些牧师、弟兄姐妹向上帝献上感谢，他们以各种方式献身事奉祂、并关爱祂的羊群。
Closing Service
In his sermon titled “The Yoke of Obedience”, President Dr Rev Gregory Goh spoke much about the humility and obedience of Christ. Drawing from Philippians 2:5-11, he pointed out that Christ, even though He was God, emptied and humbled Himself in obedience to God, to the point of death on the cross. President Goh added that the obedience of Christ is what brought us salvation and that this obedience should be apparent in His followers (Lu 9:23). When we obey God, not only do we receive His love and are drawn near to Him (Jn 14:23), we also witness of Christ’s existence and act of salvation to the world.
President Goh then expressed that ordained ministers are representatives of Christ, called to self-emptying lives of obedience and servanthood. The pastor collar and stole that a pastor receives upon ordination symbolises a commitment to be under and to preach His Word and the cloth Jesus used to wash and clean His disciples’ feet at the Last Supper. Working under an itinerant system, the President hopes that both pastors and churches may put their obedience into practice and, in turn, see God’s glory displayed in our midst.
The congregation joined in witnessing and celebrating the ordination of 4 new deacons:
Rev Sharon Lee, Rev Teh You Siong, Rev Joseph Chen and Rev Gareth Yeo; as well as 3 new elders: Rev Joshua Ong, Rev Ong Bee Keow and Rev Timothy Ang. We also gave thanks for the dedicated service of Rev Paul Thian and Rev Chua Ooi Suah, both of whom retired at the Closing Service. In light of these milestones, our pastors share their thoughts and reflections with us on pages 12-15 of this issue.
A total of 59 pastors were appointed to our 17 churches this year. Rev Christopher Kong has also been appointed to take over Rev Chua Ooi Suah as the District Superintendent for District 4. For the 2024 CAC Appointments List, please head to pages 28-30.
闭幕礼崇拜
会长吴乃力牧师（博士）以“顺服的轭”为主题，于闭幕礼崇拜中证道。吴乃力牧师谈到基督的谦卑和顺服。他引用了腓立比书2:5-11，指出基督虽然是上帝，却为了顺服上帝，甚至于死在十字架上，放下和谦卑了自己。吴乃力牧师继续说，基督的顺服带给我们救恩，并且基督的跟随者应该表现出这种的顺服（路加福音9:23）。当我们顺服上帝时，我们不仅会得到祂的爱并亲近祂（约翰福音14:23），而且我们还会向世界见证基督的存在和救恩的行为。
吴乃力牧师随即表示，被按立的牧师是基督的代表，被呼召倒空自己的生命以过顺服和仆人的生活。每位牧师在受按立时被颁受的牧师领与披肩象征着臣服并传讲主的道，以及耶稣在最后的晚餐时所用来洗净门徒脚的布。在卫理公会的巡回系统下，会长希望牧师和教会都能将他们的顺服付诸实践，并从而看到上帝的荣耀在我们当中显现。
会众们共同见证和庆祝了以下四位新副牧的按立：李丽萍牧师、郑有祥牧师、陈勇畅牧师和杨泳泰牧师；以及以下三位新长牧的按立：王志翔牧师、王美娇牧师和洪培正牧师。我们也于闭幕礼中感谢荣休的程文喜牧师和蔡伟山牧师的忠诚服务。在走过这些里程碑之际，以上的牧师们在本期第12-15页上分享了他们的心历路程。
今年，共有59位牧师被派施到我们的17间堂会。江宗大牧师也被委派接替蔡伟山牧师担任第四教区的教区长。有关2024年华人年议会的委任表，请参阅28-30页。
Other Conference Highlights
The designation and election of the 2025-2028 quadrennium CAC Secretary and CAC Ministerial and Lay Representatives to the General Conference were conducted on the 2nd day of the conference. As we extend our appreciation and recognise the faithful contribution of our current Conference Secretary, Rev Christopher Kong, we give thanks, too, to our Conference Secretary Designate, Rev Ong Bee Keow––for her willingness to take over this role.
A Memorial Service was held on 15 November in loving memory of the CAC pastors and spouses of pastors who have gone home to be with the Lord this year. They were the Late Rev Goh Aik Hiang, the Late Rev Seet Keng Tat, the Late Rev Fong Mow Hee, and the Late Mrs. Lee Chin Ming née Seet Siok Hing. In addition to the eulogies delivered in honour of them, the pastors of CAC also rendered in unison the hymn, “Blessed Assurance”. Before the service concluded, service leader Rev Paul Thian invited Bishop Emeritus Dr Chong Chin Chong to lead us in praying for the bereaved family before giving the benediction.
其他议会重点
在会议的第二天进行了委任与选举为期四年2025-2028的年会文书、以及华人年议会参加总议会的牧师与会友代表。我们对现任年会文书江宗大牧师的忠诚贡献表示感激，我们也为年会候任文书王美娇牧师愿意接任这一职务表示谢意。
年议会于11月15日举行追思礼拜，怀念华人年议会今年回天家的牧师及师母，他们是已故的吴奕贤牧师、薛庆达牧师、洪茂喜牧师和已故的李振明牧师师母（施淑馨师母）。除了发表纪念悼词之外，年议会的牧师们还同声合唱赞美诗《有福的确据》。在礼拜结束前，主席程文喜牧师邀请荣誉会督张振忠牧师（博士）为丧家祷告，并祝福。
第49届华人年会将于2024年11月14日至17日于卫理公会颂恩堂举行。
长期服务奖 Long Service Award
- 何威达牧师 (博士) Rev Dr Wilfred Ho Wai Tat (30 yrs)
- 陆永德牧师 Rev Lek Yong Teck (25 yrs)
- 黄明娇牧师 Rev Ng Beng Keow (20 yrs)
- 何秋吟牧师 Rev Hoe Chiew Ngin (20 yrs)
- 梅国耀牧师 Rev Boey Kok Yeow (15 yrs)
- 吴毅华牧师 Rev Andy Goh (15 yrs)
- 江宗大牧师 Rev Christopher Kong (15 yrs)
- 宾昇泰牧师 Rev Peter Pan (15 yrs)
- 雷远智牧师 Rev Lui Yuan Tze (10 yrs)
- 刘昌耀牧师 Rev Lau Chong Yaw (10 yrs)
- 崔平和牧师 Rev Peace Choi (10 yrs)
新本处传道证 Local Preacher Licences
- 叶瑶力姐妹Ms Yek Yew Lik Esther (AMKCMC)
- 叶怡美姐妹Ms Sharolyn Yap Yumei (AMKCMC)
- 李恩礼姐妹Ms Lee En Li (BPMC)
- 谭永正弟兄Mr Tham Wen Chen (FMC)
- 黄雯婷姐妹Ms Angie Ng (HKMC)
- 张凯晴姐妹Ms Cheong Khai Kin (HCMC)
- 叶亦武姐妹Ms Yip Yick Mo Crystal (KYMC)
平信徒辅导员文凭 Certificate for Lay Counsellors
- 李绒英姐妹 Ms Constance Lee
- 陈诗玲姐妹 Ms Gracia Tan
- 廖美娟姐妹 Ms Leow Bee Kuan
- 鄒𪊴銓弟兄 Mr Michael Chew
- 曾佩溋姐妹 Ms Michelle Chin
- 黄树荣 (俗詠) 弟兄 Mr William Ng
候任年会文书 Conference Secretary Designate (2025-2028)
王美娇牧师 Rev Ong Bee Keow
总议会（年会会友代表）
Lay Representatives to General Conference
1. 梁绍雄医生 Dr Benjamin Leong (QCMC)
2. 颜耀光先生 Mr Guan Yeow Kwang (FMC)
3. 林天保先生 Mr Jeffrey Lim (PLCMC)
4. 陈文灼先生 Mr Tan Boon Chok (HKMC)
5. 吴玉秀女士 Ms Amy Goh (BPMC)
6. 杨乾元博士 Dr Stephen Yeo (BPMC)
7. 郭韵仪女士 Ms Kwok Wan Yee (CRMC)
候补 Alternates:
8. 洪坤成先生 Dr David Ang (KYMC)
9. 吴永灿先生 Mr Benjamin Gaw (PLCMC)
10. 陈诗玲女士 Ms Gracia Tan (HCMC)
11. 林清乐先生 Mr Lim Cheng Lok (TACMC)
12. 孔学仁先生 Mr Khoong Hock Yun (CRMC)
13. 蔡德明先生 Mr Dennis Chua (CGMC)
14. 邓伟良先生 Mr William Thien (TPCMC)
总议会（年会牧者代表）
Ministerial Representatives to General Conference
1. 林建隆牧师 Rev Philip Lim
2. 吴乃力牧师 (博士) Rev Dr Gregory Goh
3. 陸永德牧师 Rev Lek Yong Tek
4. 何秋吟牧师 Rev Helen Hoe
5. 吴毅华牧师 Rev Andy Goh
6. 江宗大牧师 Rev Christopher Kong
7. 许立欣牧师 Rev Edmund Koh
候补 Alternates:
8. 沈圣奇牧师 Rev Jasper Sim
9. 廖惠安牧师 Rev Wilfred Leow
10. 俞丽鑫牧师 Rev Lisa Yu
11. 吴俊强牧师 Rev Nathanael Goh
12. 林天源牧师 Rev Ling Tieng Ngung
13. 石训深牧师 Rev Simon Cheo
14. 刘昌耀牧师 Rev Lau Chong Yaw
Chinese Annual Conference