CCC&TSPM and the Uniting Church in Australia shared their current situation with each other in a virtual video conference.
On July 28, 2021, Rev. Shen Xuebin, vice president of China Christian Council, held a video conference with Sharon Hollis, the newly elected president of the Uniting Church of Australia (UCA). The participants introduced the current situation and the challenges of their respective churches.
According to CCC&TSPM, before the conference, Mark Kickett, the Interim Chairperson of the National Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC), prayed for churches around the world.
During the conference, Pastor Shen said that Chinese churches have resumed in-person worship under effective pandemic prevention, pointing out how to face challenges such as a decrease in the number of believers and how to better lead young believers to give priority to dedication. Although the COVID-19 pandemic hindered our close contact, it would not hinder our friendship, he added. As the Chinese society was facing the problem of population aging, Chinese churches should do something in social services. Since Australian churches had rich experiences in social services, he prayed that the pandemic would pass as soon as possible, hoping that there would be more opportunities for mutual visits and exchanges after the pandemic.
Sharon Hollis said she was very happy to communicate with CCC&TSPM by video and to learn about each other's churches. At the conference, she introduced the challenges faced by UCA and its member churches. Mark Zikot and others shared the work and challenges of UCA in indigenous areas. The participants agreed that the church should seek commonness among differences.
The conference ended in Hollis’ prayer.
- Translated by Charlie Li
2021年7月28日，中国基督教协会驻会副会长沈学彬牧师与澳大利亚联合教会新当选会长莎伦·霍利斯（Sharon Hollis）等举行视频会议。与会同工分别介绍了当前各自教会情况以及面临的挑战。
据中国基督教两会报道，会前，澳大利亚联合教会联合原住民和岛民基督教议会代理主席马克·齐科特（Mark Kickett）为全球的教会进行代祷。
会上，沈牧师介绍了中国教会目前在有效防疫下已经恢复礼拜的一些情况，并指出如何面对信徒人数减少、如何更好地带领青年弟兄姊妹为主奉献等挑战。沈牧师表示，疫情虽然阻碍了我们近距离地交往，但不会阻碍我们的友谊。当前中国社会面临着人口老龄化问题，中国教会在社会服务等方面应有所作为。澳大利亚教会在社会服务方面有丰富的经验，祈祷疫情尽快过去，希望彼此在疫情过后有更多互访和交流的机会。
莎伦·霍利斯表示很高兴以视频方式与中国基督教两会进行交流，并了解彼此教会的情况。会上，她介绍了澳大利亚联合教会及其成员教会面临的挑战。马克·齐科特等分享了澳大利亚联合教会在原住民方面的工作和挑战等。与会同工一致认为，教会要在差异中寻求共性。
会议在莎伦·霍利斯的代祷中结束。
中国基督教两会与澳大利亚联合教会举行视频会议
CCC&TSPM and the Uniting Church in Australia shared their current situation with each other in a virtual video conference.
On July 28, 2021, Rev. Shen Xuebin, vice president of China Christian Council, held a video conference with Sharon Hollis, the newly elected president of the Uniting Church of Australia (UCA). The participants introduced the current situation and the challenges of their respective churches.
According to CCC&TSPM, before the conference, Mark Kickett, the Interim Chairperson of the National Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC), prayed for churches around the world.
During the conference, Pastor Shen said that Chinese churches have resumed in-person worship under effective pandemic prevention, pointing out how to face challenges such as a decrease in the number of believers and how to better lead young believers to give priority to dedication. Although the COVID-19 pandemic hindered our close contact, it would not hinder our friendship, he added. As the Chinese society was facing the problem of population aging, Chinese churches should do something in social services. Since Australian churches had rich experiences in social services, he prayed that the pandemic would pass as soon as possible, hoping that there would be more opportunities for mutual visits and exchanges after the pandemic.
Sharon Hollis said she was very happy to communicate with CCC&TSPM by video and to learn about each other's churches. At the conference, she introduced the challenges faced by UCA and its member churches. Mark Zikot and others shared the work and challenges of UCA in indigenous areas. The participants agreed that the church should seek commonness among differences.
The conference ended in Hollis’ prayer.
- Translated by Charlie Li
CCC&TSPM Holds Video Conference With the Uniting Church of Australia
