CAC 43rd Session: To Give Is To Gain

2 January 2019

To Give Is To Gain
In his President’s Address at the 43^rd Session of the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC), the Rev Dr Goh Nai Lat touched on the sacrifices to be made for true discipleship in the Kingdom of God.

Crafting his message around the Mandarin phrase, “舍得”, meaning “to give up”, the Rev Dr Goh separated the words “舍” (on its own, the character means “to forsake”) from “得” (“to gain”). This gave a deeper meaning to the phrase of giving up—illustrating the idea that we gain (得) only when we are willing to give up（舍）.

The Rev Dr Goh then asked if Christians today were ready to forsake what is precious to them, in following Jesus. He challenged us with Jesus’ call to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily (Matt 16:24). “May it be that we will all be found as willing givers,” exhorted the Rev Dr Goh.

A push towards central pooling
At the 43^rd session of the Chinese Annual Conference, the Conference also approved the setting-up of central pooling for CAC. This initiative was developed by a Central Pooling Taskforce appointed by the CAC Executive Board in January 2018. The taskforce was led by CAC Vice President, and included representation from the CAC President, District Superintendents, Lay Leaders, as well as representation from the Board of Finance.

During the session, a ballot was taken among the delegates of the local churches. The motion was passed with 95% support to introduce central pooling with effect from 1 Aug 2019. More significantly, work will also commence to review how CAC can be transformed. (see sidebar for more details)

The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) Restructuring Taskforce
The Conference was also briefed on the deliberations of the MCS Restructuring Taskforce. The petition to restructure MCS was raised in 2016 as the present structure of operating with three separate ACs was seen as cumbersome and inefficient, with much duplication of efforts.

The Rev Dr Goh voiced CAC’s concern that even as we consider the streamlining of duplicated ministries, we pay special attention to the continued promotion of non-English ministries and to ensure the importance of preserving the rich heritage of many of CAC’s local dialect services. CAC Board of Laity also resolved to support the MCS Structural Review through consultations and participation in workgroups.

Re-election of Vice-President
Mr Guan Yeow Kwang was re-elected unanimously as CAC’s Vice-President. He will serve until 2020.

Elder and Deacon Ordination
The session witnessed the ordination of the Rev Patrick Chen, the Rev Simon Cheo and the Rev Peace Choi as Elders. The Rev Stephanie Oh was ordained as a Deacon.

Central Pooling to be introduced in 2019
With effect from 1 Aug 2019, CAC will be introducing Central Pooling, where all CAC HQ and pastoral expenses will be shared by all 17 CAC churches. Sharing will be based on the membership of each church. To provide relief and minimise the financial disruption, a transition period of two-plus-one years and a cap on the cost to be paid by the local church will be set. More details will be released by CAC over the next few months.

A CAC Transformation Task Force (CTTF) will be appointed by the end of January 2019. The CTTF will look at developing and implementing strategic initiatives to support the continual growth of CAC’s local churches and position the CAC to effectively expand God’s Kingdom. It will specifically look at the following five major work streams:

church growth and discipleship.
pastoral and lay leadership development.
organisational effectiveness (including admin resourcing & shared services).
school Ministry and church kindergarten strategies.
raising the profile of CAC & its churches through CACTogether.

CAC APPOINTMENTS FOR 2019

District 1

District Superintendent: The Rev Philip Lim Kian Long

1	Geylang Chinese Methodist Church
		Pastor-in-charge	The Rev Paul Thian Moon Hee
		Preacher	Pr Patrick Lim Kok Chu

2	Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church
		Pastor-in-charge	The Rev Dr David Koh Ah Chye
		Associate Pastor	The Rev Daniel Teoh Kean Oon The Rev Boey Kok Yeow The Rev Lui Yuan Tze The Rev Patrick Chen Guek Fah

3	Changi Methodist Church / Punggol Preaching Point
		Pastor-in-charge	The Rev Simon Cheo Hsun Shen

4	Charis Methodist Church
		Pastor-in-charge	The Rev Jasper Sim Shenq Chyi
		Associate Pastor	The Rev Chan Kok Chuon
		Associate Pastor	The Rev Peace Choi Pyong Hwa
		Diaconal Minister (Attachment)	The Rev Dr Andrew Peh Swee Kian

5	Sengkang Methodist Church
		Pastor-in-charge	The Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey
		Associate Pastor	The Rev Wilfred Leow Hui Ann
		Preacher	Pr Nathanael Goh Jun Chuen
		Preacher	Pr Wang Hai Bin

District 2

District Superintendent: The Rev Poh Heow Lee

1	Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church
		Pastor-in-charge	The Rev Chua Ooi Suah
		Associate Pastor	The Rev Joshua Tan Sin Kian The Rev Seet Keng Tat
		Preacher	Pr Bernard Chng
		Preacher	Pr Lin Ming Zhong
		Diaconal Minister (Attachment)	The Rev Dr Edwin Tay Ed Min

2	Bukit Panjang Methodist Church
		Pastor-in-charge	The Rev Lek Yong Teck
		Associate Pastor	The Rev Yeung Hin Fai The Rev Ng Beng Keow The Rev Erick Tan Eng Ghee

3	Grace Methodist Church
		Pastor-in-charge	The Rev Andy Goh Yik Wah
		Associate Pastor	The Rev Eric Soh Wai Foon
		Associate Pastor	The Rev Dr Ian Jew Yun Shern

4	Holy Covenant Methodist Church
		Pastor-in-charge	The Rev Edmund Koh Lik Hng
		Preacher	Pr Florence Ngu Siew Ning

District 3

District Superintendent: The Rev Goh Aik Hiang

1	Foochow Methodist Church
		Pastor-in-charge	The Rev Poh Heow Lee
		Associate Pastor	The Rev Anne Lim Ai Lei
		Assistant Pastor	The Rev Stefanie Oh Wen-Ying
		Preacher	Pr Jasper Ngoh Jun Jie
		Attachment	The Rev Dr Wilfred Ho Wai Tat

2	Hinghwa Methodist Church
		Pastor-in-charge	The Rev Chin Yan Chong
		Associate Pastor	The Rev Chu Vee Ping
		Associate Pastor	The Rev Peter Soh Kee Lie

3	Kum Yan Methodist Church
		Pastor-in-charge	The Rev Herman Kan Man Shek
		Associate Pastor	The Rev Philip Lim Kian Leong

4	Hakka Methodist Church
		Pastor-in-charge	The Rev Nathanael Chew Eng Pin
		Associate Pastor	The Rev Irman Halim

5	Yishun Methodist Mission
		Pastor-in-charge	The Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan
		Associate Pastor	The Rev Lau Chong Yaw

District 4

District Superintendent: The Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey

1	Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church
		Pastor-in-charge	The Rev Lisa Yu Li Hsin
		Associate Pastor	The Rev Goh Aik Hiang The Rev Tack Ng Lai Chun
		Preacher	Pr Jacqueline Ho Sow Fong
		Preacher	Pr Joshua Ong Chee Xiang

2	Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church
		Pastor-in-charge	The Rev Helen Hoe Chiew Ngin
		Associate Pastor	The Rev Cynthia Choo Bee Lay

3	Toa Payoh Chinese Methodist Church
		Pastor-in-charge	The Rev Ling Tieng Ngung
		Associate Pastor	The Rev Koh Chew Hai
		Preacher	Pr Glenn Tan Tze Meng

2019 CAC Pastors’ Special Appointment by Bishop
1	Missionaries with MMS	The Rev Dr Alex Chng Peng Lian The Rev Cassandra Lee
2	Director of DISCIPLE Agency	The Rev Dr Niam Kai Huey (Honorary)
3	Associate Director of Christian Ministry in Schools	The Rev Lek Yong Teck, The Rev Edmund Koh
4	Methodist School Chaplains	The Rev Lek Yong Teck, the Rev Ng Beng Keow, the Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan, the Rev Seet Keng Tat, the Rev Boey Kok Yeow, the Rev Dr David Koh Ah Chye, the Rev Yeung Hin Fai, the Rev Erick Tan Eng Ghee, the Rev Paul Thian, the Rev Edmund Koh Lik Hng, the Rev Irman Halim, the Rev Simon Cheo Hsun Shen, the Rev Lui Yuan Tze, the Rev Patrick Chen Guek Fah, the Rev Cynthia Choo Bee Lay, the Rev Peace Choi Pyong Hwa, the Rev Dr Ian Jew Yun Shern, the Rev Stefanie Oh Wen-ying, Pr Jasper Ngoh Jun Jie, Pr Glenn Tan Tze Meng, Pr Nathanael Goh Jun Chuen, Pr Patrick Lim
5	Field Board of Ministry – CAC Representative	The Rev Paul Thian Moon Hee
6	Assoc Brigade Chaplain of Girls’ Brigade Singapore	The Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan

2019 Special Appointment by President
1	Trinity Theological College Vice Principal	The Rev Dr Edwin Tay Ed Min
	Lecturers at Trinity Theological College	The Rev Dr Wilfred Ho Wai Tat The Rev Dr Andrew Peh Swee Kian
2	Principal, Institute of Elderly	The Rev Khoo Cheng Hoot (Honorary)
3	Chaplains to CAC Students at Trinity Theological College	The Rev Dr Wilfred Ho Wai Tat Associate: The Rev Dr Andrew Peh Swee Kian
4	Sabbatical Leave	1 year: The Rev Peter Pan Seng Tai The Rev Christopher Louis Kong Chung Dai
5	Prison Ministry	The Rev Chng Siew Sin (Honorary)
6	Medical Leave	The Rev Louis Chai Shung Chee
7	Soon Hong Kee Scholarship Trust Fund Representative	Mr Han Hai Kwang, the Rev Chua Ooi Suah

Jason Woo is Methodist Message’s Editorial Executive. When not working on the latest articles, he enjoys long jogs and cuddling up with his cats along with a good book.