On 8 and 9 Nov 2019, the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) gathered at Tamil Methodist Church, Short Street for its 44th Annual Conference session. The session reviewed accomplishments over the year as well as deliberated on its direction for 2020, which is the fourth year of the 11th quadrennium.
To chart ETACâs course, ETAC President the Rev James Nagulan had previously set four tasksââRenewâ, âReviveâ, âReorganiseâ and âRebuildââone for each year of the current quadrennium. 2020 will focus on âRebuildâ.
Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung, who spoke at all the Annual Conference opening services and delivered the same message, called for the churches to get past the different labels used for Christians, e.g. âfollowerâ, âbelieverâ, âchurch memberâ, âchildren of Godâ. We should, instead, get to the root of what God would have us be and as described by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:23â29âministers (or servants) of His Gospel and, by extension, ministers of the Church.
The need to Rebuild
“Godâs hand is upon us and He shall strengthen our hands.”
 In the Presidentâs address, the Rev James talked about the downward trend in church membership over the past decade. The Rev James said that the reduction in number could partly be explained by the local churchesâ efforts to clean up membership records and remove those who had left.
But he noted that despite the reduced membership, the total attendance at weekly Sunday church services rose steadily from 655 in 2008 to 800 in 2018. This indicates that members of the local churches appear committed to staying in their parishes. As a result, the total revenue of the local churches has also almost doubled.
He also highlighted that youth and children make up a significant number of 340. These children and youth will soon be confirmed and become part of the church. He called for increased funding to support youth outreach and discipleship ministries and a renewed effort on the part of the pastors to engage the young as they represent the future of ETAC.
The Rev James acknowledged that the greatest challenges facing the ETAC churches include membership retention and discipleship, leadership renewal, pastoral supply, and church building maintenance.
The Rev James urged the Conference delegates to consider if ETACâs current setup of eight churches led by six pastors for 800-plus members is sustainable, and how best to achieve a more focused and effective pastoral care ministry. He then put forth three proposals.
After much deliberation, the delegates chose the proposal to preserve the current setup but with the caveat that by 2024, the smaller churches (below 120 members) must reach the minimum of 120 members each, as stipulated in the 2017 edition of The Book of Discipline (¶146), for a local conference. The proposal also called for more pastors to be employed by 2020, which would involve identifying prospective candidates wishing to enter full-time ministry.
In his closing sermon, the Rev James drew parallels between the rebuilding of Jerusalem, described in the second chapter of Nehemiah, and the current drive to rebuild ETAC.
âNehemiah 2:17â20 is a reminder of what God can do in and through us when we are stand united and serve together,â emphasised the Rev James. âIt is time for ETAC to recognise structural challenges within ETAC and be willing to make the changes and reorganise ourselves and build the churches. Godâs hand is upon us and He shall strengthen our hands to arise and build His church.â
Pastoral Appointments for the year 2020
Pastoral Appointments
Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church |
Pastor-in-Charge | Rev Philip Abraham |
Jurong Tamil Methodist Church |
Pastor-in-Charge | Rev R Prabhu |
Part Time Approved Supply Pastor | Pastor Stephen Shadrak |
Pasir Panjang Tamil Methodist Church |
Pastor-in-Charge | Rev R Prabhu |
Seletar Tamil Methodist Church and Bedok Preaching Point |
Pastor-in-Charge | Rev C Saravanan Kumar |
Tamil Methodist Church, Short Street |
Pastor-in-Charge | Rev James Nagulan |
Associate Pastor | Rev Anil Kumar Samuel | |
Assistant Pastor | Ps Jeremy James |
Singapore Telugu Methodist Church |
Pastor-in-Charge | Rev Anil Kumar Samuel |
Toa Payoh Tamil Methodist Church |
Pastor-in-Charge | Rev Albert Vijay Joseph |
Special Appointments
District Superintendent | Rev Philip S Abraham |
Ministry at Christalite Home | Rev C Saravanan Kumar |
Ministry at Bethany Home | Rev C Saravanan Kumar |
OM, Canada | Rev George Barathan |
Navigators, Canada | Rev Rajaspuran Mannar |
Theological Centre for Asia | Rev Dr Babu Immanuel |
Director for Youth Work | Mr Thangaraju Moses |
Jason Woo is Methodist Messageâs Editorial Executive.
Photos courtesy of Daniel Lie