Anglican Diocese of Eastern Kowloon
Anglican Diocese of Eastern Kowloon | |||||||||||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 香港聖公會東九龍教區 | ||||||||||||||||
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Simplified Chinese | 香港圣公会东九龙教区 | ||||||||||||||||
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The Diocese of Eastern Kowloon (Chinese: 香港聖公會東九龍教區) is one of the three dioceses under the Province of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (abbr. HKSKH; Anglican Church in Hong Kong).
General information
- Date of the inauguration of the Diocese: 20 September 1998
- Diocesan Bishop: Timothy Kwok
- Diocesan Bishop Emtierus: Louis Tsui
- Diocesan General Secretary: Richard Wing Cheong Tsang
- First Parish: Holy Trinity Church (1890)
- Address: 4/F, Holy Trinity Bradbury Centre, 139 Ma Tau Chung Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Cathedral: Holy Trinity Cathedral
- Cathedral Dean: Hin-Cheung Chan, first Dean of Eastern Kowloon
List of Diocesan Bishops
- Louis Tsui (1998–2013)
- Timothy Kwok (2014–present)
Birth of the Diocese of Eastern Kowloon, HKSKH
The Diocese of Eastern Kowloon is established on 20 September 1998. She is one of three dioceses (the other two: the Diocese of Hong Kong Island, and the Diocese of Western Kowloon) of the Province of Hong Kong constituted in conformity with the traditions and provisions of the Anglican Communion. The three dioceses function under a common constitution and legislative body, the General Synod. Under the guidance of Louis Tsui, the first bishop, she works in close cooperation with the sister dioceses in the mission to spread the gospel of salvation.
As a member of the Province, they confess the faith uniquely revealed in the Holy Scriptures and set forth in the catholic creeds, which faith they are called upon to proclaim afresh in each generation. Led by the Holy Spirit, the diocese must bear witnesses to Christian truth in its historic formularies, the Book of Common Prayer and the ordering of bishops, priests and deacons.
Sharing the same mission and goals with the sister dioceses, they answer the call to spread the good news into the new millennium, through pastoral nurture and evangelism. They can only do so by bearing their full Christian responsibility through mutual assistance and spiritual growth.
The diocese is situated in rapidly changing environment. New land will be made available for housing development and business with the new landfill area from Hung Hom to Kowloon Bay. With the height restrictions removed after the transfer of the Kai Tak Airport to Chek Lap Kok, creation of new infrastructual network, increase population and economic development, it will bear greater responsibilities in education, welfare, pastoral and spiritual care for the people of the diocese. Christ has taught them the soul is inseparable from the care the physical and social being.
It is also situated in an area rich in historical and cultural heritage serving to remind people of their values and traditions: the Sung Memorial commemorating the landing of the remnant of the Song dynasty as refugees in East Kowloon; the Kowloon Walled City Park marking the transformation of a seedy, crime-infested semi-autonomous walled city into remind people the historic ideal of the rule of law and order, and quest for freedom and democracy. Finally four landforms serve to symbolize for people four important qualities: the nine hills of Kowloon representing the nine dragons, youthful, optimistic and filled with the vitality of life; the Kowloon Peak (Fei Ngo Liang) enduring and vigorous; the Lion Rock steadfast and brave; and the Amah Rock a symbol of our family values, support and unity.
The Mission Statement of the Diocese
The Diocese of Eastern Kowloon of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui is an Anglican community of Faith, belonging to the one, holy apostolic Church. It is determined to lead a life which is an imitation of Christ’s perfect model. In obedience to His teachings, it seeks to realize the divine mission bestowed on it: spreading the gospel, caring for the faithful, building a community of loving kindness and concern, responding to the needs of the local community with flexibility and submitting itself totally for the realization of the Kingdom of God, in order that the triune God in whom it believes may be properly glorified.
The Organization of the Diocese
The Diocese comprises 9 parishes and 10 mission churches including:-
Parishes and Mission Churches (Cantonese Speaking Service, unless otherwise specified)
- 1.Holy Trinity Cathedral
- 2.Christ Church (English Speaking Service)
- 3.Holy Carpenter Church
- 4.The Church of the Good Shepherd (Putonghua Speaking Service)
- 5.St. Mark's Church
- 6.Calvary Church
- 7.St. Barnabas' Church
- 8.The Church of Our Saviour
- 9.Kindly Light Church
- 10.Holy Spirit Church
- 11.St. Titus' Church
- 12.Holy Wisdom Church
- 13.The Church of the Holy Word
- 14.The Church of St. John the Baptist
- 15.The Church of Magnificat
- 16.Kei Lok Church
- 17.The Church of Transfiguration
and two daughter churches established by the St. Andrew's Church
- 18.Resurrection Church (English Speaking Service)
- 19.Shatin Anglican Church (English Speaking Service)
Committee of the Diocese
The Diocese had set up some committees to help different works, and members of these committees are elected in the Diocesan General Synod.
Committees include:-
- Standing Committee
- Finance Committee
- Nurture and Pastoral Committee
- Youth Committee
- Mission Committee
- Religious Education Committee (The resolution of the Motion 3 was passed to set up such committee at the Third Meeting of the Sixth Diocesan Synod on 15 October 2009.)
Note: Subcommittees under the Standing Committee are: Five-Year Plan Steering Committee, Five-Year Plan Implementation Committee and the Diocesan Women League.
Works of the committees report to the Diocesan Bishop and the Diocesan General Synod through varies means.
In addition, Anglican schools including secondary schools, primary schools and kindergartens situated in the diocese total over 50, and social welfare organizations number over 30.
See also
References
Source: The special issue of "Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui The Inauguration of the Diocese of Eastern Kowloon and The Installation of the First Diocesan Bishop", ed. the Diocese of Eastern Kowloon, 20 September 1998, Hong Kong.