The 5th Session of the Chinese Methodist Church in Australia Annual Conference (CMCA), held on 29 Nov - 2 Dec 2006, elected Rev. Albert Chiew as the new bishop, and Mr. Joseph Ting as the Lay Leader.

 

Prior to that, CMCA held their Pastoral Summer School on 27-29 Nov 2006 in Melbourne. Later during the conference, the long expected Annual Conference Building was officially declared opened by Bishop Hwa Yung of the Methodist Church in Malaysia, Rev. Dr. Su Chii Ann of Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference (SCAC), the new Bishop, Rev. Albert Chiew and the out-going bishop, Rev. Dr. James Ha.

 

On 3 Dec 2006, CMCA celebrated their 20th anniversary of the beginning of the missionary work of the Chinese Methodists in Australia. In June 1986, a little flock of about 20 people gathered in the Kew suburb of Melbourne. This humble gathering marked the beginning of the great harvest. Two years later, in November 1988, SCAC commissioned Rev. James Ha as the missionary to Australia.

 

Through years of toil and labour with other coworkers, the Mission Conference of the Chinese Methodist Church was established in 1994. In 2002, it was officially upgraded to the Annual Conference of the Chinese Methodist Church in Australia. Their first bishop was Rev. James Ha.

 

The motto of the conference is: "To spare no effort in expanding the ministry of the Mission Conference to establish churches and preaching points in all cities and towns where the gospel can be preached to the Chinese immigrants or other English speaking peoples of Asian ethnic origins."

 

CMCA continues to strive to reach out to all people across the land of Australia. Their urgent prayer need is having a full time missionary or pastor to serve in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

 

CMCA has 9 churches, 6 preaching centres, 2 preaching points. They are served by 14 Elders, 6 Deacons and numerous local preachers. Their total membership is about 1500.

Winnie

From Connection, 15 February 2007