The Humble and yet Admirable Servant of Our Lord

Following Sister Tan May Lian’s article on Bishop C.N. Fang in Jan/Feb 2012 issue of Pelita Methodist, I must also say something to recognize him. I’ll touch on events of 1960s, 70s & early 80s.

In early August l968, I was one of the seven lay delegates of SAC (Sarawak Annual Conference, now Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference or SCAC) to attend the constituting conference of the autonomous Methodist Church in Malaysia and Singapore and followed immediately by the first General Conference of same at Raffles Hall, University of Singapore, Nassim Road, Singapore. In addition to SAC, there were SIAC (Sarawak Iban Annual Conference), TRAC, CAC and TAC delegates, each Annual Conference with fourteen, divided equally between clergy and lay representatives. So, there were seventy “electors” in the chamber. To elect our new bishop would require a simple majority of 36 votes.

For majority of SAC & SIAC delegates from Sarawak (none from Sabah yet), this was new experience in a new environment for, it was just 5 years after the formation of Federation of Malaysia. Electioneering was not permitted. A lot of whispering went on inside the meeting hall, a lecture hall of the university. Balloting began in mid-afternoon. It must go on, round after round, until a winner appeared. Then, Rev. C.N. Fang stood up after few rounds of indecisive voting. He said he was inexperienced and inadequately equipped for this important appointment as bishop. He thanked those who voted for him and appealed to the delegates to cast their votes on more qualified fellow pastor. Then Rev. Denis C. Dutton expressed the same sentiment.

This was my first-ever impression of Rev. Fang and Rev. Dutton. History tells us that both pastors were one after another elected as bishop of Methodist Church in Malaysia subsequently. “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord direct his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) Isn’t so?

So, secret balloting continued. It was dinner time. Someone shouted, “we’ll end up without dinner tonight if we go on like this!” At the 13th voting, Rev. Dr. Yap Kim Hao, pastor of Wesley Methodist Church Kuala Lumpur, obtained 39 votes and therefore elected as Bishop of Methodist Church in Malaysia and Singapore. The long day was Tuesday, August 13, 1968. (The Church was later separated into two entities, Malaysia and Singapore.)

Back to Kuching and I didn’t meet with Rev. Fang until I was assigned to Kuala Lumpur to work in a finance company end of 1972. By then he was President of CAC and then Bishop of our Church. I purposely went to visit him. Being told that my finance firm was the only East Malaysia-based financial institution opening a branch in nation’s capital and that it was rather difficult for any East Malaysian to penetrate into West-Malaysian-dominated market, let alone a rather small banking group from Sibu, Sarawak, he immediately prayed and blessed me and my set-up. Later on, he helped further by diverting some personal and church surplus funds for time deposit with my company.

Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Praise the Lord!

My office was on the quieter side of Jalan Bukit Bintang then, and it was a two-way traffic, not congested as it is now. So, Rev. Fang would pop in at his timing and had coffee with me. Even to simple club’s set lunch as he would prefer economical eating. It was one of those occasions I boldly suggested that from my observations in Taipei (university time), Sibu, Kuching, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, I felt that the academic attainment of the clergy was lagging behind the lay world and that there was room for improving deliveries of sacred sermons. Instead of showing his displeasure, he agreed with me!

I am quite sure this piece of friendly dialog played a part in his thinking and deliberations with fellow Christian denominations to organize a theological seminary in Malaysia, later known as STM (Seminari Theologi Malaysia). And, Rev. Dr. Denis C. Dutton, while pastoring Wesley Methodist Church Kuala Lumpur, was appointed Principal of STM in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.

As a member of KL Wesley, Rev. Dutton drafted me to serve in the finance committee of both Wesley and STM. Financial situation of STM during the initial period was challenging. I even raised some friendly donations from Sibu, my home town, to defray utilities bills. Also, to back up what I said to Bishop Fang about the importance of sustainable learning and, in memory of the untimely departure of Lily C. Wang, my late wife, I donated all collections from wellwishers to STM through Bishop Fang in 1982, such sum adequate for one student’s whole semester expenses at STM.

Bishop Fang would sometimes reveal some “insider-job-dealings”. He said he was so frustrated at being rejected to erect and display the cross sign outside Wisma Methodist, Lorong Hang Jebat, Kuala Lumpur. The appeal to reconsider was eventually brought up to the highest level of government in this land, the Prime Minister of Malaysia (Tun Hussein Onn) was approved.

During my brief but close association with Bishop C.N. Fang, the legacy he left behind is rich and resourceful. Our Lord said to Zerubbabel (Zechariah 4:6) “Not by might nor by power, but by MY Spirit.” May the Holy Spirit be with all of us.

By Alfred K. Lee