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Just over one year into her new role as President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hong Kong (ELCHK), Rev. Tso is keeping her church running smoothly and easing into a new life with Hong Kong returned to China. She says, "So far, so good." Tso entered seminary in 1981 and was ordained in 1989 and wants to take one day at a time with her church. The ELCHK has been working with Tso for seven years previously as the Executive Secretary and she feels that everyone is working well together.
The ELCHK includes 57 congregations with over one-third of them using school or social center facilities to hold church activities and worship. The church operates 23 schools with over 10,000 students and 478 teachers and 27 social service units with 350 workers in the New Territories, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon districts. The churches in Hong Kong have traditionally been strong leaders in running schools to fill a call to serve society in addition to their work in mission and church growth. Some of the social work projects by the ELCHK church include: home-help teams, services for mentally handicapped, children and youth centers, child care and hostels for the elderly. Tso explained, "The HK government has funded approximately 95% of the costs of all schools and service centers and 50% of these institutions are run by churches." The ELCHK has served society for 20 years in this capacity.
There is no question of an end to government funding now that Hong Kong has returned to China, just the amount and the procedural details. Funds previously came with a system of reporting expenses and receiving an amount accordingly, but now a "lump sum" system will be used. Rev. Tso stated that this new payment system will require some adjustments and good planning for the money to be used wisely. "Our sponsoring bodies will have to change to accommodate this new style," she said, and "we will try to invest [time and money] with more volunteers where funding is lacking. We believe the government should provide a fair and equal sum to each group [receiving funds.]" The church believes it is working in mutual cooperation with the government and could not do as much as it is doing now without this funding.
Rev. Tso in fact wants to work towards providing every one of her schools with a full time chaplain as well as a church. The government does not provide resources for this type of ministry. When asked if the government has any voice about Christian education programs or chaplains in the schools, Tso replied, "We have a free hand to do this; it is just a matter of ability, finances and people." Many schools and churches currently are connected to or have a church located on their premises with the pastor helping as much as he or she is able. Religious programs are freely permitted.
One known change in the school curriculums related to history is that children are being taught to love their country. In Tso's educational life, there was never any notion of loving one's country or Britain for that matter. Also, new textbooks have not been released on time, showing the slow pace of change for the HK Special Administrative Region of China.
On another note... In closing the files on this summer's 8th Lutheran World Assembly, Rev. Tso proudly talked about the excellent cooperation between the 4 churches which hosted the gathering. Regrettably, she only wished for more time for the Assembly participants to visit the schools, churches and social centers, which the Hong Kong hosts, had prepared and waited eagerly for visitors who never arrived. 
| Next Article:A Human Rights Watch report on the present situation in China |