Honorary Alumnus—Rev. Chan Hin-cheung

Rev. Chan Hin-cheung served as the chairperson of the Theological Council from 2005 to 2017 and has been the vice-chairperson since 2018. His connection to the institution traces back even further to the late 1960s, a time when he first engaged with its community and programs, laying the foundation for a lifelong commitment to its mission and values.

Honorary Alumnus

“In fact, I can also be considered as an alumnus of the Divinity School of Chung Chi College.” Rev. Canon Chan spoke with his usual gentle tone, smiling as he recounted his little-known connection to the Divinity School of Chung Chi College (DSCCC). “After the war, several denominations, including the Anglican Church and the Methodist Church, jointly founded the Hong Kong Union Theological College. I received approval from Bishop John Hyndley Gilbert Baker to study theology at UTC.” However, in the late 1960s, UTC, when contemplating the most efficient use of resources, arranged for students to attend classes at Chung Chi Seminary. Rev. Chan recalled the experience of catching the 8:30 morning train to Chung Chi, students had to walk from St. John’s College in Pok Fu Lam to take Bus No. 3, then travel by train to the Chinese University after arriving at the Star Ferry Pier in Central. “UTC had a long Christmas break and a short Lunar New Year holiday; Chung Chi had the opposite schedule. Therefore, when Union Theological College had a short Chinese New Year vacation, we would attend classes at Chung Chi, and when Chung Chi had a long vacation, we would be taking courses at UTC.” As a result, a group of theology students from Hong Kong Union Theological College formed a lasting connection with Chung Chi Seminary. “Although our graduation certificates were not issued by the Chung Chi Seminary, most of our courses were completed there. Prof. Archie Lee, Rev. Au Yuk-kwan, and Prof. Peter T. M. Ng were my classmates at Chung Chi. I still remember taking courses in Religious Studies and Church History. At that time, Rev. Dr. Paul Newman was the head of the seminary.”

Cultivating Spiritual Growth

Rev. Chan graduated from St. Paul’s College, an all-boys school, and participated in fellowship at St. Matthew’s Church. He studied education at the Grantham College of Education and later pursued theology at Hong Kong Union Theological College and Divinity School of Chung Chi College, the Chinese University of Hong Kong. After graduating in 1970, he was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood the following year, serving at St. Mary’s Church. In 1974, he was admitted to the University of Sussex in southern England to study religious education. Upon returning to Hong Kong, he was appointed by Bishop Baker the Religious Education Officer while also serving as the Registrar of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Ming Hua College and the editor of the Anglican Diocesan Echo. In addition he was assigned the responsibility of developing religious education for parishes, secondary schools, primary schools, and kindergartens, as well as theological education for laypeople.

“In the past, the Anglican Church faced challenges in developing a comprehensive approach to theological and religious education due to limited resources. In the mid- 1960s, extra effort was set aside to strengthen religious education. In 1973, Bishop John Baker appointed Dr. Frances Young as his education consultant. She suggested the diocese to hire local members to take up the work as full-time religious education officers. After taking office, Bishop Baker attached great importance to religious education. At that time, he appointed Rev. Peter K. K. Kwong as the principal of Ming Hua Theological College. He further appointed Rev. Chan to serve as registrar in charge of reactivating the college.” Rev. Chan viewed this as a meaningful and challenging job. In the course of four or five years on the job, he had met many dedicated church members seeking to deepen their faith. In 1975, after completing further studies in the UK, Rev. Chan returned to Hong Kong and was appointed Diocesan Religious Education Officer. With funding from the Diocese of Southern Ohio in the United States, he established the Religious Education Resources Centre in 1978 and served as its founding director (1975–1981, 1982–1984). During this time, he edited the religious education textbook, The Perfect Life, for use in primary schools under the Anglican Church and other church primary schools. Beyond his extensive pastoral duties, Rev. Chan went to the UK again in 1980 to pursue a master’s degree in philosophy and religious education at the University of Lancaster. Later, in 2005, he was awarded the Doctor of Ministry degree by the San Francisco Theological Seminary, a member college of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.

In 1997, the situation was similar to recent developments in Hong Kong, with a surge in emigration. Rev. Chan remarked, “The social responsibility of both pastors and social workers is significant, and the choice to emigrate or not is undoubtedly a dilemma. An individual may choose not to leave for personal missions, but they must also consider the choices and feelings of their family.” Ultimately choosing to stay in Hong Kong to serve, Rev. Chan has continued his work in the Anglican Church, serving at Holy Trinity Cathedral, caring for parishioners and promoting the development of primary and kindergarten education that the church supports. He places great importance on religious education and is dedicated to advancing evangelism in various secondary schools within the district.

The Journey of Theological Formation

Having held the position of chairperson for twelve years, Rev. Chan is now serving as the vice-chairperson as an appointed member. As an Anglican pastor, Rev. Chan’s service on the board has signified the denomination’s supportive presence in the Divinity School of Chung Chi College, embodying unity and communion.

His gaze fixed on the Divinity School Chapel and chapel of President Yung Chi-tung memorial building, he recalls the time he spent serving alongside the former Head, Rev. Lo Lung-kwong. “Building a new chapel at the Chinese University required compliance with many regulations and conditions. There were numerous changes in architectural design and many difficulties encountered. Rev. Lo and I met to seek resolutions to meet various challenges. It was an unforgettable undertaking. In terms of fundraising, we are grateful to Rev. Li Ping-kwong, who led the way and mobilized the entire church community, which eventually enabled us to raise the construction costs, which kept increasing due to ever-rising material prices.” He also mentioned his video recording during the tenth anniversary thanksgiving service of the chapel, where he emphasized the significance of the sculpture depicting Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. “This sculpture serves as a reminder that the ultimate purpose of theological education is not individual academic achievement or fame. I sincerely hope that every student and faculty member will embody the spirit of serving others as Jesus did. While it is a source of pride for many when the academic achievement of the seminary is endorsed, what truly matters is the spirit of dedication among the theology students themselves. The establishment of the chapel also allowed both teachers and students to experience the importance of worship and spirituality in theological education.” With many years of involvement in the Theological Council, Rev. Chan believes that theological education should not be confined to train pastors, scholars, and committed believers, but also care for the grassroots members of the church. “Theological education should be open to everyone; the sharing of theological knowledge should take place not only in the seminary but also in the church.”

Insights from Ministry and Education

In his spare time, Rev. Chan has documented his many years of experience in religious education and pastoral care. He is the author of two books, Nurturing for Life and Of Pastoral Passion, and has published academic papers on religious education and contextual theology in various journals. His new work, Christian Education for an Emerging Age” was released in July 2024. Despite his scholarly demeanor, one might be surprised to learn that he was an athletic star in his youth, excelling in basketball, volleyball, badminton, and table tennis, and he was selected for the school teams in all these sports— truly impressive! Now at the age of eighty, he remains in good health. Over the years, during the DSCCC’s term commencement services, term-end services, fundraising walkathon, and Theology Day Thanksgiving services, his presence and support are deeply appreciated. Although Rev. Chan Hin Cheung’s name does not appear on the official graduate list of DSCCC, his unwavering love for the School, coupled with over fifty years of friendship, his faithful service on the Theological council for more than twenty years, and his subtle contributions during the construction of the new chapel make it clear that he is not just to be “considered as an alumnus of Chung Chi”; he is indeed our honorary alumnus.

In March 2024, he and his wife, Carol, held a “Thanksgiving Gathering for the Lord’s Wonderful Love and Amazing Grace” at the All Saints Cathedral. The couple expressed their gratitude for the Lord’s grace and protection over the family they have built, while also commemorating Rev. Chan’s fifty years of pastoral ministry. On that day, their children, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, and many church brothers and sisters gathered to give thanks for Rev. Chan and his wife. Rev. Eddy Kwok, the current chairperson of the Theological Council at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, along with our School Director, Prof. Yip Ching-wah, Prof. Yam Cheuk-yin, Former Director Rev. Lo Lung-kwong, office administrative colleagues, and alumni of the DSCCC were present to show their support.

Interviewed and written by:
Li Kwong Ping