Development

1984: The first public hospital (Grantham Hospital) offering chaplaincy service

1985-87: Rapid development of chaplaincy service / CPE training for chaplains

  • The Pastoral Counseling & Caring Association first started CPE training program.
  • Dr. David McCormick started CPE program in Prince of Wales Hospital and provided training for various chaplains.
  • The Bethel Bible Seminary started their first CPE program in 1986, which was the first theological seminary setting up CPE training in HK.
  • The HK Baptist Hospital also started CPE program in 1987.
  • The Prince of Wales Hospital organized the first volunteer training class.
  • The Association of H.K. Hospital Christian Chaplaincy Ministry was founded in 1989, with the objectives to foster the growth and development of hospital chaplaincy services in Hong Kong, to support the ministry in all hospitals with action, as well as to co-ordinate and fully utilize all resources available from local churches and hospitals to achieve a higher standard of “holistic care”

1990-91: Baptist Hospital hired CPE supervisor from U.S.

  • The HK Baptist Hospital was the first hospital in H.K. to employ ACPE supervisor from the States to conduct CPE program in H.K., hence upgrading the program to international standard.   
  • Rev. Joshua Chan assumed the role as General Secretary of the Association. He has made tremendous contributions in promoting the hospital chaplaincy service and was awarded as “The Outstanding Young Person 1991”.
  • The Association published “The Tender Voice” bi-monthly as to promote “holistic healing & health”.

1994: 10th Anniversary of Chaplaincy Service

  • Celebration events for 10th anniversary of chaplaincy service: Chaplains’ Nite, exhibitions, seminars, outing, study tour to Taiwan etc.

1985-87: Rapid development of chaplaincy service / CPE training for chaplains

  • The Pastoral Counseling & Caring Association first started CPE training program.
  • Dr. David McCormick started CPE program in Prince of Wales Hospital and provided training for various chaplains.
  • The Bethel Bible Seminary started their first CPE program in 1986, which was the first theological seminary setting up CPE training in HK.
  • The HK Baptist Hospital also started CPE program in 1987.
  • The Prince of Wales Hospital organized the first volunteer training class.
  • The Association of H.K. Hospital Christian Chaplaincy Ministry was founded in 1989, with the objectives to foster the growth and development of hospital chaplaincy services in Hong Kong, to support the ministry in all hospitals with action, as well as to co-ordinate and fully utilize all resources available from local churches and hospitals to achieve a higher standard of “holistic care”

2000-03: Mission re-integration/ New milestone for chaplain missionary / Responding SARS

  • A handbook was published by the Association to promote the concept of “Hospital Chaplain Missionary”.
  • The Cheung Chau Church of CCC responded and financially supported Rev. Law as General Secretary from 2001 to 2002.
  • The Association set up website with the domain name www.hospitalchap.org.hk and purchased computers for all chaplaincy offices.
  • The conference of “Holistic Healing” was jointly held by all chaplaincy offices with an objective to help doctors, nurses, hospital chaplains and church pastors to re-consider, re-integrate and re-undertake the hospital caring mission.
  • Chaplain Wei Kai-chi was supported by AHML Nethersole Hospital Christian Fellowship and the Truth Baptist Church and became the first hospital chaplain missionary who serves in hospitals of Shatin district
  • The Association set up the subsidy scheme for CPE & Pastoral Care Training. It aimed at encouraging hospital chaplains to receive on-job training for personal growth and improvement of service quality.
  • The H.K. Baptist Hospital further developed CPE training with Rev. Lo Wai-chuen conferred as CPE supervisor in 2002. In 2003 the Baptist Hospital became an affiliated member of ACPE of the States.
  • The Association joined hands with various chaplaincy offices, local churches, fellowship groups at hospitals and Christian organizations to launch a series of support actions which was appreciated by the Hospital Authority

2004: 20th Anniversary of Chaplaincy Services

  • All of the hospital chaplaincy committees jointly organized the 20th anniversary for chaplaincy services. Celebration events included exhibitions at hospitals, seminars by cluster, “Walking Together” and “Thanksgiving Banquet” etc.

2005-09: Professional development / 25th Anniversary of Chaplaincy Service

  • The Pastoral Counseling & Caring Association first started CPE training program.
  • Dr. David McCormick started CPE program in Prince of Wales Hospital and provided training for various chaplains.
  • The Bethel Bible Seminary started their first CPE program in 1986, which was the first theological seminary setting up CPE training in HK.
  • The HK Baptist Hospital also started CPE program in 1987.
  • The Prince of Wales Hospital organized the first volunteer training class.
  • A taskforce was set up in 2006 to study the professional growth of chaplains and a survey has been done. In 2007, a Steering Committee was set up and under which a work group was formed to draft related documents for establishing professional standards for both the qualification of chaplains as well as the chaplaincy service. The documents were sent to all chaplains for consultation and were finalized in 2008.
  • The Hospital Pastoral Day for Seminary Students was consecutively held from 2007 to 2009 and was well received by seminary students. The event was co-organized by theological seminaries belonging to Hong Kong Theological Education Association. Through seminar and workshops, students have more understanding of hospital pastoral care as well as the mission and role of local churches in the community.
  • All of the hospital chaplaincy committees jointly organized the 25th anniversary for chaplaincy service. A video film titled “One Passion” was shown on website which covers the history as well as forthcoming development of the chaplaincy ministry. Other events included the Silver Chaplains’ Day, Hospital Pastoral Day for church pastors and leaders as well as the Thanksgiving Celebration.

2014: 30th Anniversary of Chaplaincy Services

  • All of the hospital chaplaincy committees jointly organized the 30th anniversary for chaplaincy services with the theme of “Passing on care and love”. Celebration events included Cluster Luncheon Gatherings for church pastors and leaders, Volunteer Recognition Day, Exhibition panels setting at hospitals, Spirituality and Medicine Symposium as well as  Thanksgiving Banquet. In addition, two article collections were published. professional development as well as CPE training.

2010~2013  Registration of Chaplains  / Advanced training & learning

  • Rev. Van Wan Chuen Lo joined AHKHCCM in Jan 2010 as the Professional Development & Pastoral Education Supervisor (currently the Associate General Secretary) and was taking the lead in professional development as well as CPE training.
  • Rev. Lo made a special trip to the U.S. in April 2010 and attended annual conference for: College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP), Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) and Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE). In addition to promoting the development of professional chaplaincy in Hong Kong, he has also successfully formed a network of overseas consultants.
  • The AHKHCCM continued to organize the annual Chaplains’ Day. Starting from 2011, a Joint Thanksgiving Banquet was also held on the evening of the Chaplains’ Day where frontline chaplains and chaplaincy committee members gathered together for celebrating the fruit of success for the past year.
  • The implementation of chaplain registration started in 2011 with 74 members successfully registered and certificates were conferred during the Joint Thanksgiving Banquet.
  • Apart from the annul Pastoral Day for Seminarians, series of Pastoral Care Workshop were also held for church laymen. Furthermore, there were also training outside HK for church pastors and leaders.
  • The Pastoral Volunteer Supervisor Training was held in 2011 which was a train-the-trainers program. The First Joint Education The Education Day Camp was organized in 2012 with an aim to “gather, motivate and train” volunteers who commit themselves to serve with chaplains in various hospitals.
  • Study tour to Taiwan was held in both 2011 and 2012. Objectives of the tours include widening the horizon of chaplains, reflecting the role of religion on ethical issues as well as in depth learning on spiritual caring through life and death issues.
  • With an aim to sustain quality chaplaincy service with efficient use of resources, a certificate course with ten lessons on Chaplaincy Administration and Management was held in 2013.

2015

  • Limited company registration was made on April 25, 2014 for North Lantau Island Hospital Chaplaincy Ministry with 5 founding directors in total. The first employed full time chaplain reported duty on Jan 2015 to start promoting the ministry as well as providing pastoral care and visits for inpatients.
  • Rev Kit Choi Law retired in Feb and Rev Van W C Lo succeeded as the 4th General Secretary for AHKHCCM in March.
  • With reference to the standards of Association of Professional Chaplains, Inc, USA (APC), the Association has issued local guidelines and manuals for Professional Chaplain Certification which started since 2012. The Association also organized study groups to help applicants more familiar with the preparation. There were 16 local chaplains certified as of Dec 2015 with 100% passing rate.
  • The Association offered 2nd full year program for CPE Residency in 2014 to 2015. A total of 6 students enrolled and the program was completed by end of August, 2015.
  • The Association organized a certificate course on Spiritual Care and Grief Counseling in September and October with 8 lectures. Dr. Lawrence Chen was invited as speaker and 64 chaplains participated.
  • The General Secretary attended the 10th International Congress on Pastoral Care and Counseling (ICPCC). The Secretary was invited to participate in ACPE International Relations Work Group Meeting too. He also met with overseas consultants for professional development. Exhibition panels were set up during the Congress for introducing development of chaplaincy ministry in HK.

2016

  • The Association initiated the “Hospital Chaplain Missionary Program” promoting close partnership between churches and chaplaincy ministry. Chaplain Po Wai Wong was sent from Kowloon City Swatow Christian Church and employed by Shatin Hospital Chaplaincy Ministry for a two year contract in Jan, 2016.
  • The Hospital Pastoral Day for Seminary Students was held again in 2016 and continually co-organized with all theological seminaries under Hong Kong Theological Education Association. The theme for the 7th  Hospital Pastoral Day was “ Calling among calls”. In addition to seminar, 6 workshops were held to share clinical experience on pastoral care with seminary students.
  •  A certificate course on “Pastoral Care to the Sick”for congregational pastors was held for the first time in April. Rev. W C Lo conducted the course which comprised of 8 lessons.
  • The learning tour in Taiwan was held again with the theme of “ Theological Reflection on Clinical Practice”. 29 chaplains from 13 teams joined the five day tour with in depth reflection and sharing among themselves as well as with fellows in Taiwan. 
  • The Association coordinated the annual Joint Walkathon for Hospital Chaplaincy Ministry since 1996. Thank God for a record high fund raising with amount of $3.87m in 2016.
  • The Professional Development Committee conducted a 10-year follow up survey in 2016 to collect feedback from both chaplains and members of local chaplaincy committees with an aim to consolidate constructive insights for moving onward to the next decade.

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