NCCS condemns church involvement in AWARE

[cheekenpie]

Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story
May 1, 2009
Aware tussle
Churches should stay out
Umbrella Christian body concerned over religion being dragged into row
By Zakir Hussain & Wong Kim Hoh

Dr Chew the NCCS president, says member churches of the council are not involved in the leadership tussle at Aware. -- ST FILE PHOTO

THE National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) has said it does not condone churches getting involved in recent matters related to the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware).

It also does not condone pulpits being used for the purpose, it said in a statement on Thursday night.

'We do not condone churches getting involved in this matter; neither do we condone pulpits being used for this purpose. Our member churches are not involved in the present saga.

'In fact, our heads of churches have very recently reiterated to their clergy the standing instruction on the proper use of the pulpit,' it said.

The statement was issued by the current NCCS president, Dr John Chew, and its general secretary, Mr Lim K. Tham.

The NCCS brings together churches from various Christian denominations, such as the Anglican, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Salvation Army and Syrian Orthodox churches, among others. Its leadership is rotated among the heads of the major groups.

The current NCCS president, the Reverend Chew, is also Bishop of the Anglican Church in Singapore.

The leadership tussle at women's advocacy group Aware took a religious turn last week when it emerged that six new committee members attend the Church of Our Saviour in Margaret Drive.

The church's Pastor Derek Hong reportedly urged, in a Sunday sermon, the women in his flock to 'be engaged' and support new Aware president Josie Lau and 'her sisters' at the group.

In its statement last night, the NCCS said it had been following the recent events related to Aware.

 

[cheekenpie]

Makes me wonder whether NCCS has any grip over its member churches.

The head can say one thing but the legs do something else.

 

[DrPanacea]

The title of your post is untruthful, biased, overplayed and overcooked and with malicious intent to mislead.
Cheapo way to draw attention.

 

[cheekenpie]

how is it untruthful?

 

[scoobyhoo]

one day they might monitor each couples' sex with cctv and penalty those who do doggie or other styles than missionary?:p (of course, sever penalties to unnatural and gay/lebs)

 

[commoner]

remember not too long ago, only a man sexual intercourse with a woman by the vaginal way is considered natural and all others like blow jobs is considered un-natural and health centres all the country over is un-natural and illegal till they repeal 377

 

[londontrader]

how is it untruthful?

It's untruthful because he accepts only one truth ie. his own version!

 

[halsey02]

one day they might monitor each couples' sex with cctv and penalty those who do doggie or other styles than missionary?:p (of course, sever penalties to unnatural and gay/lebs)

Think they have amendment the law on unnatural sex between married couples...like rear-entry, anal, bj etc.., but unmarried couples?..anyway, if they go about catching people doing it...then all of us, would be in jail, one time or the other..or everyday!!

 

[TeeKee]

Makes me wonder whether NCCS has any grip over its member churches.

The head can say one thing but the legs do something else.

Is reverend chew Jesus? Why must the churches listen to him？

Is reverend chew serving God or lky?

 

[commoner]

so TeeKee thinks bible is the Word of God?

Don't he know that all the books in the bible is selected by bunch of people like Rev Chew in the 4th century after arguing which to select and which to discard?

lucky TeeKee is not Jesus, why must anyone listen to him....

luckily, the bible is not written by Jesus, why should anyone follow the bible

 

[londontrader]

Think they have amendment the law on unnatural sex between married couples...like rear-entry, anal, bj etc.., but unmarried couples?..anyway, if they go about catching people doing it...then all of us, would be in jail, one time or the other..or everyday!!

Yes, they repealed section 377 in Oct 2007
They kept section 377A, as you know

 

[londontrader]

Is reverend chew Jesus? Why must the churches listen to him？

Is reverend chew serving God or lky?

Maybe they could listen to what he has to say since the member churches ELECTED him to the NCCS executive committee.

 

[scoopdreams]

Maybe they could listen to what he has to say since the member churches ELECTED him to the NCCS executive committee.

By looking at the number of denominations Christianity has fragmented into, should say something about them listening to the top.

No, like all human beings, they only listen to what they want to listen to.

 

[londontrader]

By looking at the number of denominations Christianity has fragmented into, should say something about them listening to the top.

No, like all human beings, they only listen to what they want to listen to.

The NCCS membership is quite comprehensive, you can see for yourself

http://www.nccs.org.sg/NCCS/Members.html

I think the "top" decided that they needed to present a united politically correct front. Suspect that some of these chaps were invited to a tea session with the powers that be for some clarification and encouragement (ie. rein in your flock or else....)

Yes people listen to what they want to listen to
But there is nothing like good ole PAP persuasion for people to listen to what the PAP wants them to listen to

 

[scoopdreams]

The NCCS membership is quite comprehensive, you can see for yourself

http://www.nccs.org.sg/NCCS/Members.html

And all denominations is a member of God's family, but range from the mild to the totally outrageous in behavior and beliefs. What is a "membership", if not a token badge for some?

I think the "top" decided that they needed to present a united politically correct front. Suspect that some of these chaps were invited to a tea session with the powers that be for some clarification and encouragement (ie. rein in your flock or else....)

-grins- yes, very probably. It is a wiser political move to be "not involved" in this whole fiasco, you never know which way it swings.

But just for fun, and purely for fun, what do you think will NCCS's stand be if the public media have been very supportive of the takeover and the new agenda? Would they still have said "oh, we are not involved!"?

Yes people listen to what they want to listen to
But there is nothing like good ole PAP persuasion for people to listen to what the PAP wants them to listen to

-laughs- yes, PAP will make you an offer you can't refuse.

 

[londontrader]

"And all denominations is a member of God's family, but range from the mild to the totally outrageous in behavior and beliefs. What is a "membership", if not a token badge for some?"

You can say that again!
Well, at least they try and talk to each other
BTW I'm Catholic (born into), so not just an interested bystander

"-grins- yes, very probably. It is a wiser political move to be "not involved" in this whole fiasco, you never know which way it swings."

That's the PAP style
only show your hand when it becomes obvious that you're on the winning side!

"But just for fun, and purely for fun, what do you think will NCCS's stand be if the public media have been very supportive of the takeover and the new agenda? Would they still have said "oh, we are not involved!"?"

I suspect that NCSS would still have been "encouraged" into that statement (notice how fast Wong Kan Seng jumped in to pat them on the back!)
The PAP really REALLY hates politically active religious leaders.

"-laughs- yes, PAP will make you an offer you can't refuse.[/QUOTE]"

How to refuse
it's such an "honour" to have Wong Kan Seng praise you!!!

 

[Naturefarm2]

if the new aware is so " follow the bible", they should also practise that in the bible, the head of the household should be the man.
Woman should follow the leadership of the man. If this plain logic is challege , the whole world will turn upside down. this is what happen now.

 

[newyorker88]

Is reverend chew Jesus? Why must the churches listen to him？

Is reverend chew serving God or lky?

Who ever controls the church controls GOD.