牧者心聲
重組調適 信任同行
周曉暉牧師
2023 年 5 月 13 日 / 14 日
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上月建道神學院舉辦「塑造香港教會前景會議」，我有機會就「移民潮下的香港教會領袖青黃不接」的問題提出一些觀察和建言，在此也跟北宣家人分享。
香港眾教會都因移民潮而人數下降、事奉者流失，北宣家也不例外。疫情前崇拜人數有 6000 多人，復常後則只有 4000 多人實體參與崇拜（另網上崇拜平均每週仍有超過 5000 多人次）；北宣的教牧人數也由四年前的 60 多人減至現今的 50 多人（包括退休及離職）。但我們不用顧影自憐。
普遍現象：其實，疫情後的外地教會也有青黃不接的問題。外地教會調查發現，除了實體人數下降，參與義務服事的人數也大幅減少。即使教會重開，事奉者也未有全面回歸教會及事奉崗位，教牧也不知道如何找到新的事奉者。
教外義務服務的情況也相約。疫情令社群對非牟利組織的服務需求增加，但義工人數卻大不如疫情之前，也越來越難招募。「流失」並非香港或香港教會獨有，而是疫後的普遍問題。
重組、重整：在如此的新領域裡，香港教會需要檢視是否仍沿用現時的決策方式。這些年間所面對的撼動，多少反映了教會的健康狀況、或自身弱項所在。在以往平順的日子，教會為回應各樣需要，事工日漸繁多，活動五花百門，疫情卻正好為教會急剎車。教會當辨識有哪些是不可少的，也認清教會為何存在，為了怎樣的獨特使命前行。
疫情後，教會不能不假思索地復常。教會如能重新持定起初所領受的使命，化繁為簡、重組加強，令行事脈絡與方向清晰，相信留港的會眾就能繼續委身其中。
調適、信任：香港教會領袖青黃不接，除了是沒有人擔任領袖外，也可解讀為有人但未有合適的人。但教會不能只等「合適」的人來到，反要提攜仍在港的新一代，將事奉崗位調整成「適合」他們。
教會不要單單找人頂替，更要按這一代特性多方微調。透過坦誠對談，我們總能聆聽到新一代對教會的未來有著怎樣的恐懼、想像、期望與抱負。說到底，「青黃不接」是「信任與否」的問題，教會只要信任年輕一代同是愛惜這個家，彼此快快的聽，慢慢的批判，大家就有一同走下去的可能。
教會在疫後的新領域裡，將面對許多未知。願教會在幻變中持定使命，時刻忠於主基督！
（本文撮錄自於建道神學院《塑造香港教會前景會議 2023》發表之文章。）
Last month, the Alliance Bible Seminary organized a conference on "Molding the Future of Hong Kong Churches." I had the opportunity to offer my observations and suggestions on the issue of "Temporary Shortage of Church Leaders under the Emigration Wave in Hong Kong." I would also like to share them with the NPAC family here.
In Hong Kong churches, the emigration wave has led to a drop in attendance and an outflow of those who serve, and the NPAC family is no exception. Before the pandemic, more than 6,000 attended our worship services. When normalcy is resumed after the pandemic, there are only over 4,000 who attend on-site worship services (with a count of more than 5,000 a week for online worship services). The strength of NPAC's pastoral team has also dropped from over 60 four years ago to over 50 at present (including those who have retired or left their ministry roles). Still, there is no need for us to wallow in self-pity.
Universal phenomenon: In fact, overseas churches also face the issue of temporary shortage of leaders after the pandemic. Their surveys found that on top of the drop in attendance in on-site worship services, the number of those who serve voluntarily has also dropped significantly. So even after church reopening, those who serve have not fully returned to church or to their serving roles. Meanwhile, pastors do not know where to find new blood to serve.
Likewise for voluntary services outside the church. The pandemic has led to the community's increased need for services by non-profit organizations. Compared to the time before the pandemic, however, the number of voluntary workers has dwindled and it is increasingly difficult to recruit new workers. The problem of "outflow" is not confined to Hong Kong or Hong Kong churches. It is a universal problem after the pandemic.
Regroup, reorganize: In such new horizons, Hong Kong churches need to review whether they would continue with their current decision-making processes. To a certain extent, the shock we experienced these few years reflects our health situation or where our weak points are. In the smooth old days, the church responded to different needs with more and more ministries and varied activities, and the pandemic did the hard braking for the church. The church must discern what are indispensable. We must know why the church exists, and for what unique mission we will move forward.
After the pandemic, the church cannot resume normalcy without thinking. If the church can reaffirm the original mission we received, simplify and streamline, regroup and strengthen so as to have clear workflow and direction, I trust that congregants who remain in Hong Kong will be able to continue to commit themselves.
Adjust, entrust: Hong Kong churches experience a temporary shortage of leaders partly because no one would serve as leaders. It can also be interpreted as there are people but none is yet suitable. Yet, the church cannot simply wait for "suitable" candidates to appear. Rather, we should groom the new generation that is still in Hong Kong and adjust the ministry roles to "suit" them.
The church should not be merely filling vacancies but we should make adjustments in various aspects in accordance with the characteristics of the new generation. Through frank exchanges, we will be able to hear from the new generation their fears, imaginations, expectations and aspirations for the future of the church. After all, "the temporary leader shortage" is a question of "to trust or not to trust." As long as we can trust that the younger generation also loves this church family and be quick to listen to each other and slow to criticize, it is possible for us to make the journey together.
In the post-pandemic new horizons, the church is faced with many uncertainties. Amidst all the changes, may the church be steadfast in its mission and be faithful to Christ the Lord at all times!
(This is an excerpt from the paper published for the conference on "Molding the Future of Hong Kong Churches 2023" by the Alliance Bible Seminary.)
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