HKBTS Going Deeper in Practical Theology

Starting with the Sai O TSSPS Issue

When I assumed the presidency of the seminary in 2009, one of the first major issues I had to tackle was the Sai O Trunk Sewer Sewage Pumping Station (TSSPS) Issue. It all began in 2008 when the Drainage Services Department was planning to construct a major trunk sewer sewage pumping station at the site next to our Sai O Campus, which was designated as a “government, institution or community facilities site” (hereafter referred to as “Nai Chung G/IC”; see fig. 1). At that time, the seminary had already raised strong objections against the proposal.

On February 9, 2009, the seminary accidentally discovered a notice from the Drainage Services Department posted on Nin Ming Road which stated the government’s plan to carry out ground investigation works at a site near our basketball court. Under the request of neighboring residents, I, along with our administrative staff and several experts, started negotiations with the Drainage Services Department and the Tai Po District Council. We pointed out the serious inadequacy in the lack of consultation and objected to the hasty commencement of ground investigation works without sufficient public consultation and serious consideration of other site options.

At that time, the seminary invited Prof. Ho Kin-chung, then Dean of the School of Science and Technology of the Open University of Hong Kong (currently Hong Kong Metropolitan University) to launch, in September 2009, a four-month study on the environment and ecology of Sai O, which concluded with an independent and objective study report, proving that the coastal area around Nai Chung and Sai O is the habitat of a wide range of land and sea animals, and is therefore of high environmental and ecological value. A number of objections based on environmental and ecological reasons were listed in the report, pointing out the inappropriateness of constructing a trunk sewer sewage pumping station at Nai Chung G/IC.

After lengthy and painstaking persuasive efforts, we did our utmost to press the government to conduct a comprehensive environmental assessment study on the possible impact of the project on Nai Chung Pebble Beach and its vicinity. Henceforth, the government did not take any further action on the construction of the major trunk sewer sewage pumping station.

The Resurgence of the Issue

While the matter was thought to have come to an end, the problem returned in June 2018, when the seminary received a letter from the Tai Po District Office of the Home Affairs Department notifying us that the Drainage Services Department had commissioned the Office to consult the local community on their opinions on the construction of the Sai O Trunk Sewer Sewage Pumping Station. Not realizing what had happened, the seminary made some searches for related information immediately and found out that the Drainage Services Department changed the site for the construction of the sewage pumping station in December 2014 from Nai Chung G/IC into the permanent government land at Nin Ming Road (which was the government land opposite to the entrance of the seminary; see fig. 2). A comprehensive environmental impact assessment for the site had already been conducted.

Comparing the sewage pumping station plans proposed by the Drainage Services Department in 2009, 2014, and 2018, the 2018 proposal contained the most far-reaching impacts on the seminary, both in terms of site selection and the scale of works. Concerning site selection, the government proposed in 2009 to build the sewage pumping station 60 meters to the east of the seminary; however, the distance between the proposed site and the seminary was greatly shortened to 5 meters to the north of the seminary. As for the scale of works, the daily treatment capacity of the proposed sewage pumping station was 12,500 cubic meters in 2014; however, according to the 2018 proposal, the treatment capacity was greatly increased to 20,600 cubic meters.

The seminary promptly formed a voluntary consultant team with experts in this field (core members include Mr. Edward Lam, Deacon John Pak, Prof. Steve Wong, and Rev. Wong Mun-lun) to come up with a good solution. After an assessment of the 2018 proposal, the consultant team believed that once adopted, the proposal was bound to cause irreversible and serious damage to the natural scenery, ecology, and environment of Nai Chung Pebble Beach and its vicinity during the construction and subsequent operation of the pumping station if the proposal was not carefully designed and handled. The first to bear the brunt would certainly be the teachers, students, and staff who work, study and reside at the seminary. The dust produced during the site construction works would affect the health of those at the seminary. Besides, there were bound to be many heavy vehicles moving in and out of the site every day, which would not only result in noise and air pollution but also affect the life and health of the residents in the neighborhood. Upon completion of the sewage pumping station, the teachers and students residing at the seminary would have to put up with the nuisance of foul smells and noises as well as related potential health hazards. In case of odor leakage or flooding in the pumping station, it would pollute the sea, harm wildlife, and potentially make people ill.

The seminary had written to the government time and again, stating clearly our concerns and suggesting other sites which are believed to be more appropriate. Starting from 2019, we had had meetings with the Drainage Services Department and the works consultant company it commissioned, only to find that they were still holding on to the principle of cost-effectiveness in turning down the site options suggested by our expert consultant team. They insisted on the Nin Ming Road site, which was just 5 meters away from our staff and students quarters.

Going the Extra Mile

Based on the spirit of settling the matter gracefully and properly by working hand in hand with the government, our expert consultant team was willing to go the extra mile by inviting renowned local architect Prof. Raymond Fung Wing-kee, JP, to give us professional advice on the Drainage Services Department’s proposed design of the sewage pumping station. Our representatives were also given a chance to meet the Under Secretary for the Environment Mr. Tse Chin-wan, BBS, JP. We were then able to present our concerns and worries about the works project to him directly and clearly.

After numerous efforts to negotiate with various parties, the original design proposal for the sewage pumping station was improved. According to the new design proposal, the main building of the pumping station would be moved from the periphery of the construction site to a location further away from the seminary and the height of the building would be greatly reduced to about 30% of its original design (see fig. 3 and fig. 4) to retain the view of the beautiful scenery. Evergreen and low-maintenance vegetation would be planted on the outer walls of the building so that the building would be integrated into the natural environment of its surroundings harmoniously. A “Living Water Garden” would be constructed near the seminary. Two couplets would be put up separately at the two entrances of the garden, which read: “How can the water be so clear? / For living water is coming from the springhead” and “Lift your eyes to the hills and your heart will be calmed; / Turn your ears quietly to the flow of the living water and your mind will become clear and bright.” There would be walking trails and outdoor seats in the garden and Golden Trumpet trees would be planted for the leisure and joy of visitors (see fig. 5). Additionally, we have had detailed analyses of and discussions on how to reduce the negative impacts that the construction and operation of the sewage pumping station may have on the surrounding environment and residents.

This is evidence of the good citizenship of Christ’s church, which fights for the well-being of society and its citizens and is willing to help the government to carry out remedial actions by taking into consideration the needs of people from various sectors, reaping the greatest benefit for society in general. This can be described as a story, a beautiful story, in HKBTS’s practical theology. We hope this beautiful story will go on.

Continuing the Beautiful Story

When we are talking about beautiful stories, the renewal of our working teams during these few years comes to mind. Several years ago, the seminary began to prepare for the changes and challenges of a new environment, hence the changes in our personnel.

Regarding our volunteer team, we thank God for bringing in Mrs. Melon Huen and Mrs. Katherine Lam in September 2020. Both of them have rich experience in teaching and school management and they are now our Assistant to President and Project Officer (Learning and Teaching) respectively. In addition, Mr. Roger Lai has been volunteering for the management of the seminary canteen since June 2020. These “great volunteers,” who have been working quietly without expecting any reward, work together as good stewards of Jesus Christ to help the seminary.

In October 2021, the seminary appointed Prof. Wong Fook-kong and Prof. Nathan Ng as Associate Deans. Prof. Wong heads our teaching and research while Prof. Ng takes care of the academic affairs. They have shared the workload of the Academic Dean. In just a couple of months, they have played a great role in their positions, handling pandemic issues, leading the teachers, and educating the students so that I can feel at ease handing over the academic affairs of the seminary to them and the next generation gradually. In January this year, Ms. Ophelia Chow joined the seminary’s administrative team as Director of Administrative Affairs. This is another important mark in our history. With her assuming the post, I can focus more on my work as the President in leading the seminary to serve the churches. In the future, I will take greater care of church needs, have more exchanges with church deacons and alumni, and broaden HKBTS’s international network again to go deeper in its practical theology.

Going Deeper in Practical Theology

Why did I say HKBTS has to go deeper in practical theology? What did that mean?

It is widely known that I specialized in the field of systematic theology when I studied in the doctorate program. However, God continued to teach me and broadened my vision from that of systematic theology to that of ethics. After assuming the presidency of the seminary, my focus further shifted to the area of practical theology. The stress on practical theology is the direction of my “gradual visualization” after my return to serve HKBTS. The Sai O TSSPS Issue can also be described as what triggered me to re-orientate my thoughts.

To me, practical theology is performative. It starts and ends with praxis. One approach to practical theology is to start with descriptive-analytical tasks and then reveal the hidden value in the praxis. The climax of the performative tasks in practical theology is the renewed understanding of God’s action at the moment concerned, which will then renew the praxis accordingly. In other words, these tasks form a cycle that will ultimately give rise to new praxis.

Therefore, practical theology not only explains the Bible and the theological tradition but also points out what faithful praxis is. Faithful praxis is largely related to church life. When believers lead their lives at church as disciples, they have to hear and respond to divine revelations together. For this reason, the church should be a “listening community” in the first place, before becoming a “speaking community” and a “community of actions.” The church speaks justly because they hear Lord Jesus’s words. When the church speaks, it means the church hears Lord Jesus Christ’s story and His words through Scripture. When the Holy Spirit speaks through Scripture, the church has to respond with faithful actions. When the church carries out faithful actions, it will manifest the fact that the church hears Lord Jesus Christ’s will through the Bible. As motives and practical actions are equally important, not only must we make others see our faith in actions, but also the action itself must originate from faith. Both faith and action must be in line with Scripture.

Step by step, HKBTS is applying in life this kind of practical theology. We hope you will continue to boost our spirit and support HKBTS’s ministry of theological education so that we may forge an alternative kind of practical theology in the grace of Jesus Christ and, amid the Holy wind, we can soar high and preach the gospel across boundaries in faith, hope and love together!

 

Aug 2022