The establishment of the Compass Rose Society’s Hong Kong chapter “marks a major milestone both in the worldwide Society and for Hong Kong,” says Archbishop Paul Kwong, primate of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (Anglican Church in Hong Kong). Photo: ACNS
The Compass Rose Society, the charitable foundation that provides substantial support for the work of the Anglican Consultative Council and the international ministry of the Archbishop of Canterbury, has opened a new Chapter in Hong Kong. The Chapter was formally installed by the primate of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (the Anglican Church in Hong Kong), Archbishop Paul Kwong, during a service of Evensong at St John’s Cathedral on Hong Kong Island.
“The vice president of the Compass Rose Society, the Rev. Canon John L. Peterson, a former secretary general of the Anglican Communion, preached during the service and shared the work and development of the Society at the celebratory dinner held immediately after the Chapter’s installation.
“This evening we are going to witness another step in the Province of Hong Kong living into its baptismal covenant by the establishment of the Hong Kong Chapter of the Compass Rose Society,” he said. “The Compass Rose Society enables its members to participate and build relationships with fellow Anglicans from different provinces in the Anglican Communion.
“In doing so the Society can serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbours as ourselves.”
Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, secretary general of the Anglican Communion, sent a message of congratulations to the new Hong Kong chapter, saying: “since the very inception of the Compass Rose Society, Hong Kong has played a significant role in the life of the Society under the initial leadership of Archbishop Peter Kwong and today under Archbishop Paul Kwong’s leadership.”
He also commended the “influential contributions made on the Board of the Compass Rose Society” by CRS vice-president Samson Jeremiah Fan and David Tse; and by their predecessors Antonia Wong, Joey Fan, and Canon Peter Douglas Koon.
In his opening remarks at the inauguration dinner, Archbishop Kwong shared the vital work and support the Compass Rose Society has made to the global ministry and global initiatives of the Anglican Communion. “I am so pleased to see Hong Kong’s strong commitment to and support of the Anglican Communion,” he said. “The establishment of the Hong Kong Chapter of the Compass Rose Society marks a major milestone both in the worldwide Society and for Hong Kong.”
The work of establishing a Hong Kong Chapter of the Society began in July 2017, when a group of Hong Kong Compass Rose Society members, under the leadership of CRS vice-president Samson Jeremiah Fan, board member David Tse and former vice-president Joey Fan, met and discussed the mission, needs, and process of setting up a Hong Kong Chapter.
At its meeting last November, the CRS board passed a resolution supporting the initiation and development of a Hong Kong Chapter of the Society to further work in increasing and facilitating recruitment of new members. increasing communication and understanding of the Society among its exiting members in Hong Kong, enhancing support to members of the Anglican Communion in all Asia regions, increasing awareness of Asian concerns within the Anglican Communion, and enhancing the fellowship of the CRS members in Asia.
“I am happy that Hong Kong has made this decision and certainly this decision received unanimous support when the Compass Rose Society Board met in London last November,” the president of the Society, Bishop C Andrew Doyle of the US-based Episcopal Church’s diocese of Texas, said in a message. “I know the entire Board of the Compass Rose Society joins me in thanksgiving for your ministry in the Hong Kong Chapter of the Compass Rose Society.”