The National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) marked its 50th anniversary yesterday (July 24) with a dinner celebration attended by more than 200 Christian leaders from across denominations. 

Held at The Barracks Hotel in Sentosa, the event was graced by guests-of-honour Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, as well as heads of other faiths.

Congratulating NCCS on its golden jubilee, SM Lee thanked NCCS and its member churches for their efforts toward fostering inter-religious harmony.

He noted that NCCS represents the Christian community on the National Steering Committee on Racial and Religious Harmony, while at the grassroots level, many member churches are active in racial and religious harmony circles in their local neighbourhoods.

“All together, more than 350 churches have affirmed their commitment to safeguard religious harmony, taking a stand against division and exclusivity,” said SM Lee.

“When controversial and difficult national issues arose, NCCS responded constructively, facilitating engagements between the Government and Christian groups so that community’s views could be properly aired and well-taken into account.”

Rt Reverend Lu Guan Hoe, President of NCCS, said in the event’s opening speech that one of NCCS’ earliest priorities when it was established in 1974 was to build bridges of understanding among churches of different denominations, diverse varieties of tradition and heritage, and different expressions and forms of worship.

“NCCS patiently encouraged churches to be part of this fellowship and we thank God that our family of churches has grown bigger over the decades. This big family is well-represented this evening and your attendance testifies to the unity of the Christian community in Singapore,” he said, adding that this solidarity has helped NCCS to represent Christians in the public space.

Unifying role of NCCS 

The spirit of cooperation embodied by NCCS first began in 1948 when the Malayan Christian Council (MCC) was formed to promote Christian unity among churches and Christian organisations in Malaya and Singapore.

In 1967, MCC was renamed the Council of Churches of Malaysia and Singapore.

After Singapore gained independence, the Council split into two to represent each nation, leading to the birth of NCCS.

The celebration saw more than 200 Christian leaders fellowshipping over dinner.

Today, NCCS serves to promote not only unity among churches, but inter-religious harmony with other faiths. It also represents the Christian community in national issues and facilitates engagements between the Government and churches.

The history of NCCS, along with its efforts to engage society on issues of inter-faith relations, biomedical ethics and sexuality, were detailed in a 50th anniversary commemorative booklet titled Serving the Church, Engaging Society, which was presented to all guests at the dinner celebration.

The 55-page commemorative booklet details the work that NCCS has done over the past 50 years.

Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian, General Secretary of NCCS, also unveiled a new NCCS logo at the event, describing it as “an emblem of God’s grace and providence over our Church and our nation”.

A new NCCS logo was unveiled at the event.

Explaining its features, he added: “The red colour mirrors the hues of the Singapore flag and serves to remind us of our continuing contribution to nation-building.

“The gold-coloured cross, adorned with vertical and horizontal lines, is a timeless symbol of the completed work of Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church.”

Harmony that is “rare, precious, but also fragile”

Archbishop Titus Chung (left) and Rt Rev Lu Guan Hoe (right) presented Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong with a work of calligraphy that roughly translates to “diligence in governance and love for people”.

SM Lee noted that unlike other societies where people are divided among fault lines of race and religion, Singapore has remained “an oasis of peace and harmony that stands out in a troubled world” with high levels of inter-religious tolerance and acceptance on multiple matters.

“We are in this happy position today thanks to decades of deliberate and concerted efforts,” he said.

(From left to right) Archbishop Titus Chung, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, President of NCCS Rt Rev Lu Guan Hoe and Rt Rev Christopher Chia cutting the celebratory cake.

Noting that unity and cohesion in Singapore will always be a work in progress, SM Lee urged NCCS and its members to guide Christians in Singapore to practise their faith in a way that will continue to strengthen these multiracial and religious ties.

Referring to the peace and harmony that Singapore enjoys, he said: “It is something rare, precious, but also fragile, something we must all continue working hard at patiently and resolutely, to protect and cultivate it year after year, generation after generation.” 

Partnership for social cohesion

Speaking to Salt&Light at the event, Minister Edwin Tong, who is also Second Minister for Law, said that he has found the leadership of NCCS to be progressive and open, and commended them for often providing constructive suggestions to the Government.

“I think (NCCS is) a really important partner for us as we both have the same mission: To bring peace, to bring harmony and social cohesion to our small country, which is ever so important especially in today’s times,” he added.

Minister Edwin Tong (right) chatting with Elder Kevin Lee, Honorary Treasurer of NCCS, over dinner.

Minister Desmond Lee noted that “beyond representing the interests and perspectives of the Christian community, NCCS has effectively fostered mutual respect and collaboration across diverse sectors.”

“Its commitment to unity and respectful dialogue continues to enrich our social harmony and contribute to our society,” said Mr Lee, who is also the Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration.

When approached by Salt&Light, senior church leaders commended NCCS for serving the Singapore Church well in various aspects over the past 50 years.

Noting how NCCS aided in the Government’s decision to change the allocation of religious land from bidding to balloting, former Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Singapore Rev Terry Kee, who was its President from 2018 to 2020, said: “I think NCCS has served well as the spokesman and the advocate for the churches … I think this part of it we have done well, and I think we should continue to do.”

Church leaders taking a selfie at the event, which encouraged attendees to come dressed in batik. (From left) Rt Rev Christopher Chia of the Presbyterian Church, Archbishop Titus Chung of the Anglican Church, President of NCCS Bishop Lu Guan Hoe of the Lutheran Church, Elder Kevin Lee of the Presbyterian Church, and Rev Tony Yeo, Senior Pastor of Covenant Evangelical Free Church.

The Diocesan Bishop of Singapore Titus Chung, who was President of NCCS from 2021 to 2023 and is currently its Vice-President, added that NCCS has acted as the glue and a bridge between the Church and the Government, and also brought together the Church in unity. “We are doing our very best. Hopefully that will impact society as well.”

Wisdom, courage and unity needed for challenges ahead

However, there is more to be done in the years ahead, noted leaders.

“I hope more and more churches will come to be part of NCCS, so the Church in Singapore can be more whole and united in the years to come, because I think the challenges ahead will be very great,” said Bishop Emeritus Wee Boon Hup of the Methodist Church in Singapore, who was also President of NCCS from 2014 to 2016.

Bishop Rennis Ponniah of the Anglican Church, who was President of NCCS from 2016 to 2018, gave an example of a growing challenge the Church is facing: Shifting value systems among the young.

“We can help one another with the interpretation and teaching of Scripture. We need a different language to reach the young people, so I think our collaboration will be important,” he said.

Bishop Rennis Ponniah (left) chatting with Minister Desmond Lee during the dinner.

Rt Reverend Christopher Chia, Synod Moderator of the Presbyterian Church and Vice-President of NCCS, added that in world of extremely polarised views, where it is increasingly difficult to discern truths from untruths, it is important for NCCS to be “the guardian of truth, so that we don’t get, even among Christians, such binary narratives that confuse and then divide us”.

“So the battle of unity carries on even more so, and the leaders that come up to NCCS will need all the wisdom from God, all the courage from God, all the humility from God to really stick to the one narrative, one Gospel.”

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