ix

 

Introduction

 

With this book, the WSCF Asia-Pacific Book Series looks at a new theme, namely, the History of the Federation. Thus far, the Book Series reflected themes of justice and peace issues in the region. The inclusion of a history book in this Series is with good reason.

The centennial year of WSCF falls in 1995. As part of the centen­ary celebrations, a project on WSCF History was launched at the global level. Thus far, two books have been published by the Inter-Regional office of the WSCF. The WSCF History Project was estab­lished in the recognition that the WSCF history is integral to church and ecumenical history of the 19th and 20th centuries. Much of the vision and impetus for the formation of the World Council of Churches, for example, came from the WSCF. An official volume of the history of the WSCF is under preparation by a team headed by Philip Potter, former Chairperson of the WSCF and former General Secretary of the WCC.

This book by Frank Engel was written in response to a request to senior friends from the WSCF. Many senior friends in the region strongly felt the need to examine the role of the Federation in Asia-Pacific, without sacrificing the totality of the global project that has been launched. Hence, it is the privilege of the Region to publish this book by Frank. As an ecumenical historian, Frank has published two books, Australian Christians in Conflict and. Unity, 1788-1926 and Christian in Australia: Times of Change, 1918-1978. Frank served as General Secretary of the Australian SCM, the New Zealand SCM, the Australian Council of Churches, as well as the Federation. He is pioneer and prophet of the ecumenical movement, and is remem­bered for his outspoken support for Aboriginal Land Rights in the 60s and '70s. Born in Korea, his knowledge of and commitment to, Asia runs through his whole life.

 

x

 

In this volume, Frank takes the reader through some critical years of the Federation. Those have been years of change, marked by the War and following that, the collapse of the Empire in many parts of India. In a new Asia striving to define its self- identity in the comity of nations, priorities had changed - from the agenda of the colonial masters to an agenda of nation- building, from an agenda dictated by the foreign missions to an agenda of self-renewal and church unity. Frank meticulously records the roles played by many WSCF leaders at that time in this volume. Though his experi­ences are limited to the East Asia region one can clearly discern the elements of the larger debate and the global vision that was always a part of the Federation agenda.

Within the region, we are looking at the possibility of following-up this publication with another that would probably emanate from a Consultation. It is imperative that we record the history of the Federation in the Region, without slipping into the danger of being chauvinistic about it. The movements in the Asia-Pacific Region have rich traditions of their own. To capture that mosaic on the big canvas would be almost impossible. We hope many others who were involved in the WSCF in various parts of our Region would venture to put pen to paper their own reflections of their times, as Frank has done here. Out of these many pens and brush strokes of specific experiences, we can put together a canvas that would be a fitting tribute and contribution of thanksgiving to the pioneering work of those who met in Vadstena in 1895.

There is always a danger of glorifying the past. The publication of this book is not aimed at that. Rather, it is aimed at putting into perspective the aspirations and struggles of the present generation of students. The involvement of students in the struggles for democratization of Asian societies is closely linked to the life of many Asian and Pacific SCMs. That the students and youth were at the cutting edge of both ecumenical and Frank Engel witnesses to political history in many countries in our Region in this book. It is our hope that the students of today will rediscover the meaning of the original vision and recapture the power of commitment to the ministry of Jesus for the sake of the world. As a community of memory and hope, the WSCF fosters a spirit of vision and a spirit of adventure. Personally, we are hopeful that the students and youth of today will bear testimony to the life and work of the SCM/WSCF in whatever

 

xi

 

calling they will be in the future.

We must say a word of special thanks to Frank Engel for the careful research and pains taken to write the book for the WSCF. He has borne with us for the delays and never gave up when funds eluded us to make this book available. Together we hoped and our prayers were answered when the Australian Council of Churches came up with a grant to make this possible. To the ACC, and to Chris Ledger, a former Co-Secretary General of the WSCF who persist­ently pursued funding possibilities for this book, we record our appreciation and gratefulness. Finally, let us also thank Koshy Mathew, a former staff person of our Region from India, for taking away the burden of editing and working on the production of this book.

To all, Shalom and Thanks

 

 

Yong Ting Jin & Wong Wai Ching

for the WSCF Asia-Pacific Region

January 1994