Bay Area Chinese Churches Project - Phase 2

Over forty persons from eight East Bay Chinese churches were present for the Consultation held on January 12th on the campus of Chinese Christian School in Alameda. Churches represented include Chinese Community Methodist Church, Oakland; Chinese Church of Christ, Berkeley; Grace Chinese Alliance Church, Concord; Immanuel Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Fremont; Berkeley Chinese Community Church; Chinese Presbyterian Church of Oakland; Bay Area Chinese Bible Church; and Calvary Presbyterian Church in Berkeley. This is the third of four Consultations scheduled, and so far almost 30 churches have taken part in these meetings.

During the morning, those assembled heard a presentation focusing on the main findings of the 1996 Study, and what we hope to uncover in the present follow up study. D.J. Chuang, of the L2 Foundation and Leadership Network, gave a presentation about the diversity of new Asian American church plants. He noted that the new generation of Asian American Christian leaders expressed very little interest in Asian American identity and issues. In the afternoon, those present identified issues and challenges facing their congregations and shared it with the Planning Team. Presentations at and full summaries of this consultation will be posted in the “Resources” tab on this website.

We are grateful for the hospitality of Pastor Steve Quen and the Bay Area Chinese Bible Church for providing a wonderful facility for this consultation and for inviting D.J. Chuang to share his presentation.

A fourth and final Consultation, this one for Chinese churches in the South Bay, is scheduled for Saturday, April 26 in Cupertino. We expect to publish our report in book form in the fall of 2008. We believe that local churches will find this to be an important resource that can be utilize and enhance their own outreach and ministry.

In the meantime, we are available to come to local churches, ministerial gatherings, etc. to talk about our project and enter into an informal dialogue regarding our common mission. Interested parties are invited to contact James Chuck, Project Director.

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James Chuck, Th.D., Senior Consultant, ISAAC, & Director of the Bay Area Project (BAP)
Institute for the Study of Asian American Christianity
Pastor Emeritus, First Chinese Baptist Church, San Francisco (1951-1991)
Professor Emeritus, American Baptist Seminary of the West, Berkeley (1991-2007)
33 Linda Ave., #1701, Oakland, California, 94611 (510) 655-5100