No matter whether you have studied theology elsewhere, you must complete the two-year Licensed Lay Minister (LLM) training provided by the diocese before serving as a lay minister in the Church of England. If you want to become a vicar, you must complete an additional course.
Due to the cultural
differences, the teaching approach of the LLM is a bit different. For instance,
I learned about the origins of the Bible in systematic theology and early
church history classes in Hong Kong. Professors explained the historical
process and reasons behind the formation of the canon. Here, however, the focus
is more on whether the Bible is reliable, with limited discussion on the
history of the canon. It is good that I don’t need to repeat what I’ve already
studied. I recall a brother in church sharing that his daughter’s religion
teacher at school claimed the Bible was fake. It may be due to the lasting
influence of the Enlightenment's emphasis on the authority of science.
Cultural differences always bring us challenges. Due to a snow warning, we emailed our teacher to ask if we could attend class via Zoom. He replied that the overall experience of using Zoom during in-person classes was not ideal. From my classmates and other local people, we learned that most people are used to driving in snowy conditions here. If you drive slowly and don’t brake hard, it should be safe. Finally, we took one hour, 15 minutes more than usual, to get back home. We are grateful that we have unlocked a new skill. Indeed, the teacher did help students who could not attend class to make video recordings at last. If we know this arrangement earlier, we may miss the chance of learning new skills here.
Being a
middle-aged person, we have a lot to adopt here apart from making a living,
including but not limited to weather, culture, and language. We really feel
exhausted sometimes. However, the support and love from Hong Kongers, the joy
from serving, and the experience with God are our encouragement and motivation,
which remind us not to forget why we are here and empower us to move forward
with strength.
Date: November
2024
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