From China to Malaysia:

Abstract

This dissertation is a study of the development, growth and rooting of the Presbyterian Church in Malaysia (PCM) during the period 1946-1975. By studying the associations of “home for Chinese in Malaya and Singapore and using especially the concept of being a ''Three-sell Church", it examines the various steps taken by the church to be rooted in Malaysia, so that it was managed and funded by local Malaysian Christians who themselves took responsibility for propagating the gospel. The PCM had its beginnings during the era of British Colonial rule when missionaries of Presbyterian Church in England and Chinese immigrants from South China came to Malaya and Singapore. The missionaries knew that evangelization could not be done by foreign missionaries alone and that the future of the church depended on local leadership and direction. From 1895, they sought to implement the “Three-self principles" of self- government, self-propagation and self-finance which had been formulated by Henry Venn of the Church Missionary Society and Rufus Anderson of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, with the purpose of planting an indigenous church. During the course of the twentieth century and particularly during the post War period, these principles became important in guiding the Chinese Presbyterian mission of the Presbyterian Church of England in Malaya in its effort to develop an indigenous church. Before the War, although the church was located in Malaya-Singapore, the Chinese church regarded itself as an extension mission work within the Fujian and Shantou synod. Local Chinese pastors and leaders had to be trained, and locals were encouraged to lead the church. However, "home” was still China and the term “local” was interpreted in terms of “Chinese” in comparison with missionaries from the West. The majority of the ethnic Chinese in Malaya, including the members of the Presbyterian Church held to the idea that they were citizens of China, and they tended to be orientated towards China, both politically and culturally. Even after the church implemented the Three-self formula, they remained China-centred and Chinese-centric. After the War, Malaya underwent rapid political and economic change, and the church began to move more positively towards becoming part of Malaya. The missionaries knew that in the future, local church leaders would take over the church, but for a time the Emergency actually increased the number of missionaries and other issues also needed to be addressed for the Presbyterian Church in Malaysia to become a rooted indigenous church. These included new works to strengthen the church, work in the New Villages, a Double the Church Growth Movement and the localization of the church as mission works were attempted by the church to serve the locals. These new ventures and changes in the political situation with the Communist victory in China helped Chinese in general in Malaya including PCM members to shift from China -consciousness to Malaya-consciousness. After Merdeka in 1957, they were granted citizenship, Malaya became their new home and country, and they participated in the affairs of nation building. As Singapore withdrew from the Federation, Malaysia and Singapore were heading in different direction in political, economic and social development. Church leaders knew that it was just a matter of time before the church needed to organize. In the year 1975, the Malaysia-Singapore Synod was separated into two independent Synods. However the church had made significant progress, the church was led by indigenous leaders, an English-speaking ministry had been set up and strengthen and Presbyterian churches were developing outside the state of Johore. Most important of all, the church was becoming rooted in Malaysia.