Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church. Board of World Missions.

Dates:

Active 1952

Active 1961

Biographical notes:

The Hong Kong Lutheran Missions Conference grew out of the need to coordinate Lutheran missions efforts following the dispersion of much of the Chinese work from mainland China to Hong Kong and Taiwan between 1948 and 1951. Several meetings were held by mission heads and superintendents, and in November of 1952 rules were drawn up and officers elected. Participating in this organization were the American Lutheran Mission (United Lutheran Church in America); Christian Mission to Buddhists; Church of Sweden Mission; Finnish Missionary Society; Lutheran Augustana Mission; Lutheran Board of Mission (Lutheran Free Church); Lutheran United Mission; Norwegian Lutheran Mission; and the Norwegian Missionary Society.

Officers were president, vice-president, (later chairman and vice-chairman), secretary, treasurer, and statistician, with these officers serving as an Executive Committee to conduct business between annual meetings. The following served as president or chairman: John L. Benson, 1952- 1953; Arthur Olson, 1954-1956; Harold H. Martinson, 1957-1961; Erling Helland, 1961-[n.d.]. Although it was an organization composed of missionaries, it worked toward the goal of becoming advisor to the indigenous church rather than attempting to control it.

There is nothing in the records to determine whether or not the Lutheran Missions Conference continued after 1961, although similar work began in 1961 in the form of a China Advisory Committee (see LCA 28/3/5/3).

From the description of Hong Kong Lutheran Missions Conference Minutes 1952-1961. (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 48017983