Chinese Theologian to Headline Oct. 22 Panel Discussion

“Hong Kong Protests: A Messianic Movement,” a panel discussion examining the current situation in Hong Kong, will be held Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Great Hall of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall on the SMU campus.

DALLAS (SMU) – “Hong Kong Protests: A Messianic Movement?,” a panel discussion sponsored by Perkins School of Theology, the Tower Center's Sun & Star Program on Japan and East Asia, SMU's Center for Faith and Learning and the Embrey Human Rights Program, will examine the current situation in Hong Kong on Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Great Hall of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall (5901 Bishop Blvd, Dallas, TX 75205).

Featured speaker is Dr. Lap Yan Kung, Professor of Theology, The Divinity School, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, who will speak on “A Secular/Theological Messianic Exegesis of the Anti-Extradition Bill in Hong Kong.” 

Panelists include Dr. Hiroki Takeuchi, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director, Tower Center Sun & Star Program on Japan and East Asia, and Dr. Matthew Wilson, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director, SMU Center for Faith and Learning. Dr. Sze-kar Wan, Professor of New Testament, Perkins School of Theology, will chair the discussion.

Professor Lap Yan Kung, a graduate from the universities of St. Andrews and Glasgow (Scotland), teaches Christian ethics, political theology, and life education at the Divinity School of Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong.

He has received awards for four books: A Tearless Grief (2001), An Abnormal Faith (2008), The Cross of Homosexuality (2013), and God-Talk in Darkness (2018). His current research is on memory and religion, social actions and missiology. Apart from his academic post, he is the honorary general secretary of the Hong Kong Christian Institute (an advocacy NGO) and one of the founding members of an inclusive church, One Body in Christ.

The event is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are required.  Reserve your ticket here.

Can’t attend, but still interested? E-mail rdwight@smu.edu for live stream information or join the live stream here at 6:30 p.m. Central, Tuesday, Oct. 22.


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Perkins School of Theology, founded in 1911, is one of five official University-related schools of theology of The United Methodist Church. Degree programs include the Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Music, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Ministry, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Pastoral Music as well as the Ph.D., in cooperation with The Graduate Program in Religious Studies at SMU's Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences.