On 22 September (Fri) 2017 The Rimbach Memorial Old Testament Theological Conference titled "Luther and the Bible" was launched by The Lutheran Church Hong Kong Synod (LCHKS) and Concordia Theological Seminary (CTS).
The lecturer was Rev. Dr. Steve OLIVER who serves with the LCMS Office of International Mission (LCMS OIM), teaching at China Lutheran Seminary in Taiwan, and who is CTS visiting Faculty. Dr. OLIVER delivered his lecture in Mandarin, while the English summary thereof was printed out for the audience. The respondent was Rev. Dr. Nicholas TAI who is Acting President and Vice-President of Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS) in Hong Kong.
The conference was inaugurated by Rev. Dr. Allan YUNG, LCHKS President, whereas the final benediction was said by Rev. Paul Y. S. CHAN, Chairman of the Seminary Board of Control. At the end of the conference, Rev. Daniel Y. S. LI, LCHKS First Vice-President, presented gifts to the lecturer and to the respondent, while Rev. Dr. Stephen IP, CTS President, gave English books (copies of "Lutherans on the Yangtze" by David G. KOHL) as a CTS gift to 18 Myanmar students who attended that event. In addition, Dr. YUNG and Dr. IP awarded LCHKS - CTS scholarships to 4 students who either study at CTS or are LCHKS ministers pursuing advanced theological degrees at LTS.
The audience of conference can be estimated at 80 persons including numerous ministers, teachers, seminary students and other eminent guests. The conference was also attended by Rev. Arthur RICKMAN, Director of Greater China Area (LCMS OIM), Rev. Carl HANSON, LCMS OIM missionary and CTS adjunct faculty, Rev. Joel SCHEIWE (LCMS), pastor of Church of All Nations in Repulse Bay (Hong Kong) and CTS adjunct faculty. Furthermore, Mr. Alexander MAK, who is taking care of overseas students at LTS, accompanied 18 Myanmar students who read theology at Hong Kong Protestant seminaries, primarily at LTS and at Divinity School of Chung Chi College (The Chinese University of Hong Kong).
Before the conference CTS professors showed the Myanmar students the campus shared by CTS, Concordia International School (CIS) and LCHKS Literature Department. Later, CTS professors, LCMS missionaries, the Myanmar students and Mr. MAK met in the chapel to make or to renew the acquaintance of one another. Moreover, CTS arranged a special dinner for the Myanmar students, Mr. MAK, CTS Dean, CTS students and CTS staff.
The fellowship, the dinner and the conference were aimed at commemorating the legacy of late Dr. RIMBACH who had been serving for many years as an eminent educator and missionary in Hong Kong, teaching at CTS and LTS, and caring for students from other parts of Asia, especially, from Myanmar. Nowadays, Dr. RIMBACH's legacy is treasured by his sisters, Ms. Evangeline and Caroline RIMBACH, who are in charge of the scholarship named after Dr. RIMBACH.
