Catholic Archbishop Simon Poh re-elected Chairman of ACS

Mar 26, 2021

By Ivy Chai
The Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) convened its 6th Biennial General Meeting via Zoom on March 20, 2021.

There were 52 participants at the online meeting comprising representatives from member Churches, associate members, chairpersons of ministries, chairmen and secretaries of all ACS branches in the 12 Divisions in Sarawak.

Archbishop Simon Poh (pic) of the  Archdiocese of Kuching was reelected Chairman together with his Deputy, Bishop Danald Jute of the Anglican Church. Also re-elected were Vice Chairman Peter Wong, Secretary Elder Ambrose Linang and Treasurer Ronnie Hii Ru Wei.

ACS presented the following key events at the meeting:

2019 
––Major ACS events such as Malaysia Day Prayer, Harmony Walk, Christmas Parade, and a Combined Christmas Service throughout Sarawak were successfully implemented. The Pentecost Rally 2019 powered by the Holy Spirit was a testimony of unity, with all churches coming together as one Sarawak church. 

––Close collaboration with UNIFOR.

2020 
––It was an unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic year that disrupted ACS planned events and programmes. ACS was commended by Sarawak MKN and SDMC in maintaining high SOP compliance. Solidarity and unity among churches in battling the pandemic became the new norm. Churches celebrat ed virtual (live streaming) Masses, faith formation, community outreach activities, et cetera. 

––ACS defended the Word of God in Malaysia arising from defamatory remarks on the Bible regarding drink driving, by a PAS Pasir Puteh MP. 

––ACS leaders collaborated with Unit Komunikasi Awam Sarawak (UKAS) and UNIFOR in a call for the community to register for the COVID-19 vaccination to contain the pandemic, thereby achieving 70 to 80 per cent herd community vaccination of the population. 2021-March High Court judgement confirming the rights of Christians to use the word ‘Allah’. ACS acknowledges and honours it as a court decision pertaining to Civil Law. ––Today’s Catholic

 Below is the line-up of the 2021-2022 Executive/ Committee Members:

Chairman: Archbishop Dr Simon Poh (Roman Catholic)

Deputy Chairman: Bishop Datuk Danald Jute (Anglican)

Vice Chairman: Peter Wong Hung Huang (Roman Catholic)

Honorary Secretary: Elder Ambrose Linang (Seventh Day Adventist)

Honorary Treasurer: Ronnie Hii Ru Wei (Methodist-SCAC)

Committee Members:

Bishop Dr Lau Hui Ming (Methodist-SCAC)
Bishop Bonnie Sedau (Methodist-SIAC)
Pastor Edmund M Liah (Seventh Day Adventist)
Pastor Bina Agong (BEM/SIB)
Major Francis Ng (Salvation Army)
Rev Nelson Ugas Bulang (Anglican)
Bernadine Sammy (Roman Catholic)
Harry Pudun (BEM/SIB)
Tan Kheng Tong (Salvation Army)
William Ting (MethodistSCAC)