Independent Enquiry Committee for the Gospel Herald Incident (《基督日報》事件獨立調查團, hereinafter “the Committee”) was established at the end of December 2007. Immediately after its establishment, the Committee carried out enquiry. Hearings were conducted by the Committee on 28 January 2008, 22 February 2008, 23 February 2008 and 14 March 2008 respectively. The following is a report on the Committee’s findings.
The Establishment and Reorganization of the Committee
Beginning from mid-November 2007, Christian churches, organizations and the mass media have paid close attention and doubts on the background, the stances in faith and the integrity of Gospel Herald, as well as the relationships between Gospel Herald, Young Disciples of Jesus (“YD”) and Dr. David J. Jang (張在亨牧師，又名張大衛).
As there was wide spread attention on the incident, the advisors of Gospel Herald, including Rev. Sek-wai Lo (羅錫為牧師), Rev. Enoch Lam (林以諾牧師) and Rev. Ting-yik Leung (梁廷益牧師), with the consent of Gospel Herald, appointed Mr. Daniel Or, a solicitor, to be the convener of an independent enquiry committee to be composed of widely recognized leaders within the Christian circle on 12 December 2007. That committee was commissioned to carry out enquiry on the incident with fair, open and just procedures in an effective manner. The objective of that committee was to investigate the backgrounds and the stances in faith of Gospel Herald, YD and Dr. David J. Jang, the relationships between the above three parties and their relationships with The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (“Unification Church”). Another objective was to find out whether Gospel Herald had improper acts in the handling of its list of advisors, issues related to the Special Issue for Franklin Graham Festival and issues related to fund raising. The Committee announced its establishment on 21 December 2007. Thereafter, it finalized its topics of enquiry and announced its scope of enquiry on 8 January 2008.
The Committee was an organization of self-initiatives formed upon the request and consent by Gospel Herald. Its procedures and rules of enquiry were formulated by itself after detailed discussions. Same as other enquiry committees, the Committee had to give, to the greatest possible extent with limited time and resources, each party involved in the incident sufficient opportunities to make statements and put forward their cases. The Committee also strived to make the fairest and just decisions to the extent that its abilities allow.
On 28 January 2008, the Committee conducted its first meeting. To avoid conflict of interests (please refer to the announcement by the Committee on 14 February 2008 in Christian Times for details), all the members who were current or past advisors of Gospel Herald and the associated organizations resigned in that meeting. Some of the resigned members agreed to continue their assistance to the Committee as observers. The list of members of the Committee included Rev. Carver Yu (余達心牧師), Rev. Jason H. K. Yeung (楊慶球牧師), Rev. Fai Luk (陸輝牧師), Rev. Man-chee Kwok (郭文池牧師), Dr. Ricky W. F. Szeto (司徒永富博士), Dr. Dennis K. K. Fan (范建強博士) and Mr. Daniel K. F. Or (柯廣輝律師). Observers included Rev. James M. O. Cheung (張慕皚牧師), Rev. Simon Y. P. Chan (陳如炳牧師), Rev. Ting-yik Leung (梁廷益牧師), Rev. Enoch Lam (林以諾牧師), Rev. Youngman Chan (陳恩明牧師) and Mr. Thomas F. H. Tsang, an ex-Magistrate (曾繁凱先生).
On 20 February 2008, in response to the request by Gospel Herald, the Committee added a new topic in its scope of enquiry, namely, “Whether there were individual(s) and/or organization(s) willfully defamed Gospel Herald and YD”.
Results of Findings
I. Issues Related to List of Advisors, the Special Issue for Franklin Graham Festival and Fund Raising
The Committee was commissioned to conduct enquiry to ascertain whether Gospel Herald had acted improperly in the handling of its list of advisors, issues related to the Special Issue for Franklin Graham Festival and issues related to fund raising. In relation to the above three issues, the unanimous conclusions reached by the Committee were as follow:
- 1. The Committee found that there was no evidence revealing that Gospel Herald had improper acts in the handling of its list of advisors;
- The Committee found that there was no evidence revealing that Gospel Herald had fraudulent acts in the handling of issues relating to the Special Issue for Franklin Graham Festival, but improvements should be made on certain aspects; and
- The Committee found that there was no evidence revealing that Gospel Herald had fraudulent acts in issues relating to fund raising, but improvements should be made on certain aspects.
Having considered that Gospel Herald was a profit-making business company, the Committee’s advice to Gospel Herald was, including but not limited to (1) When Gospel Herald appeals to the public for donations, it should express more clearly its identity as a business organization; and (2) When Gospel Herald undertakes projects, it should prudently and clearly distinguish whether their works are voluntary or commercial service in nature.
Please click here for a detailed enquiry report of the above three issues.
II. The Backgrounds and Faith of the Associated Organization(s) and/or Individual(s)
Another major topic which the Committee was commissioned to investigate was the partnership between Dr. David J. Jang, Gospel Herald and YD, and whether the above three parties have any direct or indirect relationship with Unification Church.
Background Information of Gospel Herald and YD
As revealed by the information provided by the websites of Olivet University, San Francisco, U.S. (“OU”) and Christian Post, Dr. David J. Jang was the founder and President of OU and its current Chancellor. In addition, the declaration of Gospel Herald posted on its website on 20 November 2007 quoted a report by Christian Today in Korea. That report mentioned that Dr. David J. Jang founded YD. However, in the letter issued to the Committee through their solicitors on 9 April 2008, Gospel Herald and YD denied that Dr. David J. Jang was the founder of YD.
According to the information provided by YD, YD alleged that some students of Shanghai Fudan University studied the Bible with missionaries from Evangelical Presbyterian Church. In 1999, some students started YD campus meetings in Shanghai Fudan University. In October 2002, YD sent missionaries to Hong Kong. YD was formally established in Hong Kong in June 2003, and maintained a close relationship with YD in Mainland China.
In addition, the list of members provided by YD’s person in charge in Hong Kong revealed that, until 28 March 2008, four major co-workers of Gospel Herald, including the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the current editor of its Hong Kong edition, the current editor of Crossmap (Crossmap HK is managed by Gospel Herald HK) and a reporter were YD members.
Processes and Findings of Enquiry
During the enquiry, the Committee considered the evidence from various parties, including but not limited to the evidence provided by Gospel Herald and YD. Due to the background of YD, the Committee found that it was necessary to carry out enquiry in Mainland China, and had made various contacts with several believers with knowledge of YD in different geographical areas (“Mainland Believers with Knowledge”) and a number of those believed to be ex-members of YD（Ex-YD Members）.
The Committee considered all the evidence and listened to the statements of all witnesses. As a whole, the Committee had a lot of reservation on the consistency and authenticity of the evidence and statements provided by YD. As to the evidence provided by Mainland Believers with Knowledge and Ex-YD Members, the Committee found that they were consistent and authentic.
Regarding the backgrounds and faith of the associated organization(s) and/or individual(s), the Committee unanimously reached the following conclusions:
- OU has expanded into 5 colleges in Theology, Music, Journalism, Art & Design and Information Technology, through which OU had developed strong ties with international ministries, including but not limited to YD and Gospel Herald. According to OU, YD’s “active participation” enhanced the rapid development of OU;
- YD and OU were founded by David J. Jang, and shared with Gospel Herald his vision, and to a certain extent, common strategies, manpower, material resources and other resources; and
- Dr. David J. Jang had close relationship with Unification Church in the past. However, there was no evidence revealing that Dr. David J. Jang still has a relationship with Unification Church.
The Committee considered and compared all evidence and statements, and carefully listened to the accounts on personal experiences by Mainland Believers with Knowledge and Ex-YD Members. Thereafter, the Committee contrasted the parties’ accounts on individuals involved in, the timing and sequences of the same relevant events. The Committee unanimously found that it was unable to exclude the following strong probabilities:
- YD promoted doctrines similar to that of Unification Church, including (1) the first coming of Jesus to the Earth was a failure and (2) their pastor (Muksanim in Korean, in abbreviation, Msn ) is the “Second Coming Lord” or “Second Coming Christ” in Mainland China; and
- YD developed rapidly in Mainland China and established bases in various major universities, and promoted the above doctrines in an organized, systematic and strategic manner. In addition, it has adopted an authoritative management style.
Because of the above reasons, the Committee unanimously expressed its serious apprehensions and concerns.
III. Other Issues
Regarding the new topic, namely “Whether there were individual(s) and/or organization(s) willfully defamed Gospel Herald and YD”, the Committee listened carefully to the statements and the case put forward by Gospel Herald and YD, and considered seriously the reasons and evidence submitted by Gospel Herald and YD. The Committee unanimously found that the relevant reasons and evidence were insufficient to substantiate such accusation.
All the observers accepted all the above results of enquiry.
Disclaimer
Unless the Committee further delivers other announcements, declarations, reports or other proclamations in writing, this Report shall be the only channel approved by the Committee for the release of information. Any information and contents not released in the above manners shall have no relationship to the Committee. Further, the Committee shall not be held liable for such information and contents.
The Committee would like to express its heartiest gratitude to all brothers and sisters who took the Gospel Herald incident into their hearts. If there is any enquiry with respect to the contents of this report, please contact Mr. Or through email at ghi-enquiry@procentre.hk.
Independent Enquiry Committee for the Gospel Herald Incident
10 April 2008
Notes: The above is the English translation of the Chinese original of this Report. If there is any deviation between the two versions, the Chinese version shall prevail.