REV. DR. JOYCE CHAN CONCLUDES HER SERVICE AT CAREY THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

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REV. DR. JOYCE CHAN CONCLUDES HER SERVICE AT CAREY THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE



    On behalf of the Carey Hall Board of Administration, it is with sadness that I report to you the resignation of Rev. Dr. Joyce Chan as Professor of Church History, effective December 31, 2022. Joyce has made enormous contributions to Carey since her initial short-term contract with Carey in 2003.

    Joyce has been a friend to me and many others at Carey. I will never forget her support as I began in my role as President in 2013, nor her willingness to take on the role of VP Academic in 2014. I am deeply grateful for her pioneering efforts to initiate and shape Carey's Chinese-language programs. If any of Carey's faculty and staff have noticed Bible verses written in calligraphy in my office, you should know that Joyce made those for me at regular intervals. Joyce’s commitment to Scripture, to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and to the mission of the church has been evident in all that she has done at Carey

    Joyce will be missed dearly. We wish her all of God's blessings as she continues to seek and serve Him. I can't write calligraphy, but I will leave Joyce with these verses from Philippians 1:3-6:

    "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

    Rev. Dr. Colin Godwin
    President

    Please continue reading for a message from Joyce:


    Image

    (This painting was painted for the first Chinese female student for her ordination into pastoral ministry)

    “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (II Cor. 4:7-10)

    In Chinese, there is a saying that “there are many turnarounds within ten years of a person’s life.” 2022 marked the 19th year of my service at Carey Theological College. I experienced many “watershed events” (in historian’s terms) in the years I served at Carey – I fulfilled my calling as a theological educator, met my husband, and was ordained in the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada family. I am blessed with 2 children and published 2 books under the generosity of the Canadian maternity leave policy. I have served in almost every role “under the sun” at Carey, starting with a 2-week contract as a research associate, appointed as a visiting professor, program director of North American Chinese Church Ministries, assistant professor, promoted to associate and full professor without terms and the Vice President Academic. Who would ever imagine that a timid young Asian woman who was fearful of public speaking and constantly battling with racial and gender discrimination would become a full-blown leader in theological education? I am not saying all these to boast about myself but to account for God’s faithfulness and grace sustaining me through a long and challenging journey as a minority woman serving in ministry and theological education as Paul said, “by the grace of God, I am what I am and His grace to me was not without effect.” (I Cor. 15:10) To God be all the honour and glory!

    I have the privilege to take part in almost one-third of Carey’s sixty plus years of history. Carey’s story witnesses God’s faithfulness. I see how this institution has grown from a small “family business” (remark from the 2007 ATS visit) to an expanding “team operation.” When I began at Carey in 2003, we only had a tiny academic staff team and 6 on-site faculty members sharing all the work of the college, the church-based campus ministries, overseas mission, and the student residence. We are now blessed with a significant growth in the number of administrative staff in the past few years who form the backbone of Carey’s daily operations. They come from a diverse demographic and are gifted in unique ways. Alongside with a dedicated faculty team, men and women who love the Lord and His Church, wholeheartedly devoted to the formation of Christian servant-leaders and fully functioning in a trilingual capacity, they are living out the vision of bringing theological education to the whole people of God.

    “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Eccl. 3:1) I feel that my mission/work at Carey is coming to a finale, using the musical metaphor. I would like to say goodbye and express my deepest appreciation to all my dear colleagues, mentors, board members, students, alumni, partner organizations, the CBWC denomination, and all the friends who have supported Carey’s work through the years. It has been a great privilege to serve you and serve with you. Carey will always have a special place in my heart.

    “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

    May God find us faithful wherever we are, whatever we are doing.

    Sincerely,

    Joyce Chan
    Professor of Church History

    You are welcome to leave a message to Joyce using this electronic form.


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