Mr Goh, it's my pleasure to welcome you once again to Faith Community Baptist Church. The last time we met was during the Marine Parade light up.
We are so honoured by your visit again this morning.
I would like to take this opportunity to share with you my heart and the heartbeat of the people in this church, as well as committee pastors of LoveSingapore which is an informal, relational network of some 100 churches with a membership of at least 40,000 Christians.
One, we believe that the building of Singapore is an exciting enterprise.
Two, we feel passionately that Singapore is a place worth fighting for!
Three, we want to create a Singapore we are all proud of.
Sir, we are convinced that there's no better starting point for this noble endeavor than the Family.
Therefore, we are committed as a church to build strong families in Singapore.
We affirm that the family unit comprises a man as Father, a woman as Mother, and Children. This is the basic building block of society, a value foundational for a secure future, a premise fundamental to nation-building.
We see a looming threat to this basic building block by homosexual activists seeking to repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code.
Examples from around the world have shown that the repeal of similar laws have led to negative social changes, especially the breakdown of the family as a basic building block and foundation of the society. It takes away the rights of parents over what their children are taught in schools, especially sex education. It attacks religious freedom and eventually denies free speech to those who, because of their moral convictions, uphold a different view from that championed by increasingly aggressive homosexual activists.
We love our nation. We sincerely pray for and look to the Government to provide moral leadership in preserving this basic building block and foundation of our society. And with that, to robustly protect our constitutional rights to free speech and religious liberty; so as to ensure that social cohesion and religious harmony are maintained in Singapore.
Mr Goh, thank you so much for the great work you have done for Singapore and for this constituency. We will now pray for you, your family, and your continual work among us in this nation.
Strong Families Build Singapore's Future - Reverend Lawrence Khong tells ESM Goh Chok Tong at TOUCHCENTRE Marine Parade Visit
Singapore, 13 January 2013 – Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC) warmly received Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong at TOUCHCENTRE during its Sunday morning Celebration Service today. The visit was part of Mr Goh's walkabout to connect with Marine Parade residents and the community.
Welcoming Mr Goh into TOUCHCENTRE's auditorium, FCBC's Senior Pastor Reverend Lawrence Khong re-affirmed FCBC's commitment and long-term vision of 'building a Singapore that we all can be proud of'. He added that underlying this commitment begins with strong traditional nuclear families who establish their foundations on sound moral values and principles.
Reverend Khong also defined the composition and role of the traditional family – which comprises of a man as Father, a woman as Mother, and Children. This serves as a "basic building block of society, a value foundational for a secure future, a premise fundamental to nation-building," he added.
Significantly, Reverend Khong used the opportunity to highlight to Mr Goh that homosexual activists have been increasingly stepping up to challenge this framework, especially in their efforts to repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code – a move detrimental to family and family ties.
"We see a looming threat to this basic building block by homosexual activists seeking to repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code. Examples from around the world have shown that the repeal of similar laws have led to negative social changes, especially the breakdown of the family as a basic building block and foundation of the society," he said. "It takes away the rights of parents over what their children are taught in schools, especially sex education. It attacks religious freedom and eventually denies free speech to those who, because of their moral convictions, uphold a different view from that championed by increasingly aggressive homosexual activists."
He added that the Church in Singapore will continue praying and looking to the Government to provide moral leadership in preserving key tenets of a progressive and morally upright society. "This is to robustly protect our constitutional rights to free speech and religious liberty; so as to ensure that social cohesion and religious harmony are maintained in Singapore," he added.
ESM Goh Chok Tong responded to Senior Pastor Khong by saying, "You stand by your belief, and you'll be fine!"
