Quek Swee Hwa Explained

Quek Swee Hwa 郭瑞华
Nationality:	Singaporean
Birth Name:	Quek Swee Hwa
Birth Date:	15 June 1941
Birth Place:	Singapore
Years Active:	1970-present
Occupation:	Pastor
Education:	BA Shelton College BD, Faith Theological Seminary MA, University of Pennsylvania PhD, University of Manchester
Ordained:	31 October 1970
Religion:	Christianity - Bible-Presbyterian
Spouse:	Esther Cheng

Quek Swee Hwa (born 1941) is a Singaporean pastor and theologian. He was the founding principal of the Biblical Graduate School of Theology. He served as the General Secretary of the International Council of Christian Churches (ICCC), succeeding his father Quek Kiok Chiang in the office.^[1] He went on to become the Second Vice President of the ICCC until its 21st World Congress in June 2023 but remains as a member of its Executive Committee.^[2]

Education

Quek studied at Shelton College, Faith Theological Seminary, and the University of Pennsylvania. He received a PhD from the University of Manchester. Working under the supervision of F. F. Bruce, his thesis was Adam and Christ: An Exegetical Study of the Pauline Analogy in the Light of the History of Interpretation (1970).^[3]

Doctrine

According to an article published in The Burning Bush, Quek has questioned the literalness of the "years" of Genesis and the universality of the Genesis Flood.^[4]

Ministry

In 1970, Quek was ordained as a minister in the Bible-Presbyterian Church, and installed as pastor of Zion Bible-Presbyterian Church in Serangoon Gardens, succeeding his father in this role.^[5] In 1989 he became founding principal of the Biblical Graduate School of Theology. He served as principal until 2011, when he was succeeded by Philip Satterthwaite.^[6] He continues to serve as Pastor Emeritus of Zion Bishan Bible-Presbyterian Church.^[7]

Quek also leads groups on Bible Land tours.^{[8] [9]}

Festschrift

Quek has been honoured with two Festschriften: Serve the Lord with Gladness: Essays on the Life and Mission of the Church in Honour of Quek Swee Hwa (1991) and The Joy of the Lord: Essays in Honour of Quek Swee Hwa On His 70th Birthday (2012).

Notes and References

1. Web site: Conference Speakers. Philippine Council of Christian Churches. 13 November 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151117020535/http://www.pccconline.org/speakers.php. 17 November 2015.
2. Web site: ICCC Executive Committee . 30 March 2020 . International Council of Christian Churches. 10 October 2023.
3. Web site: Dr Quek Swee Hwa. Biblical Graduate School of Theology. 13 November 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023337/http://www.bgst.edu.sg/faculty/35-dr-quek-swee-hwa. 17 November 2015.
4. 2012. Three Earlier Crises In the Bible-Presbyterian Church that affected the Far Eastern Bible College. The Burning Bush. 18. 2. 84. 13 November 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130522122936/http://www.febc.edu.sg/assets/pdfs/bbush/TheBurningBushVol18No2.pdf. 22 May 2013.
5. Book: Tow. Timothy. Timothy Tow. The Singapore B-P Church Story. 1995. 169. 13 November 2015.
6. Web site: Milestones. Biblical Graduate School of Theology. 13 November 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151002072400/http://www.bgst.edu.sg/welcome-message/milestones. 2 October 2015.
7. Web site: Leaders & Staff. Zion Bishan Bible-Presbyterian Church. 13 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151115183426/http://www.zionbishan.org.sg/info/staff/. 15 November 2015. dead.
8. Web site: Quek. Swee Hwa. Quek Swee Hwa. A Word from the Principal. Biblical Graduate School of Theology. 13 November 2015.
9. Web site: Upcoming Events. The Bible Church, Singapore. 13 November 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151117074411/http://www.biblechurch.sg/cms/storage/2011/12/UpcomingEvents-1507-2526.pdf. 17 November 2015.