The Cao Dai Church held a traditional Reception of the Ecclesiastical Directive Ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on July 5, marking an important step in reorganizing its local leadership following the consolidation of religious administrative jurisdictions.

The event also reaffirmed the church's commitment to unity, community service and its long-standing principle of promoting both social responsibility and religious values.

The ceremony took place at the Representative Office of the Cao Dai Church in Cho Quan Ward, drawing a large number of religious dignitaries, administrators and followers.

According to Senior Professor Thuong Sang Thanh, Head of the Cao Dai Church Representative Committee in Ho Chi Minh City, the ceremony is one of the faith's important traditional rituals, formally receiving an official ecclesiastical directive issued by the church's central governing body.

This year's directive officially confirmed the reorganization of the representative committee and the appointment of new leadership following the merger of the former Binh Duong and Ba Ria–Vung Tau religious jurisdictions into the Ho Chi Minh City representative body.

He noted that the milestone carries added significance as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh City bearing the name of President Ho Chi Minh, describing the city as a place where diverse cultural, religious and spiritual traditions have long converged.

According to Thanh, consolidating local congregations and ceremonial committees will strengthen organizational unity, enhance religious activities and expand community service, while contributing to national solidarity through the promotion of ethical values.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the city's Party Committee Commission for Publicity, Education and Mass Mobilization, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, along with officials from various government agencies and a large gathering of Cao Dai clergy and followers.

During the event, the church officially announced appointments to the new Representative Committee.

Senior Professor Thuong Sang Thanh was reappointed as head of the committee, alongside newly confirmed deputy heads and the committee secretary.

The new leadership said it would continue focusing on strengthening the faith and supporting the spiritual lives of followers while maintaining the church's religious ceremonies.

The committee also pledged to uphold Cao Dai values of compassion, charity, harmony and universal fraternity through humanitarian activities, charitable work and community service, guided by the principle of promoting "a good life and a beautiful faith."

Thanh said that since receiving legal recognition from the Vietnamese state, the Tay Ninh Holy See Cao Dai Church has consistently received support and cooperation from government authorities and the Vietnam Fatherland Front at both central and local levels.

During the church's 2022-2027 administrative term, organizational boundaries have been adjusted in parallel with Vietnam's nationwide administrative restructuring.

As part of that process, the representative committees of Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Ba Ria–Vung Tau have now been merged into a single Representative Committee serving Ho Chi Minh City.

Nguyen Hue