Yap Kim Hao

Yap Kim Hao (1929 – 16 November 2017) was the first Asian bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore and Malaysia and an advocate of LGBT rights in Singapore.

Yap was the vice-president of the Inter-Religious Organisation, the Convenor of Singapore Interfaith Network on Aids and the chairman of the Chen Su Lan Trust. He was also the pastoral advisor of the Free Community Church.

Career In 1957, he became a full-time minister at the Wesley Methodist Church. In 1968, Yap was consecrated the first Asian bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore and Malaysia. From 1973 to 1985, he served as the General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia. After his retirement, Yap continued to advocate for many causes, including LGBT rights in Singapore.

Personal life and death Yap was married and had four children, grandchildren and a greatgrandchild.

Books

Doing Theology In A Pluralistic World (The Methodist Book Room, 1990) From Prapat to Colombo: History of the Christian Conference of Asia (1957-1995) (Christian Conference of Asia, 1995) A Bishop Remembers (Gospel Works, 2006)