East China Theological Seminary held the thesis defense meeting for the 2024 theology undergraduates.
The defense was conducted simultaneously in two venues on May 28, according to the school. The topics of this year’s theses varied, including biblical studies, research on church fathers, Reformation theologians, and contemporary theologians. There were also discussions on spirituality and ethics, explorations of the sinicization of hymns and liturgy. Additionally, they focused on how to develop a healthy church amid various challenges in contemporary society, as well as carried out reflections on interreligious dialogue in a multicultural context.
During the defense, each candidate presented the background of their thesis topic, research methods, content, conclusions, and innovations. The defense committee reviewed the theses, considering the significance of topic selection, structural framework, research methods, and writing norms, and provided further suggestions for improvement. The candidates also responded to the questions posed by the committee formed by the seminary’s faculty, led by President Xie Bingguo.
A total of 22 fourth-year theology students participated in the defense, and all passed.
- Translated by Abigail Wu