The Nanjing Union Theological Seminary dedicated its new chapel along with the celebration of its 65th anniversary on June 6, 2017.
Rev. Chen Bin, vice president of the Seminary, explained that the chapel construction was started in 2006 and its major project was completed two years later. However, the follow-up project had been held up due to a shortage of funds. In 2015, enough money was finally raised from joint efforts to continue the project, so it was resumed in April 2016. With a total construction area of 5760 m2 (or 1.42 acres), the chapel has a brief church architectural style, and is used for worship, art, and music performance. The architectural design attempts to interpret Chinese Christianity in the cultural context of China, aiming to reflect the church's sanctity, openness and artistry. The bell tower, with a height of 58.5 meters, is located at the entrance close to the side sanctuary on the east.
Founded in 1952 and the only national seminary of China, Nanjing Union Theological Seminary has trained more than 2,000 full-time theological graduates, over 200 post-graduates for further pastoral education, and over 6,400 students who attended correspondence courses, from 1981 when it was reopened to 2016. Covering over 200 mu, the seminary has made an effort to continuing chapel construction, opening doctoral specialties, expanding its recruitment numbers, and strengthening its teaching staff in the last two years.
On the afternoon of June 6, a symposium on "theological education and sinicization of Christianity" was held in the seminary. Many university scholars and domestic seminary staff discussed the two topics of "Talent Cultivation and Sinicization of Christianity" and "Theological Education and Church Construction."
See the event in pictures[Click here].
Translated by Karen Luo
