Symposium on Sinicization in Shanghai
The CCC&TSPM held the "Symposium on Sinicization of Christianity in Remembrance of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation" in Shanghai on October 27, 2017.
Elder Fu Xianwei, chairman of the TSPM, shared the revelations and significance of the Reformation for today's churches. The Reformation was more than just a religious movement, but a movement that gave rise to political transition and national independence. The factors had profound significance in promoting the sinicization of Christianity. He pointed out the problems and misconceptions of sinicization in the present age and made requests on the outline of the five-year plan for advancing the sinicization of Christianity.
Chinese Study Bible launched in Shanghai.
The launch ceremony for the Chinese Study Bible was held by the Shanghai CCC&TSPM on December 15, 2017.
It is a detailed Bible commentary succeeding the Chinese Bible mentoring version for the Chinese church. However, since it still uses the Chinese Union Version (CUV) that was released in 1919, the publication also marked the 100th anniversary of the CUV.
State Administration for Religious Affairs conveyed guiding principles from the 19th CPC National Congress
Chen Zongrong, deputy director of SARA, gave a speech on the guiding principles from the 19th CPC National Congress and proposed guidelines for promoting the sinicization of Christianity in the fifth meeting of the standing committees of the Ninth TSPM and the Seventh CCC conducted in Shanghai on November 28, 2017.
China-US Church Ministries Symposium kicked off in Orlando.
Co-hosted by the CCC and Christian Leadership Exchange (CLE), the China-US Church Ministries Symposium kicked off in Orlando, Florida, U.S.A, on February 13, 2017.
A Chinese delegation of twelve people from the CCC&TSPM and SARA joined the symposium. About seventy American representatives attended the three-day conference. Chairman Fu Xianwei of the TSPM gave a speech titled "Overview of China Christianity in the Last 10 Years."
Communication meeting on preaching for south-central China.
The CCC&TSPM hosted a communication conference on preaching with the theme "Mission and Hope" for south-central China in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province, on September 14-15, 2017. Twenty-four young and middle-aged pastoral staff from 17 provinces and municipalities delivered sermons on the theme, citing Bible verses and testimonies.
Program for Chinese Christian theology construction in Shanghai.
A preaching team on Chinese Christian theology construction launched a training program in Shanghai from Feb. 22 to 23, 2017. About130 people, including key members and heads of the CCC＆TSPM, attended.
Chen Zongrong, deputy director of SARA, explained the guiding principles from the national conference on religious work convened in April 2016. The official emphasized the importance of integrating the thinking of the conference and religious policy into the campaign.
The speeches on the interpretation of preaching and sinicization of Christianity from the perspectives of the Bible and theology were addressed by Rev. Kan Baoping, associate president and secretary-general of the CCC and three teachers from Nanjing Union Theological Seminary.
500th Anniversary of the Reformation observed in Germany.
At the invitation of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, and the Lutheran World Federation, a delegation from the Chinese Christian Council (CCC) headed by President Rev. Gao Feng joined the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation held in Europe.
In the opening ceremony of "China's Day", Dr. Yue Qinghua, vice-chairman of the TSPM, introduced the Chinese church and stated that the church pushed the sinicization of Christianity to transform Christianity in China into Chinese Christianity.
CCC&TSPM research poverty alleviation in Sandu County of Guizhou
From March 20 to 23, 2017, Rev. Kan Baoping, deputy president and secretary-general of the CCC, led fellow workers from their social service dept. to research in Lalan Village, Sanhe Street, Sandu County, Guizhou. After that, a project to supply clean water for both livestock and humans in Baili Zhai (originally Gao Zhai No. 1 squad) in Sandu County was started.
The team investigated the CCC&TSPM projects that constructed sewage ditches and wastewater treatment lagoons in another county. The poverty relief work in Sandu County would be one of CCC&TSPM's future focuses, said Rev. Kan.
Symposium on church environmental care ministries in Xi'an.
Sponsored by the social service department of the CCC&TSPM, the national symposium on church environmental care ministries took place in Xi'an, Shaanxi, from Sept. 5 to 7, 2017. As a response to the religious charity week campaign, the meeting was aimed at stimulating the environmental awareness of the churches in Midwest China, spreading green ideas, and guiding the church to uncover potential environmental projects.
Nanjing Union Theological Seminary dedicated new chapel and celebrated 65th anniversary.
Nanjing Union Theological Seminary dedicated its new chapel along with the celebration of its 65th anniversary on June 6, 2017.
Founded in 1952 and the only national seminary of China, the 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 continue chapel construction, opening doctoral specialties, expanding its recruitment numbers, and strengthening its teaching staff in the last two years.
- Translated by Karen Luo
