Shanghai CC&TSPM hosted a delegation from the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD-Protestant Church in Germany).
On September 21st, Rev. Xv Yulan, chairman of the Shanghai TSPM, welcomed guests from the German Evangelical Church, said the Shanghai CC&TSPM.
During the meeting, Rev. Xv pointed out exchanges and collaborations among churches in both China and Germany in different areas such as church ministries, social services, and theological education. She acknowledged the efforts of Christian believers participating in the German language services in Shanghai, fostering multiple interactions between the two nations.
Xv also mentioned that over the past decade, as a messenger of friendship between China and Germany, the organizer of the German language services in Shanghai hosted theological lectures and themed concerts in collaboration with the municipal CC&TSPM. At the city level, Shanghai and Hamburg, as sister cities, had maintained cooperative exchanges in various fields such as the economy, culture, and church relations.
Rev. Ute Hedrich, leader of the delegation of EKD this time, expressed her gratitude to the churches in Shanghai for their care and support for the German-language services catering to the city's German-speaking community. She also hoped that the German-speaking Christian believers in Shanghai would serve as bridges of friendship between the two nations. In response, Pastor Xv assured that Shanghai CC&TSPM would extend continuous attention and support to the ministry of the German-language services, with the aspiration for ongoing dialogue among churches in Shanghai and the EKD on the topics of theological education, feminist theology, and ecumenical dialogue.
In the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), Rev. Ute Hedrich holds the position of Head of the Middle East and the Far East, Australia, and Pacific Desk. Organized in 1948, the Protestant Church in Germany is a federation of 20 independent Lutheran, Reformed, and United regional churches in Germany.
The delegation also included staff workers from the Association of Protestant Churches and Missions in Germany (EMW), an organization of Protestant churches that supports Germany's establishment of global relationships and collaboration with overseas churches and is dedicated to promoting the development of German Christianity and facilitating global dialogue.
During their journey in Shanghai, the delegation also extended a visit to the Gospel Church in the Pudong New Area.
- Translated by Poppy Chan
