Welcome East China Theological Seminary Delegation
Benjamin Chan
July 11, 2011

The American Baptist International Ministries (IM) and the Divinity School of the Chung Chi College in Hong Kong are close partners to provide graduate theological education to seminary teachers of China.

The Divinity School is hosting a delegation of the East China Theological Seminary from Shanghai. The delegation will visit the churches, theological seminaries and Christian organizations in Hong Kong to exchange ministry experience. Rev. Bingguo Xie, the President of the East China Theological Seminary and the Chair of the Shanghai Christian Council provides leadership in this arrangement.

I represented IM and the Foundation for Theological Education in South East Asia (as the Chair of the Board of Foundation) to welcome the delegation and engaged in dialogues. I am delighted to learn from Rev. Xie of his vision for the seminary. He told us about the expansion of the seminary to recruit students not only from East China region but from all parts of China. The school also provides a unique professional sacred music program that attracts students from the churches of different provinces.

I am especially happy to meet with Rev. Yingqian Hu, the Associate Dean of East China Theological Seminary. The Foundation has sponsored Rev. Hu’s M. Th. Degree study at the Chung Chi Divinity School. He shared about his focus of study on the indigenous movement of the Chinese Church, and its contribution to ecumenism. 

The Seminary offers three study programs: a four years theology degree program, a two years sacred music certificate program, and a three years theology certificate program. Currently 45 teachers serve at the seminary, including 10 full time faculties. In recent years, there is an average of 170 students enrolled in the study programs. 876 students have graduated from the Seminary since its establishment in 1985. They have become leaders and pastors of the Protestant churches in China.

Dr. Lung-kwong Lo, the Dean of the Chung Chi Divinity School has taken the initiatives to strengthen the exchange of visits of the churches and theological seminaries of Mainland China and Hong Kong. Professors Eric Wong, Fuk-Tsang Ying, and Lap Yan Kung facilitate the meetings and mutual-learning.