On November 28th and 29th, 2012, Nanjing Union Theological Seminary held a special event to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of its founding and to dedicate its current campus, which is located in the Jiangning University Town district of Nanjing.  Founded in 1952, the seminary first brought 11 and then a 12th denominational seminary together into one school designed to serve Protestant churches throughout China.

During the 58-year tenure of the late Bishop K. H. Ting as seminary president nearly 2000 students graduated from the seminary, and now two years later that figure has been exceeded.  Graduates of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary have provided the backbone for church leadership throughout China, serving as pastors of churches; leaders in the CCC (China Christian Council) and TSPM (Three-Self Patriotic Movement), as well as provincial level and local Christian Councils and TSPM committees; and as teachers in the 23 Bible schools and seminaries throughout China today. 

This year there are 308 students on campus in the bachelor and masters degree programs.  There are also more than 50 pastors who come to the campus for intensive classes one month each semester as they participate in a three-year graduate level continuing education degree program.  In addition, there are lay people taking part in a correspondence course program also offered by the seminary. 

The seminary has served well over these past sixty years, but is not satisfied to rest on its laurels.  It continues to expand its student body, providing theological education for more and more of those who feel God's call to full-time Christian service.  It continues to provide for faculty development, with opportunities for faculty to do additional study in various parts of the world and to earn additional degrees that will enable them to provide an even richer educational experience for their students.  It strives to continue to increase the excellence of the education and training it provides for pastors and church leaders who will continue guide in spiritual leadership within the church and in encouraging and leading the church's ongoing efforts to be salt and light in the society in which it lives.  The achievements of the past, the efforts and engagements of the present, and the dreams for the future are all worthy of our giving thanks and praise to God and of our celebrating together with our Chinese brothers and sisters in Christ. 

On the eve of the main celebration, the seminary held a welcoming banquet for the incoming guests from churches throughout China and from overseas partners.  The Rev. David Wong, a retired American Baptist pastor who provides volunteer services to the churches in Guangdong Province at the request of the Guangdong and Swatow Christian Councils and in that role is one of several volunteer special assistants to International Ministries Area Director of East Asia and China Benjamin Chan, represented IM at that dinner and presented a gift from International Ministries—a fish-shaped crystal with the following inscription:

 "Congratulations to Nanjing Union Theological Seminary
 on  the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of the seminary
 and on the dedication of the new campus.  

"Sixty years of carrying the great burden
  of excellence in education
  of serving  our Lord and loving all people
 and of being salt and light.

 "Respectful congratulations from
 American Baptist Churches, U.S.A.
 November 2012"

A  digital copy of our letter of congratulations from the Rev. Dr. Roy Medley, General Secretary of ABCUSA, and from the Rev. Dr. Reid Trulson, Executive Director of American Baptist International Ministries, was sent prior to the event and the original letter was hand delivered to Elder Fu Xianwei, Chair of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement and of the Nanjing Union Theological Seminary Board, and to the Rev. Gao Feng, President of the China Christian Council and of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, by the Rev. Judith Sutterlin, American Baptist Missionary who teaches biblical and theological English at the seminary and who was also representing ABCUSA and American Baptist International Ministries at the celebrations.  To read a copy of that letter, click here. 

The morning of November 28th began with a worship service of thanksgiving and praise.  After the Call to Worship, the Hymn "Praise Him!  Praise Him! Jesus our blessed Redeemer!" echoed throughout the sanctuary.  Scriptures from Psalm 84, Psalm 122:1-9, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 and Luke 2:40, 52 focused our thoughts on God's Word.  The beautiful choir anthem "Election of Love" echoed the words "Jesus loves me.  Jesus has chosen me."  The Rev. Cao Shengjie, a past President of the China Christian Council, preached a meaningful message based on the Luke passage and focusing on how we, like Jesus, need to continue to "grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man."  The sermon was followed by prayers of thanksgiving—a thanksgiving prayer for the 60th anniversary and the dedication of the new campus, a thanksgiving prayer for theological education in China undertaken by Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, a thanksgiving prayer for social responsibility undertaken by Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, and a thanksgiving prayer for the future of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary.  The closing hymn "We Gather in Thy House" focused on the bond of love that we share as we serve God together.  The Rev. Chen Zemin, who is retired as a professor and vice president of the seminary and who is well into his 90s, offered the benediction as the blessings of God from the past, continue to flow into the present and the future. Rev. Chen is also a close friend and former colleague of many IM missionaries who have served in China.

A celebration ceremony followed in which guests and representatives from various organizations brought words of support and congratulations.  First came the support and recognition from government offices and officials, both provincial and national.  The Jiangsu provincial government was represented in an address by one of its leaders.  A letter from Mr. Hui Liangyu, Vice-Premier of China, was shared by Mr. Wang Zuoan, General Minister of the State Administration for Religions Affairs, who also later gave his own address, and a speech from Mr. Zhu Weiqun, Vice-Minister of the United Front Work Department of CPC was read by the deputy director of the second department of the UFWD.  These were followed by an address of Elder Fu Xianwei , Chairman of the TSPM and Chairman of the Board of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary on behalf of the China Christian Council, the TSPM and the Board of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, and a presentation by current seminary president  the Rev. Gao Feng.  The late President Emeritus of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, Bishop K. H. Ting, who went home to be with the Lord the previous week, was honored for his visionary guidance and monumental contributions to the church and to theological education in China, and the lessons that we can still learn from him were highlighted.  In addition, representatives of guests from several other Chinese organizations and overseas partners and representatives from the alumni shared their words of congratulation, support and partnership with the seminary community. 

That same afternoon, an academic conference was held on the theme of "The Prospects for Theological Education in China."  Areas of discussion included the relationship between theological education and the indigenization of Chinese theological thinking (sometimes called "reconstruction of Chinese theological thinking"), training of Christian pastoral leaders, research about Christianity, promoting cultural heritage and social responsibility.  Each topic had a main speaker to stimulate thinking, a responder and time for feedback from those present. 

That evening the students and alumni put on a very professional series of performances centered on the theme "The Tree of Life is Ever Green."  Recitation, vocal and instrumental music, liturgical dance, and drama brought that theme to life and even tears to the eyes of some in the audience.  

The morning of the 29th was devoted to alumni sharing their personal stories, including fond memories and the bonds of friendship from the past, memories in honor of former teachers, reports of serving in the church and other ministry settings and prayers of thanksgiving for their alma mater.  A theme of how the Nanjing Union Theological Seminary "family" shaped each one through the guidance of loving and caring faculty and the support of equally loving and caring classmates was moving to see.   Another theme of how God had guided and provided grace sufficient for each moment, each joy and each challenge in the time of study in the past and the time of full-time service that followed also bespoke the strong call and deep commitment in the lives of these servants of God. 

What a privilege and joy it was to be one of your representatives at this joyous occasion in the life of our partners, Nanjing Union Theological Seminary and the China Christian Council and TSPM and the churches they represent throughout China!

Judy Sutterlin