On 3 January 2017, the delegation of board members of FTESEA (the Foundation for Theological Education in Southeast Asia) visited CCC & TSPM again after achieving the goal of holding their Board Meetings in China and shared their experiences for the stay of one week in China. Rev. Gao Feng, president of China Christian Council, president and chairperson of the Board of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, Rev. Lin Manhong, vice general secretary and director of Theological Education Department of China Christian Council, Dean of Nanjing Union Seminary welcomed the guests in the office of CCC & TSPM.

Rev. Gao Feng welcomed again for the coming of the guests and recalled the long connection between Nanjing Union Theological Seminary and FTESEA. He also introduced some problems and challenges that Church in China was currently facing with.

Dr. Guan Jiaren, Chairperson of FTESEA, gave thanks to CCC & TSPM for the warm greetings and considerate arrangements on behalf of all the board members in FTESEA. Dr. Guan indicated that he was very glad to see the great progress that Church in China obtained from theological education during this visit and achieved a big gain. FTESEA would continue to provide support and assistance for the theological education in China. FTESEA was privileged to be involved in this ministry.

There were two board members of FTESEA who made reports for this visit. They said that the post-denominational mode of development in China provided a very good pattern of church development for others to learn and consider. Female played a very important role in Chinese churches and the theological education in China. Compared with other regions, Church in China made a marvelous progress in this area. The Board members had a deep impression on the practice of Contextual Theology made by Church in China who tried that by combing the church tradition and the reality of the Church in China, which was also regarded as the contributions Church in China made to ecumenical churches.

Also frank talks over “Zhong Guo Hua” (Christianity in China conforms with Chinese culture and tradition), the quality of teachers in seminaries, the development of libraries in seminaries, the doctoral program in Nanjing Union Seminary, and the situation of the contemporary young generation in the church were discussed. The mutual understanding were deepen after the conversation over these various topics.

Finally, Rev. Gao Feng pointed out that it was meaningful both in realistic and historic manners to strengthen the cooperation in an all-round way between both sides. The visit of FTESEA this time not only raised the links between Nanjing Union Seminary and FTESEA, but also deepened the friendship among Church in China, FTESEA, and the seminaries or denominations the guests were belonging to, which would be an positive factor for the further cooperation in the future.