On March 27, 2019, CCC President Rev. Wu Wei received a four-member delegation from the Foundation for Theological Education in Southeast Asia (FTESEA) in CCC&TSPM headquarters. The two sides exchanged ideas regarding theological education, the indigenization and contextualization of Christianity in China, etc.

Rev. Wu Wei first extended warm welcome to Dr. Jeffrey Kuan, Dr. Dorcas Gordon, Cannon Dr. Peter Ng and Dr. H.S. Wilson.

Dr. Jeffrey Kuan introduced the major ministries of FTESEA, and reviewed the long-standing partnership and exchanges between FTESEA and CCC&TSPM. He admitted that China’s theological education had made remarkable progress during the last few decades, and expected to learn from the experience of the Church in China and help churches in other countries and regions to promote local theological education.

Dr. Gordon and Dr. Wilson also expressed their idea of creating a platform that allows churches in Southeast Asia to interact and communicate in the fields of theological education, church contextualization and so forth, in order to share experience and learn from one another.

Rev. Wu Wei thanked FTESEA for their assistance for Nanjing Union Theological Seminary and other Chinese theological seminaries over the past years. With regard to the significance of seminaries, Rev. Wu mentioned that theological seminaries are closed linked with the future development of the Church in China. Since the reform and opening up, seminaries in China have undergone great changes with China’s high-speed economic development and social progress. However, we still face challenges including clergy shortage, pastoral re-training and the contextualization and indigenization of theological thinking in China and so forth.

Dr. Jeffrey Kuan said that FTESEA was deeply impressed by the Three-self Principles of the Church in China. He also affirmed that its significance was not limited in China. The principle can be enlightening for churches in other countries.

The two sides also exchanged ideas on specific topics of theological education.

Rev. Lin Manhong, associate general secretary, along with other staff members from China Christian Council received the delegation.

After the meeting, the two sides exchanged gifts and took group photos.