On June 18, 2019, Rev. Wu Wei, president of China Christian Council (CCC) received a seventeen-person delegation from Board of Governors, Mandarin Churches of Four Denominations in Singapore.

The two sides had a friendly and in-depth exchange over the ministries in theological education, social service, the indigenization and contextualization of Christianity of China, etc.  

In his welcome address, Rev. Wu said that the long-standing friendship between the Church in China and churches in Singapore has been deepened through exchange of visits, cooperation, etc.

Bishop Low Jee King, chairman of Secretary Group, Board of Governors, Mandarin Churches of Four Denominations in Singapore, assistant Bishop and Archdeacon of Diocese of Singapore, also cherished the friendship with CCC&TSPM, and hoped that the two sides would keep supporting each other and enhance interaction and cooperation.

Rev. Wu Wei introduced to the delegation the ongoing theoretical thinking and practices regarding the indigenization and contextualization of Christianity in China. He mentioned that the ministry aims at completely changing the old stereotyping that many Chinese held towards Christianity as a foreign religion, and building positive social image, so as to become good testimony of the Lord in the new era.

Rev. Wu invited staff members of CCC&TSPM to introduce the basic situation in Media Department, Theological education Department, Research Department and Social Service Department.

Bishop Low Jee King affirmed the Church in China’s ministries in theological education, social service and so forth, and believed that the Chinese churches in Singapore could also learn from such inspiring experiences. He wished that the Church in China could become more prosperous in the future.

In the exchange, the delegates showed great interests in the indigenization and contextualization of Christianity in China. Rev Goh Nai Lat, representative of the Methodist Church in Singapore, and president of Chinese Annual Conference of the Methodist Church in Singapore, praised this topic and said that mandarin churches should reflect on how to minimize the western influence.

Some delegates also raised the doubts concerning whether the indigenization and contextualization of Christianity in China could violate the truth in the gospel. According to this, Rev. Wu explained that instead of changing basic belief and doctrines the indigenization and contextualization aims at better introducing and developing Christianity in China.

Some personal suggestions were given during the meeting regarding how to carry out the ministry of developing Christianity in the Chinese context. Some suggested that CCC&TSPM could consider inviting overseas Chinese churches to engage in discussing and exploring the indigenization and contextualization of Christianity in China, to make it more understandable and accessible by all.

Bishop John Chew, consultant of Board of Governors, Mandarin Churches of Four Denominations in Singapore, and emeritus Bishop of the Anglican Church in Singapore, proposed that the Church in China continue to indigenize sacred music in China to promote the ministry as lots of accomplishments had already been made in this field since 1990s. Also, some Chinese hymns were even widely spread and translated into several languages.

At last, the two sides exchanged gifts and took group photos.