On the morning of May 8, 2023, CCC&TSPM received a four-person delegation from the Foundation for Theological Education in Southeast Asia (FTESEA). Rev. Wu Wei, President of CCC, Rev. Shan Weixiang, Vice President and General Secretary of CCC, and Rev. Dr. Lin Manhong, Residential Associate General Secretary of CCC, warmly welcomed the guests. The two sides had a friendly and profound discussion on deepening mutual friendship, theological education, the Indigenization and Contextualization of Christianity in China, etc.

Rev. Shan Weixiang and Rev. Dr. David Esterline, Chair of FTESEA, introduced the participants to each other.

Rev. Wu Wei delivered a welcome speech on behalf of CCC&TSPM, and introduced the recent development of the Church in China. Rev. Wu gave thanks to FTESEA for its support in the theological education ministry in China over the years. He accentuated the significance of the Three-Self Principles upheld by the Church in China and the Indigenization and Contextualization of Christianity in China. He said that the Indigenization and Contextualization of Christianity in China, based upon the Three-Self Principles, is to express the faith from the Chinese perspective and thinking, and to establish theological thinking with Chinese cultural features. This is of vital importance to the healthy inheritance of the Church in China and also helps Chinese Christians to make their own testimonies in the Chinese social and cultural context.

Rev. Dr. David Esterline said that FTESEA respects the Three-Self Principles and has long been advocating the indigenization of churches, rather than developing churches according to western patterns. Rev. Dr. Wati Longchar, Executive Director of FTESEA, introduced the FTESEA ministries in details and emphasized that FTESEA and CCC&TSPM are in partnership with each other. Dr. H. S. Wilson talked about the challenges brought by artificial intelligence for the church today, which aroused everyone’s interest. Rev. Dr. J. Dorcas Gordon, Chairperson of the Program Committee of FTESEA, responded to the problems in theological education.

In his response, Rev. Shan Weixiang mentioned that the Indigenization and Contextualization is the contemplation with modern significance. Churches should actively respond to the new challenges from artificial intelligence, new media, etc. Rev. Dr. Lin Manhong raised questions concerning theological education to the guests and received responses.

The exchange ended in an amicable atmosphere and the two sides took photos together.

Translated and edited by Bei Feng.