On May 17 and 22, 2023, East China Theological Seminary held the thesis defense of the 2023 graduates of Theology Program and Sacred Music Program. There were 26 Theology graduates and 37 Sacred Music graduates attending the thesis defense. Rev. Xie Bingguo, President of the Seminary, led nine full-time teachers to form the thesis defense committee. All the third-year Theology students and second-year Sacred Music students were present at the defense.

The thesis topics chosen by the Theology students revealed their deep theological reflection, broad practical concerns, and also a consistent concern for the Indigenization and Contextualization of Christianity in China. There were a wide range of thesis topics touched on by the Sacred Music students, which reflected both in-depth thinking in music theory and a close integration of sacred music and hymns with the themes of church pastoral care, choir building, liturgical renewal and the Indigenization and Contextualization of Christianity in China.

In the end, all 63 students passed the defense and were qualified to graduate.

Translated and edited by Bei Feng.