On the morning of December 27, 2023, Rev. Xu Xiaohong, Chairperson of National TSPM, and Rev. Wu Wei, President of CCC, received a fifty-three-person delegation from the Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China (HKCCCC) at the CCC&TSPM’s headquarters. The two sides had a pleasant chat. This has been the first reception of the new leadership of CCC&TSPM since the 11th National Christian Conference in China took place a week before.

Rev. Shan Weixiang, residential Vice Chairperson of National TSPM, Rev. Lin Manhong, Vice President and General Secretary of CCC, Mr. Gu Mengfei, Secretary General of National TSPM, and other staff participated in the reception. Rev. Wu Wei was the moderator of the meeting.

In his speech, Rev. Xu Xiaohong said that it was grateful to welcome the HKCCCC delegation on the occasion of the new leadership taking office and Christmas celebration. Rev. Xu presented the main work of CCC&TSPM in recent years from the efforts in profoundly advancing the Chinanization of Christianity in China, promoting church management in an all-round and rigorous manner, and emphasizing talent cultivation. To run Chinese churches well, Rev. Xu expected that we as members of the body of Christ could strive hand in hand, keep pace with the times, and shoulder the God-given duties as good, visionary servants and stewards who God pleases.

Rev. Wong Ka Fai, General Secretary of HKCCCC, extended gratitude towards CCC&TSPM’s warm reception, and he looked forward to a strengthened exchange between the two sides. As a Protestant church in Hong Kong, HKCCCC not only organizes congregational activities, but also opens middle schools, primary schools and kindergartens. HKCCCC values the integration of faith with traditional Chinese culture, and highlights the contextualization of theological reflection and the interpretation of faith from a Chinese perspective.

The delegates included Professor Chan Ying Shing, Vice Chairperson of the Executive Committee of HKCCCC, Mr. Chan Tsun Kit, Director of Education Services, and school superintendents, members of the Board of Directors, and principals of middle and primary schools.

At the meeting, Rev. Shan Weixiang introduced the theological education and media ministry of CCC&TSPM. Rev. Shan said that recent years saw an increasingly improved learning environment of theological seminaries in the mainland of China, with updated school facilities and better faculty resources, as well as higher admission requirements of academic qualifications. But there are also some pandemic-induced challenges like reduced numbers of candidates. In media ministry, CCC&TSPM focuses on the development of media convergence and the work on publishing Bibles and other spiritual books. CCC&TSPM is also committed to sustainably healthy development of the Church in China, with emphasis on theological education and better media work.

Following the meeting, the delegation visited CCC&TSPM’s affiliated Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Grace Telling Bookshop. Their next stop was Suzhou, where their exchange and visit would continue.

Translator & editor: Bei Feng