The Rev. Canon Bruce W. Woodcock, co-chairman of the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) and the Episcopal Church's partnership officer for Asia and the Pacific, visited CCC&TSPM and the East China Theological Seminary.
Both parties engaged in exchange for future cooperation and mutual visits.
According to CCC&TSPM, on February 26, Rev. Xu Xiaohong and Rev. Wu Wei, chairman and president of CCC&TSPM, welcomed the delegation from the APF.
Rev. Xu reviewed the friendship between the two sides, hoping to increase exchanges and cooperation. He also looked forward to the other side actively participating in the China-USA Protestant Church Forum to be held in the U.S. this year.
Rev. Wu introduced the current ministries of the CCC&TSPM by promoting the sinicization of Christianity, strict governance of religions by the law, talent development, and the value of thrift and temperance. He also emphasized God's grace despite the hardships that churches in China faced following COVID-19.
Rev. Woodcock brought greetings from Dr. Andrea Mann, co-chairman of the APF, and the director of global relations for the Anglican Church of Canada, with the hope of fostering friendship between the two sides. During the meeting, delegation representatives presented their churches' current situations and discussed theological education, church pastoral care, and mutual visits.
On the morning of the following day, Rev. Xu Yulan, chairman of the Shanghai TSPM, welcomed the first visitors from across the ocean to Shanghai churches this year, reported the municipal CC&TSPM. Rev. Xu discussed the current state of Christianity in Shanghai, including foreign-language-speaking services, the challenges of COVID-19 to Shanghai churches, and the churches' responses.
In the afternoon, the delegation extended their visit to the East China Theological Seminary, said the seminary.
President Xie Bingguo briefed on the situation of the seminary, including an address on recent studies into the sinicization of Christianity and emerging challenges in theological education.
Pastor Woodcock anticipated promoting communication and future cooperation between seminaries on both sides. The exchange included pulpit ministry, church liturgy, holy music ministry, and pastoring post-pandemic, with a focus on the sinicization of Christianity.
On February 29, the delegation visited Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, and Rev. Chen Yilu, the executive vice dean of the seminary, welcomed the delegation, reported the school.
The delegation was briefed on the running of the seminary, including its history, faculty team construction, curriculum design, library resources, academic publishing, and especially the doctoral program aimed at cultivating high-level talents for the Church in China.
Rev. Woodcock expressed appreciation for the achievements of the seminary. Delegation Members discussed the sources of student enrollment and the career paths of graduates with the faculty and students.
The Asia Pacific Forum (APF) consists of directors from several mainstream churches in North America who work in mission and ministry with ecumenical partners across Asia and the Pacific areas.
- Translated by Poppy Chan
北美基督教亚太论坛主席布鲁斯•伍德科克牧师访问中国基督教两会、华东神学院。
双方探讨未来的合作及互访。
据中国基督教两会，2月26日，访问团来到中国基督教两会，受到中国基督教两会主席徐晓鸿牧师、会长吴巍牧师的接待。
徐牧师回顾了双方的友好交往，希望加强交流与合作；并期待在今年即将于美国举办的中美基督教论坛上，对方也能发挥积极作用。
吴巍牧师从推进基督教中国化、依法从严治教、人才培养、崇俭戒奢介绍了中国基督教两会当前的主要事工。并表示，经历了疫情，教会面临诸多挑战，但仍看到上帝的恩典。
布鲁斯•伍德科克牧师带来了北美基督教亚太论坛安德鲁•曼主席的问候，期望双方延续友谊。会上，访问团各位代表就各自教会的情况进行了介绍，双方还就神学教育、教会牧养方式和互访计划等进行了探讨。
据华东神学院，2月27日下午，访问团访问华东神学院。
谢炳国院长向客人介绍了华东神学院的基本情况，特别介绍了近年来神学院在基督教中国化方面所作的探索，及当前神学教育面临的新挑战。
布鲁斯·伍德科克牧师表示希望通过访问，能促进与神学院之间的沟通，探索今后合作方式。座谈中，大家还就讲台事工，教会礼仪，圣乐事奉，以及疫情之后教会的牧养方式，尤其对基督教中国化话题进行了深入的交流。
北美基督教亚太论坛（Asia Pacific Forum）是由北美几大主流教会的亚太地区事务负责人组成，他们与亚太地区的普世合作伙伴一起从事宣教和事工工作。
北美基督教亚太论坛一行访问中国基督教两会、华东神学院
The Rev. Canon Bruce W. Woodcock, co-chairman of the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) and the Episcopal Church's partnership officer for Asia and the Pacific, visited CCC&TSPM and the East China Theological Seminary.
Both parties engaged in exchange for future cooperation and mutual visits.
According to CCC&TSPM, on February 26, Rev. Xu Xiaohong and Rev. Wu Wei, chairman and president of CCC&TSPM, welcomed the delegation from the APF.
Rev. Xu reviewed the friendship between the two sides, hoping to increase exchanges and cooperation. He also looked forward to the other side actively participating in the China-USA Protestant Church Forum to be held in the U.S. this year.
Rev. Wu introduced the current ministries of the CCC&TSPM by promoting the sinicization of Christianity, strict governance of religions by the law, talent development, and the value of thrift and temperance. He also emphasized God's grace despite the hardships that churches in China faced following COVID-19.
Rev. Woodcock brought greetings from Dr. Andrea Mann, co-chairman of the APF, and the director of global relations for the Anglican Church of Canada, with the hope of fostering friendship between the two sides. During the meeting, delegation representatives presented their churches' current situations and discussed theological education, church pastoral care, and mutual visits.
On the morning of the following day, Rev. Xu Yulan, chairman of the Shanghai TSPM, welcomed the first visitors from across the ocean to Shanghai churches this year, reported the municipal CC&TSPM. Rev. Xu discussed the current state of Christianity in Shanghai, including foreign-language-speaking services, the challenges of COVID-19 to Shanghai churches, and the churches' responses.
In the afternoon, the delegation extended their visit to the East China Theological Seminary, said the seminary.
President Xie Bingguo briefed on the situation of the seminary, including an address on recent studies into the sinicization of Christianity and emerging challenges in theological education.
Pastor Woodcock anticipated promoting communication and future cooperation between seminaries on both sides. The exchange included pulpit ministry, church liturgy, holy music ministry, and pastoring post-pandemic, with a focus on the sinicization of Christianity.
On February 29, the delegation visited Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, and Rev. Chen Yilu, the executive vice dean of the seminary, welcomed the delegation, reported the school.
The delegation was briefed on the running of the seminary, including its history, faculty team construction, curriculum design, library resources, academic publishing, and especially the doctoral program aimed at cultivating high-level talents for the Church in China.
Rev. Woodcock expressed appreciation for the achievements of the seminary. Delegation Members discussed the sources of student enrollment and the career paths of graduates with the faculty and students.
The Asia Pacific Forum (APF) consists of directors from several mainstream churches in North America who work in mission and ministry with ecumenical partners across Asia and the Pacific areas.
- Translated by Poppy Chan
Asia Pacific Forum Visits China for Future Cooperations
