CCC&TSPM and the Hong Kong Christian Council jointly hosted a symposium on the sinicization of Christianity in Hong Kong.
The symposium was held at the YMCA of Hong Kong Hotel on May 18th and 19th, and it was attended by more than 120 people from major Christian denominations, seminaries, and social service organizations in Hong Kong, in addition to the Chinese Christian delegation comprising of 24 people, including five scholars, according to CCC&TSPM.
During the opening ceremony on May 18th, Rev. Wong Ka Fai, chairman of the Hong Kong Christian Council and general secretary of the Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China, pointed out in his speech that the contextualization of Christianity in China aimed to help Christianity take root in China and become an integral part of China. Andrew Chan Au-ming, primate of the Anglican Church of Hong Kong and member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of Hong Kong, delivered a prayer of benediction.
The symposium's keynote speeches, "Sinicization of Christianity" and "Epochal Character of Sinicization of Christianity," were presented by Milton Wai-yiu Wan, emeritus professor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Rev. Xu Xiaohong, the chairman of the China Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM), respectively. Wan elaborated on the sinicization of Christianity and its theological construction efforts, emphasizing that it should not only adapt to the needs of the times and challenges of the current situation but also explore the "ultimate concern" with long-standing values. It should also take the excellent traditional Chinese culture as a carrier to bless contemporary people. Rev. Xu traced the origin of the promotion of Christianity in the Chinese context and explained that the sinicization of Christianity was a requirement and choice for Christianity's development in China. He emphasized that the indigenization and contextualization of Christianity in China were not intended to change Christian beliefs but to emphasize that Christianity must have Chinese characteristics. Xu also pointed out that the future direction was the sinicization of theological thought and better operation of the church in the context of a socialist society to honor God and benefit people. These concepts could provide some reference for the development of universal churches, especially churches in third-world countries.
Following the keynote speeches, another 14 pastors and scholars from mainland China and Hong Kong conducted discussions and exchanges around the three sub-themes of "Mission and Pastoral Care," "Theological Education," and "Church History." The content of the seminar included research on prominent figures in the history of Christianity in China, case studies on pastoral practice and theological education in China, and theoretical discussions based on comparative religion.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
基督教中国化研讨会在香港举办。
据中国基督教两会，5月18日至19日，基督教全国两会与香港基督教协进会联合主办的基督教中国化研讨会在香港基督教青年会酒店举办。
中国基督教三自爱国运动委员会主席徐晓鸿牧师和中国基督教协会会长吴巍牧师为团长，包括五位学者在内的中国基督教代表团共24人赴港参加了研讨会。来自香港基督教各主要宗派、神学院及社服机构等的120余人与会。
5月18日上午的开幕式上，香港基督教协进会主席、中华基督教会香港区会总干事王家辉牧师在致辞中指出，基督教中国化所要解决的是如何让基督教立足在中国的土地上，成为真正属于中国的一部分。
香港圣公会大主教、港区全国政协委员陈讴明大主教为研讨会祈祷祝福。
研讨会开始的主题演讲分别以香港中文大学荣休教授温伟耀博士和中国基督教三自爱国运动委员会主席徐晓鸿牧师担任，他们先后以“基督教中国化”和“基督教中国化的时代性”为题进行分享。温伟耀表示，“基督教中国化”作为神学建设的努力，除了要适应时代的需要和当前形势的挑战，也要探索具有悠久价值的“终极关怀”课题，且以中国传统优秀文化为载体，成为当代人的祝福。徐晓鸿牧师从追溯基督教中国化的源起来说明“基督教中国化”是基督教在中国自身发展的要求和选择。他强调基督教中国化不是要改变基督教信仰，而是要强调基督教要有中国特点。徐牧师还指出，基督教中国化未来努力的方向是神学思想的中国化，并在社会主义社会的处境中更好地办好教会、荣神益人，也将对普世教会，尤其是第三世界国家的教会发展提供一定的参考。
主题演讲之后，另有14位来自两地的牧师和学者围绕“宣教牧养”“神学教育”和“教会历史”三个分题开展了探讨和交流。研讨内容既有关于中国基督教历史先进人物的研究；有关中国基督教教牧实践和神学教育的案例研究，也有基于比较宗教学的学理讨论。
基督教中国化研讨会在香港举办
CCC&TSPM and the Hong Kong Christian Council jointly hosted a symposium on the sinicization of Christianity in Hong Kong.
The symposium was held at the YMCA of Hong Kong Hotel on May 18th and 19th, and it was attended by more than 120 people from major Christian denominations, seminaries, and social service organizations in Hong Kong, in addition to the Chinese Christian delegation comprising of 24 people, including five scholars, according to CCC&TSPM.
During the opening ceremony on May 18th, Rev. Wong Ka Fai, chairman of the Hong Kong Christian Council and general secretary of the Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China, pointed out in his speech that the contextualization of Christianity in China aimed to help Christianity take root in China and become an integral part of China. Andrew Chan Au-ming, primate of the Anglican Church of Hong Kong and member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of Hong Kong, delivered a prayer of benediction.
The symposium's keynote speeches, "Sinicization of Christianity" and "Epochal Character of Sinicization of Christianity," were presented by Milton Wai-yiu Wan, emeritus professor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Rev. Xu Xiaohong, the chairman of the China Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM), respectively. Wan elaborated on the sinicization of Christianity and its theological construction efforts, emphasizing that it should not only adapt to the needs of the times and challenges of the current situation but also explore the "ultimate concern" with long-standing values. It should also take the excellent traditional Chinese culture as a carrier to bless contemporary people. Rev. Xu traced the origin of the promotion of Christianity in the Chinese context and explained that the sinicization of Christianity was a requirement and choice for Christianity's development in China. He emphasized that the indigenization and contextualization of Christianity in China were not intended to change Christian beliefs but to emphasize that Christianity must have Chinese characteristics. Xu also pointed out that the future direction was the sinicization of theological thought and better operation of the church in the context of a socialist society to honor God and benefit people. These concepts could provide some reference for the development of universal churches, especially churches in third-world countries.
Following the keynote speeches, another 14 pastors and scholars from mainland China and Hong Kong conducted discussions and exchanges around the three sub-themes of "Mission and Pastoral Care," "Theological Education," and "Church History." The content of the seminar included research on prominent figures in the history of Christianity in China, case studies on pastoral practice and theological education in China, and theoretical discussions based on comparative religion.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Seminar on Sinicization of Christianity Held in Hong Kong
