Rev. Geng Weizhong, president of the Shanghai Christian Council, stated in an interview with the China News Service that the sinicization of Christianity in Shanghai initially encountered the challenge of urbanization, so it required new concepts and paradigms for its practice in Shanghai.
Pastor Geng mentioned that "Shanghai serves as both a window for observing China on a global scale and a core hub deeply connected to the world," as reported by China News.
Since the introduction of Christianity to China in modern times, many important organizations, prominent churches, influential figures, and significant conferences have had strong ties to Shanghai. Geng pointed out that the Chinese Christian Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee (TSPM) was established in 1954, and the China Christian Council (CCC) was founded in 1980, with their headquarters located in Shanghai.
In Pastor Geng's view, churches in Shanghai, in the process of building Shanghai into an international metropolis, have engaged in international exchanges. Over the years, they have fostered friendly relationships with numerous foreign religious groups and organizations, drawing inspiration from the experiences in the localization of religions in diverse countries worldwide.
Shanghai currently has eight places designated for foreigners to conduct Christian activities, offering services in languages such as English, German, and Spanish. Shanghai CC&TSPM has established an annual joint meeting system for Shanghai's foreign Christian communities.
"The sinicization of Christianity is also a process of modernizing theology," said Geng. He believed that unlike Western Christianity's quest for balance between "realism" and "nominalism" during the reformation, Shanghai Christianity sought harmony between the "transcendent" and the "immanent."
Geng emphasized, "Theology should keep pace with the times, integrating with the national and social conditions of the time." He stated that the localization of Christianity required the Christian theological system to adapt to a socialist society. Doctrine and rules should be combined with the progressive demands of the new era so as to address new issues concerning the practical application of faith in contemporary life.
When discussing how to inherit the spirit of patriotism and devotion in the new era, this church leader asserted, "To develop Christianity in the Chinese context, churches in Shanghai should first inherit the spirit of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (self-preaching, self-governing, and self-supporting). To this end, we are establishing cultural exhibition halls on the sinicization of Christianity, display boards, research, and practice bases."
Furthermore, he also emphasized strengthening theoretical development. As per the information provided, the East China Theological Seminary has collaborated with universities and religious research institutions to establish a historical knowledge base for red culture, excellent traditional Chinese culture, and sinicization of Christianity. They have completed numerous research projects and are progressively publishing lectures, papers, and books that explore the localization of Christianity in China.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
上海市基督教教务委员会主席耿卫忠牧师接受中新社专访时表示，基督教中国化首先在上海遇到的是都市化的处境问题，所以，上海的实践需要具备新理念与新格局。
据中国新闻网，近日，耿牧师对中新社记者说，“上海既是世界观察中国的一个窗口，又是深度连接全球的一个核心枢纽。”
基督教自近代传入中国后，许多重要组织、主要教堂、代表性人物和有影响力的会议大多离不开上海。耿卫忠表示，1954年成立中国基督教三自爱国运动委员会、1980年成立中国基督教协会的会址均设在上海。
在耿看来，上海基督教在国际大都市建设的进程中，开展了国际性交流。一直以i来，与许多外国宗教团体及机构建立了友好往来关系，借鉴世界各国宗教本土化的经验。
上海现设立8处外国人集体举行基督教活动地点，使用语言包括英语、德语、西班牙语等，上海市基督教两会建立每年一次的上海市基督教涉外礼拜联席会议制度。
“上海基督教推进中国化方向，亦是基督教现代化神学的建设过程。”耿卫忠认为，不同于西方基督教在“唯实论”与“唯名论”之间的革命中寻求平衡，在“超越性”与“临在性”之间的张力间争取中和。
“基督教的神学应该与时俱进，与所处国情、社情相融合。” 耿卫忠表示基督教中国化的任务是实现与社会主义社会相适应，将教义教规与新时代的进步需求相结合，进而探讨和回应当前基督教信仰应用在现实生活中的新问题。
谈及新时代如何传承“爱国爱教”，耿卫忠认为，“新时代上海基督教坚持中国化的首要任务是继承三自爱国精神。对此，我们正在建设中国化展示馆、展示牌、研究和实践基地等。”
他提到还要加强理论建设。据介绍，中国基督教华东神学院与高校、宗教研究机构合作，初步建成了基督教中国化“三个基地”(红色文化、中华优秀传统文化、中国化历史教育基地)。完成多项课题研究，陆续出版和发行探讨基督教中国化的讲章、论文和书籍。
上海市基督教教务委员会主席：上海基督教在国际大都市建设中推进中国化新理念
Rev. Geng Weizhong, president of the Shanghai Christian Council, stated in an interview with the China News Service that the sinicization of Christianity in Shanghai initially encountered the challenge of urbanization, so it required new concepts and paradigms for its practice in Shanghai.
Pastor Geng mentioned that "Shanghai serves as both a window for observing China on a global scale and a core hub deeply connected to the world," as reported by China News.
Since the introduction of Christianity to China in modern times, many important organizations, prominent churches, influential figures, and significant conferences have had strong ties to Shanghai. Geng pointed out that the Chinese Christian Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee (TSPM) was established in 1954, and the China Christian Council (CCC) was founded in 1980, with their headquarters located in Shanghai.
In Pastor Geng's view, churches in Shanghai, in the process of building Shanghai into an international metropolis, have engaged in international exchanges. Over the years, they have fostered friendly relationships with numerous foreign religious groups and organizations, drawing inspiration from the experiences in the localization of religions in diverse countries worldwide.
Shanghai currently has eight places designated for foreigners to conduct Christian activities, offering services in languages such as English, German, and Spanish. Shanghai CC&TSPM has established an annual joint meeting system for Shanghai's foreign Christian communities.
"The sinicization of Christianity is also a process of modernizing theology," said Geng. He believed that unlike Western Christianity's quest for balance between "realism" and "nominalism" during the reformation, Shanghai Christianity sought harmony between the "transcendent" and the "immanent."
Geng emphasized, "Theology should keep pace with the times, integrating with the national and social conditions of the time." He stated that the localization of Christianity required the Christian theological system to adapt to a socialist society. Doctrine and rules should be combined with the progressive demands of the new era so as to address new issues concerning the practical application of faith in contemporary life.
When discussing how to inherit the spirit of patriotism and devotion in the new era, this church leader asserted, "To develop Christianity in the Chinese context, churches in Shanghai should first inherit the spirit of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (self-preaching, self-governing, and self-supporting). To this end, we are establishing cultural exhibition halls on the sinicization of Christianity, display boards, research, and practice bases."
Furthermore, he also emphasized strengthening theoretical development. As per the information provided, the East China Theological Seminary has collaborated with universities and religious research institutions to establish a historical knowledge base for red culture, excellent traditional Chinese culture, and sinicization of Christianity. They have completed numerous research projects and are progressively publishing lectures, papers, and books that explore the localization of Christianity in China.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Shanghai Christian Council President : Shanghai Promotes Sinicization of Christianity in Urbanization
