Representatives from TSPM churches in China participated in the Fourth Global Gathering of the Global Christian Forum (GCF4) in Ghana.
From April 15 to 20, the Fourth Global Gathering of the Global Christian Forum convened in Accra, the capital of Ghana, attracting 240 delegates from 60 different countries.
Gu Mengfei, secretary-general of the national committee of TSPM, Rev. Huang Tianhua from the Guangdong Union Theological Seminary, and Du Peng from the CCC&TSPM’s Theological Education Department were invited to attend the gathering, said CCC&TSPM.
The opening ceremony was held at the Accra Ridge Church, an inter-denominational Christian center. In her opening remarks, Rev. Lydia Neshangwe, president of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and moderator of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA), drew on the stories of Barnabas and Paul to urge the attendees to join in bearing witness to Christ together.
The event focused on "That the World May Know" (John 17:23), with representatives from various denominations participating in group discussions. Participants highlighted that the world recognized Christ not only from the words of Christians but also from their actions. Representatives from Chinese churches recounted the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, with testimony to the unity of Chinese Christians and updates on the progress and background of the sinicization of Christianity. Delegates from different denominations appreciated the unity within the Chinese church along with their desire to understand the development of Christianity in China further, CCC&TSPM added.
The GCF4 called on Christians to experience and embody God's forgiveness, justice, healing, restoration, grace, and redemption with humility and courage. As part of the event, the organizers arranged a visit to Cape Coast Castle to learn about the history of the slave trade and feel the despair of millions of enslaved Africans. Following this, there was a prayer meeting conducted at the Wesley Methodist Cathedral of the city to reflect Christ's teachings on lament, healing, and reconciliation. Participants prayed for peace, justice, and unity, aiming to witness the image of God in one another.
Established in 1998 by the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Global Christian Forum (GCF) is a worldwide Christian forum that aims to create new opportunities for expanding conversations, fostering deeper understanding, and encouraging more Christian fellowships worldwide to engage in dialogue and build connections. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Global Christian Forum, and it is also the second time that delegates from official churches in China have joined the global gathering.
- Translated by Poppy Chan
中国教会代表团参加全球基督教论坛第四次大会。
据中国基督教两会，4月15日至20日，全球基督教论坛第四次大会（the Forth Global Gathering of the Global Christian Forum）在加纳首都阿克拉召开。中国基督教三自爱国运动委员会秘书长顾梦飞同工、广东协和神学院黄添华牧师、中国基督教两会神学教育部干事杜鹏组成的中国教会代表团应邀参加大会。
开幕礼拜在跨宗派中心阿克拉山脊教堂（Accra Ridge Church）举行，来自 60 个不同国家的 240 名代表参加。全非洲教会会议主席、南部非洲联合长老会主持人莉迪亚·内尚韦牧师（Rev. Lydia Neshangwe）在开幕式中讲道，引用巴拿巴和扫罗的故事，希望大家也能够团结合一共同见证基督。
活动围绕主题“叫世人知道”（取自《约翰福音》17章21节）开展，小组讨论时不同宗派代表进行分享。大家表示，世界不仅仅通过基督徒的言语来认识基督，而是要通过基督徒的行动来认识基督。中国教会代表分享了中国教会的三自爱国运动，见证了中国基督徒的合一与团结，基督教中国化的背景及目前的成果。许多宗派代表为中国教会的合一献上感恩，期待进一步了解中国基督教的发展。
此次聚会倡导基督徒充满勇气地谦卑生活，经历并活出上帝的爱、宽恕、公义、医治、恢复、恩典和救赎。主办方还安排参观了海岸角城堡，实地了解奴隶贩卖历史，感受数百万被奴役非洲人民的绝望。随后在卫斯理教堂进行聚会，默想基督关于哀悼、医治与和好的教导，祈祷活出公平、正义与团结，真正见证彼此身上上帝的形象和样式。
全球基督教论坛是世界基督教教会联合会（世基联，World Council of Churches,WCC）于1998年成立的一个世界性基督教论坛。旨在为扩大对话、加深了解提供新的机会，推动全球更多基督教团契加入对话、建立联系。今年是全球基督教论坛成立 25 周年，也是中国教会第二次派代表团参加全球聚会。
中国教会代表团参加全球基督教论坛第四次大会
Representatives from TSPM churches in China participated in the Fourth Global Gathering of the Global Christian Forum (GCF4) in Ghana.
From April 15 to 20, the Fourth Global Gathering of the Global Christian Forum convened in Accra, the capital of Ghana, attracting 240 delegates from 60 different countries.
Gu Mengfei, secretary-general of the national committee of TSPM, Rev. Huang Tianhua from the Guangdong Union Theological Seminary, and Du Peng from the CCC&TSPM’s Theological Education Department were invited to attend the gathering, said CCC&TSPM.
The opening ceremony was held at the Accra Ridge Church, an inter-denominational Christian center. In her opening remarks, Rev. Lydia Neshangwe, president of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and moderator of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA), drew on the stories of Barnabas and Paul to urge the attendees to join in bearing witness to Christ together.
The event focused on "That the World May Know" (John 17:23), with representatives from various denominations participating in group discussions. Participants highlighted that the world recognized Christ not only from the words of Christians but also from their actions. Representatives from Chinese churches recounted the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, with testimony to the unity of Chinese Christians and updates on the progress and background of the sinicization of Christianity. Delegates from different denominations appreciated the unity within the Chinese church along with their desire to understand the development of Christianity in China further, CCC&TSPM added.
The GCF4 called on Christians to experience and embody God's forgiveness, justice, healing, restoration, grace, and redemption with humility and courage. As part of the event, the organizers arranged a visit to Cape Coast Castle to learn about the history of the slave trade and feel the despair of millions of enslaved Africans. Following this, there was a prayer meeting conducted at the Wesley Methodist Cathedral of the city to reflect Christ's teachings on lament, healing, and reconciliation. Participants prayed for peace, justice, and unity, aiming to witness the image of God in one another.
Established in 1998 by the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Global Christian Forum (GCF) is a worldwide Christian forum that aims to create new opportunities for expanding conversations, fostering deeper understanding, and encouraging more Christian fellowships worldwide to engage in dialogue and build connections. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Global Christian Forum, and it is also the second time that delegates from official churches in China have joined the global gathering.
- Translated by Poppy Chan
Chinese Church Delegation Attends the Global Christian Forum
