Representatives of Theological Education in Mainland For the First Time Visited Taiwan

May 09, 2009 08:20 AM EDT

Representatives of theological educations in mainland China for the first time formed a visitation team to visit Taiwan’s seminaries and churches from April 27 till May 2, according to China’s Protestant Churches.

The seven-people representative team was led by the General Secretary of Three-Self Patriotic Movement/China Christian Council (TSPM/CCC) Rev. Xiao-Hong Yu and consists of the leading representatives from Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, The East of China Theological Seminary, China Southern Theological Seminary, East Northern Theological Seminary, Sichuan Theological Seminary, and Guangdong Theological Seminary.

Invited by Taiwan Baptist Theological Seminary President Dr. Tsai Ray-Yi, the mainland theological education representatives participated in the “Cross-Straits Christian Theological Education Development Forum.”

Along with Taiwan Baptist Theological Seminary, other participating seminaries include China Evangelical Seminary, Taiwan Theological Seminary, Central Taiwan Theological Seminary, China Lutheran Seminary, and Holy Light Theological Seminary. Hundreds of people, including church and ministry representatives, seminary faculties and students, participated in this forum.

At the beginning of the forum, influential Taiwan-based ninety-year-old evangelist Rev. Chou Lien-Hua delivered a message for the opening service, and Rev. Xu Xiao-Hong delivered the message for the closing service.

During the forum, the participants engaged in dialogues on the topics of “Review of the Theological Education on Both Sides of the Straits”, “Present Situation of the Theological Education on Both Sides of the Straits”, “The Future Plans of Theological Education on Both Sides of the Straits,” and other topics.

In addition to their participation in the “Cross-Straits Christian Theological Education Development Forum”, the team of representatives from mainland China also visited Taiwan Baptist Theological Seminary, China Evangelical Seminary, Overseas Radio & Television, Taiwan “Baptist Association”, aboriginal churches in Hualien, and etc.

Luke Leung translated the article.