A Brief Report
The delegation of the National Council of Churches of Singapore comprising mainly Executive Committee members led by Bishop Lu Guan Hoe was invited by the National Committee of Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China (TSPM) and the China Christian Council (CCC) to visit the Church in China from 23 – 29 April 2025.
The warm relationship that NCCS has with the leadership of the Church in China dates back many decades. However, there has not been any visit to China since the Covid-19 pandemic. Hence, this visit was a timely opportunity to renew ties with our old friends.
The itinerary of the NCCS delegation covered three cities, namely Shanghai, Nanjing and Beijing.
On the 24 April (Thursday), while in Shanghai the NCCS delegation visited the East China Theological Seminary. The President of the seminary, Rev Xie Bingguo (谢炳国牧师) with several of his faculty members welcomed us. We were treated to a presentation of songs by students followed by a visit to their library which houses a large collection of historical records and documents on the Christianity in China from the 19th Century till mid-20th Century. The visit ended with a sumptuous lunch hosted by Rev Xie Bingguo.
In the afternoon, the delegation met with Shanghai City TSPM Chairman, Rev Xu Yulan (徐玉兰牧师) and Shanghai City Christian Council President, Rev Yu Guangzhi (俞光植牧师). Rev Xu gave a detailed introduction to the progress of the ministries of churches in Shanghai. She also shared on the practical experiences of the Shanghai Christian community in actively exploring the path of Christian Chinanization. The NCCS delegation had the privilege of viewing “The Exhibition of the Practices of Chinanization of Christianity in Shanghai”. In the evening, we were hosted to dinner by Mr Mao Yunqi (毛云琪副局长), Deputy Director-General of the Shanghai Ethnic and Religious Administration.
On the 25 April (Friday), the NCCS delegation visited the office of the National TSPM and CCC. The National TSPM Chairman, Rev Xu Xiaohong (徐晓鸿牧师) and the CCC President, Rev Wu Wei (吴巍牧师) received us warmly reflecting their longstanding friendship with the Church in Singapore. Rev Wu Wei shared that NCCS, churches in Singapore and Trinity Theological College had been helpful to the Church in China over the decades. The friendship and goodwill between our two Churches will be mutually beneficial. The meeting ended with lunch hosted by the leadership of the National TSPM and CCC. The NCCS delegation also visited the Holy Trinity Church, a former Anglican Cathedral, before departing for Nanjing.
At Amity Foundation and Amity Printing Company we were warmly received by the Board Chairman Mr Qiu Zhonghui (丘仲辉董事长主席) and fellow board members. The coordinator of our visit to China, Mr Kua Wee Seng had previously served as the Deputy General Manager and Board Vice Chairman of Amity Printing Company. A detailed introduction to the work of Amity Foundation and Amity Printing Company was presented through videos followed by a tour of the premises. We learned that more than 95.5 million Bibles have been printed for distribution in China. Amity Printing Company hosted dinner with Jiangsu Provincial TSPM Chairman, Rev Kan Renping (阚仁平牧师) also present to welcome the NCCS delegation.
On the 26 April (Saturday), Vice President Rev Li Jiangyue (李江越牧师) and Vice President and Dean Rev Dr Wen Ge (文革老师) and faculty members of Nanjing Jinling Union Theological Seminary (NJUTS) welcomed us. Of the 22 seminaries in China, NJUTS is the only national level seminary in China. Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian recalled that in 1991 Trinity Theological College received its first student from China, the beginning of a partnership with the National TSPM and CCC and the Church in China. He also shared that there are now eight seminaries in Singapore working together to serve churches in Singapore. Dr Wen Ge shared about the progress of NJUTS including the doctoral programme of the seminary. The delegation visited the chapel and compound of the seminary followed by lunch and then on to Beijing.
The NCCS delegation was hosted to dinner by the Beijing City TSPM Chairman: Rev Dr Wu Weiqing (吴伟庆牧师).
On the 27 April (Sunday), we worshipped at a historic and also one of the largest churches in Beijing, Chongwenmen Church (崇文门教堂). Senior Pastor Rev Liu Chumin (柳翠敏牧师) and her fellow pastors hosted the NCCS delegation to lunch. There was a lively exchange over lunch on the ministry needs of the Churches in both China and Singapore.
On the 28 April (Monday), the NCCS delegation visited the China National Religious Affairs Administration (NRAA). The Head of Bureau 11, Director-General Huang Zhihui (黄志辉局长) together with his colleagues received us. Director-General Huang Zhihui explained the work of the NRAA which oversees the religious affairs in China. Archbishop Dr Titus Chung also shared about the journey of the churches in Singapore which has similarity in some ways to the contextualisation of Christianity. Director-General Huang then presented several Bibles to our delegation.
Conclusion
This visit to the Church in China by the NCCS delegation is the first since a virtual meeting via Zoom during the Covid-19 pandemic. We learned much about the gradual recovery of worship and ministry of churches in China. There are some 38 million Protestant Christians in China. The members of the NCCS delegation were also inspired by the continuing ministry and witness of Christians in China, who are working at making the Gospel more relevant to the Chinese people.
The NCCS delegation has extended an invitation to their counterparts of the Church in China to visit Singapore as part of our continuing friendship and partnership in Christian service and ministry. We are grateful for the renewal of ties and have been blessed by the warm hospitality and graciousness of the Church in China.
A gift from NCCS to Rev Xie Bingguo, President of East China Theological Seminary
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