An Overview of Theological Education in Contemporary China

I. Three Stages (Since1949） A. Unification and Adjustment （1949-1966） B. Restoration and New Establishment (1981-1996） C. Development and Improvement (Since 1996）

Stage of Unification and Adjustment (1949-1966) 1952 1953-1956 1961-1966 Yanjing Union Theological Seminary Nanjing Union Theological Seminary as the only Nanjing Union Theological Seminary

Characteristics of Theological Education Independence and Autonomy Loving Both Country and Christianity Unification of Seminaries, Mutual Respect;

B. Stage of Restoration and New Establishment (1981-1996) The Reopening of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary in 1981 Establishing New Seminaries Since 1982 Characteristics of Theological Education: limited Conditions and Ministry-Oriented Training

C. Stage of Development and Improvement (Since 1996) Theological Education and Theological Thinking Reconstruction 2. Establishing New Seminaries, Building New Campuses (e.g., Nanjing Union, Guizhou, Northeast, Heilongjiang, Yunnan, Fujin etc.; Midsouth, Hunan, Shanxi etc. in Construction ）

II. An Overview of Contemporary Theological Education Guidelines ； Spirituality Virtue Knowledge Health Community

3. Increasing Number of Seminarians, Educational Level Upgraded (with 6 more Seminaries Conferring B.Th. Degrees Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong, Jiangsu, Heilongjiang and Fujian） Characteristics of Theological Education: Better Facilities and Active Theological Thinking;

16 1 5 National Level Regional Level Provincial Level B. Altogether 22 Theological Seminaries and Bible Schools (in Addition to Hundreds of Training Centers) at Three Different Levels: National Level Regional Level Provincial Level 16 1 5

C. Educational Programs 3-Year Senior Program 4-Year Bachelor Program (Since 1995， B.Th.) 3-Year Master Program （Since 1995, M. Div., and now M.Th） Four-Year Doctorate Program (D.Th.) 2-Year-and-a-Half Advanced Ministerial Program 3-Year Junior Program

D. Curriculum 2. 30% of Political and Cultural Studies 1. 70% Christian Studies a. The Four Traditional Categories: Biblical, Historical, Systematic and Pastoral Theology; b. Other Subjects: Sacred Music, Special Education etc; 2. 30% of Political and Cultural Studies Philosophy, English, Law, Logic, International Relationship and Economics etc.

E. Faculty Members (Altogether about 310 Teachers) 1. Different Kinds of Theological Teachers a. Chinese Christian Teachers b. Teachers from Colleges and Universities c. Short-Term or Long-Term Foreign Visiting Professors (from U.S.A, Australia, Finland, Canada, Germany etc) 2. Continuous Training of Theological Teachers: Choosing Excellent Teachers to Study Abroad, or to Study in the Department of Religious Studies in Chinese Universities；

F. The Standardization of Theological Education： 1. The State Administration for Religious Affairs in 2012 promulgated The Measures for Confirming the Qualifications and Determining the Professional Titles of Teachers of Religious Schools (for trial implementation) and The Measures on the Granting of Degrees by Religious Schools (for trial implementation)

2. By 2016, The Confirmation of Qualifications of All Theological Teachers in China has Finished; In 2014, Nanjing Union Theological Seminary was authorized to Confer Bachelor, Master and Doctorate Degrees.

G. Students Since 1980s, About 22,000 Students Having been Trained，Currently about 3,700 Registered Students on the Campus 1. Conditions of Admission: Conversion, Devotion, Recommendation of Church, Entrance Exams； 2. After Graduation：Most Serving the Churches or Becoming Teachers in Other Schools； 3. Tuition: (Most Schools now Charge Tuitions)

H. Colorful Campus Life 1. Devotional Activities：Morning and Evening Prayers, Sunday Worship, Bible Study Group, College Students Fellowship； 2. Physical Activities：Sports Meeting, Football, Basketball, etc； 3. Groups of Interests：Literature, Arts, Calligraphy, Photography；

I. Theological Thinking Construction A. Development of Theological Thinking 1. Seminary Seminars and Conferences 2. More Theological Journals or Reviews Being Published 3. Inter-School Exchanges：

4. Cooperation with the Academia a. Joints Conferences; b. Churches Becoming Social Survey Centers of China Academy of Social Sciences; c. Scholars Becoming Board Members of Seminaries; d. Guest Lectures by Well-known Scholars;

B. Some of the Current Theological Themes Being Discussed 1. Biblical Exegesis and Hermeneutics vs Heretical Teachings 2. The Balance of Faith and Reason vs Anti-Intellectualism 3. Holistic Salvation and Diakonia 4. Postdenominational Ecclesiology: Constructing the Ecclesial Self of the Chinese Churches 5. The Sinolization of Christianity

III. Contribution and Challenges A. Achievements 1. Training More Ministers and Workers for the Chinese Churches; 2. The Level of Theological Education Being Continuously Improved

B. Challenges 1. Strengthening Faculty Development and Forming Researcher Teams; 2. Establish Standard Curriculum While Maintaining the Local Characteristics; 3. Integrating and Sharing Seminary Recourses

IV. Conclusion Thank you for your kind support. Please continue to pray for us!

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