Congratulating TSPM/CCC New Leadership
Benjamin Chan
January 31, 2008
New leaders of the Chinese Protestant churches were elected at the 8th National Conference of the Three Self Patriotic Movement and the China Christian Council (TSPM/CCC) on January 12, 2008 in Beijing. The National Conference, which is convened every five years, brought together hundreds of delegates from all over China. Among the 181 representatives elected to the new conference, 84 were chosen to be on the Standing Committee of the National Conference of the TSPM/CCC. The conference marked the passing of the torch to a new generation of leaders whose average age is about 50. Four out of the 16 new leaders are in their 40s and six are in their 50s.
Among the new leaders are Rev. GAO Feng who becomes the President of CCC; Elder FU Xianwei who serves as the Chair of the National TSPM, Rev. XU Xiaohong, General Secretary of the National TSPM, and Rev. KAN Baoping, the General Secretary of CCC.
Congratulating the new leadership, Rev. Dr. Roy Medley, General Secretary of the American Baptist Churches in the USA, and Rev. Dr. Reid Trulson, wrote in their letter to TSPM/CCC, "As American Baptists we have long enjoyed our relationship with the church of Christ in China. In these most recent years we have rejoiced in a growing relationship of mutual respect and partnership through our exchange of visits. Another fruit of this maturing relationship was the Bible Ministry Exhibition of 2006, which we were very pleased to help bring to the U.S. We anticipate that these are but the first foundational stones that God is laying as the churches in China and the U.S. engage in further dialogue and cooperative work as partners equal in the eyes of Christ and each other. "
Rev. Benjamin Chan wrote to TSPM/ CCC as the Area Director of East Asia and India of American Baptist International Ministries, and the President of the Board of the Foundation of the Theological Education in South East Asia, "American Baptists have the commitment to promote the mutual understanding and respect of the churches in China and in the US. The Foundation of the Theological Education in South East Asia has the honor to work with you to develop theological education and educators. In this relationship, I am personally blessed by serving and learning from Bishop Ting, Presbyter Ji, Rev. Cao, and many wonderful leaders of TSPM/CCC. I pray that God will bless us with even a closer partnership in the days to come."
