Chinese Theological Review [Vol. 10, 1994] This page was generated automatically upon download from the Globethics.net Library. More information on Globethics.net see https://www.globethics.net. Data and content policy of Globethics.net Library repository see https:// repository.globethics.net/pages/policy Item Type Journal volume Publisher Foundation for Theological Education in South East Asia (FTESEA) Rights With permission of the license/copyright holder Download date 05/10/2021 06:44:04 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12424/165443 The Chinese Theological Review: Volume 10 TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface............................................................................................................................................. 2 TRIBUTE TO BISHOP K.H. TING ON HIS EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY 1. A Biographical Sketch of K.H. Ting .................................................................................... 5 GLEANINGS FROM THE EARLY WRITINGS OF K.H. TING 2. Youth and Religion.................................................................................................................... 7 3. Reading the Bible at Christmas: A Meditation.......................................................................... 9 4. Asia, China and the Chinese .................................................................................................... 12 5. Two Reflections on Evangelism .............................................................................................. 14 6. The Lamb of God (excerpt)..................................................................................................... 19 7. Between God and Humankind................................................................................................. 21 8. A Letter to Alumni/ae of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary ............................................ 25 REFLECTIONS ON THE LIFE AND WORK OF K.H. TING 9.Co-workers in the China Christian Council – Bao Jiayuan ....................................................... 29 10. Wise as Serpents and Harmless as Doves – Simone Frutiger Bickel ................................... 32 11. Cosmic Christ and Ecumenical Fellowship – Theresa and Feliciano Carino ...................... 35 12. Working Together in the Era of Openness and Reform – Wenzao Han .............................. 40 13. A Bishop with Charisma – Peter K.K. Kwong ...................................................................... 42 14. Friends of Different Faiths – Li Pingye................................................................................ 45 15. A Life of Love, to God's Purpose – Li Yading..................................................................... 48 16. A Man with the Church at Heart – Luo Guanzong................................................................ 51 17. The Student Christian Movement and the Chinese Church – Philip Potter........................... 56 18. A Church Leader of Vision – Wang Weifan .................................................................... 66 19. The Love, the Light and the Language of Christian Mission – Raymond Whitehead ......... 70 20. With Regard to Anglicanism – Robert Whyte...................................................................... 75 21. An Ecumenical Theologian – Philip L. Wickeri .................................................................. 80 22. An Intentional Life – Lois Wilson......................................................................................... 88 ESSAYS AND SERMONS FROM THE NANJING THEOLOGICAL REVIEW 23. Theological Symposium I: On Theology............................................................................... 92 24. Theological Symposium II: Democracy and Church Management................................ 98 24. May the Lord's Church Grow in Health – Ah Wen ............................................................. 104 25. Y.T.Wu: A Prophetic Theologian –Chen Zemin................................................................. 108 26. The Gracious Will of God – Wang Weifan ........................................................................ 116 27. Tearing Down and Building Up – Li Wei........................................................................... 119 28. Escape, Introspection and Turning to God: A Meditation on Psalm 139 – Lou Shibo. 122 Preface This is the tenth annual issue of The Chinese Theological Review. Bishop K.H. Ting, who was the moving force in starting the Review and has remained an inspiration and strong supporter over the past decade, also celebrates his eightieth birthday this year. It seems most fitting that this tenth anniversary issue contain a tribute to his life and work. We offer here a biographical sketch, some earlier writings which have not appeared in English before and a recent letter to alumni/ae of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary in which the Bishop sets out some of the issues facing the Seminary and the Churches in China. The early writings, including some written in English while he was working overseas and others written very early during his ministry in China, speak with a surprising relevance about issues still current today. The major part of this section consists of reflections by colleagues and friends from China, Asia, Europe and North America who have been asked to write about Bishop Ting's long career in both the domestic and worldwide ministry of the Church, and their own relationship to him. Some writers offer biographical reflections on Bishop Ting. Others examine aspects of his thought and contributions to the Chinese Church. Still others venture more broadly into history and theology which he has inspired. As editor, it has been my pleasurable task to be the first to read their submissions. Their reflections form a picture of a rare individual whose thoughts and actions have developed along a consistent and original track throughout a long and productive life. We see Bishop Ting as an insightful thinker, an inspiring leader and a supportive friend, a man of gentle demeanor and soft voice whose unwavering faith has enabled him to lead the Chinese Church through times of testing and rebuilding. As well as recalling their personal encounter with K.H. Ting, many of the contributors interpret his life and work as a theologian and church leader who has had a significant impact on the ecumenical movement. From the reflections included here, it will be evident that K.H. Ting is one to whom many different kinds of people have responded on many levels. He is perceived as an outstanding leader, but because of his gentleness of manner and voice, the distance between persons such a perception often engenders is overcome. From former student to ecumenical colleague, people have sensed and responded to a farsighted vision expressed in a very personal way. This is true of his concern for the Chinese Church, which, as one colleague puts it, "he cares for with a mother's love". The use of mother rather than father here is important, for both his personality and thought embrace qualities of gentleness and receptivity often termed feminine. Though K.H. Ting is perhaps the most far-sighted theologian in China and one most conversant with international theological trends, he has generally chosen to express his conceptual insights in a Zoncrete way, speaking both to and from the church. In his Preface to the first volume of The Chinese Theological Review in 1985, he put it this way: "We value the work of those theologians who can part with their individualistic heroism, humbly and not condescendingly orient themselves to the fellow Christians at their gate, listen earnestly to them and summarize their insights." There are of course strengths and weaknesses in such a position, and he went on to note, as if responding to implicit criticism: "If all of this is a defense, it is one not of compartmentalism, but of the right of Christians of all sorts to be equally regarded, of our responsibility to keep Christians of all sorts in the common bond of fellowship, and of the importance of staying close to and reflecting and molding the constituency given to us." This orientation has been a hallmark of both his theology and his leadership of the church. As one whose major preoccupation is words and the sojourn of words and ideas from one language to another, I have come into contact with a side of K.H. Ting which may not be very well known. From our first meeting in 1979, I realized that English was as powerful and beautiful a means of expression for him as for most native speakers. 1n the course of my own translation work, I have learned much from a careful reading of his revisions of my translations of his Chinese writings. Moving easily between both languages, he is able to shrug off the constraints of either one to avoid the stilted phrasings and unnatural expressions of "Chinglish" that dog many in this field. His use of the Chinese language I must leave for others to comment upon. When he writes in English he has a deft hand and a sure ear, expressing his ideas in a language that points to and beyond what can be captured in words. He has a fine sense of the way in which the ambiguity and mystery of language enhances meaning. It should, I suppose, come as no surprise that one who has made a careful study of the Bible should have such a thorough appreciation for the power of words. As a church leader of national and international prominence, of course, he is concerned to speak with precision and from a knowledge of his audience. This has made him sensitive