Guangdong Union Theological Seminary

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Guangdong Union Theological Seminary (simplified Chinese: 广东协和神学院; traditional Chinese: 廣東協和神學院; pinyin: Guǎngdōng Xiéhé Shénxuéyuàn ) is located in Guangzhou City and is sponsored by the Guangdong Provincial Christian Council. It is the first provincial-level theological undergraduate college in China and the only theological seminary in Guangdong Province. [1] [2]

## History

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In 1914, Canton Union Theological College, the predecessor of Guangdong Union Theological Seminary, was jointly established in Guangzhou by eight missions ( American Presbyterian Mission, Canadian Presbyterian Mission, Presbyterian Church in New Zealand, London Mission Society, American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions(Congregational church), United Brethren in Christ (American), Church Mission Society, Wesleyan Methodist Mission Society of England) and three major denominations (The Canton Synod of Church of Christ in China, The Chinese Anglican Church in South China Diocese, The Chinese Methodist Church in South China Diocese), as the word "Union" indicates in its name.

Later, The Baptist Convention of Guangdong and Guangxi Province, Lutheran Synod of Guangdong and Jiangxi Province, Basel Mission, Rhenish Church also joined. The college was later merged into Lingnan University and became the "Union Theological College of Lingnan University". [1] [3] [4]

In 1951, the seminary became independent from the university and was regained the former name "Canton Union Theological College".[3]

In 1960, the seminary was closed until the end of the Cultural Revolution. [5][4]

In 1986, the seminary was re-established. At the same time, in order to better express its purpose of serving the church in Guangdong, it was renamed "Guangdong Union Theological Seminary", its English name is "Guangdong Union Theological Seminary". The seminary at that time was actually just a training course for pastoral staff, a two-year theological technical secondary school, located in Dongshan Christian Church in Guangzhou.[3][2] [6][5]

In 1994, the seminary began to offer three-year college courses and moved to the main building of the Shamian Church of the Christian Episcopal Church in Guangzhou. [2] [5]

In 2001, the college moved to its current location in Dongping Village, Baiyun District, Guangzhou City, and has its own independent campus covering an area of ​​23 acres (approximately 10,000 square meters). The construction of the school received help from the government and the Hong Kong Nethersole Foundation, with a total of more than 20 million yuan raised.[3][2][4]

In 2003, the academic journal "Guangdong Theology" was founded. This journal is an important platform for academic exchanges in the college and aims to share the results of theological ideological construction. In 2016, the journal was renamed "Window of Concordia".[3]

In August 2009, the Theological Seminary was approved by the State Administration of Religious Affairs to be upgraded to become the first provincial theological undergraduate college in the country. [3]

## Present Situation

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Guangdong Union Theological Seminary offers three-year college courses, four-year undergraduate courses, pastoral college-to-undergraduate courses, and two-year sacred music classes. Cultural courses include college Chinese, English, law, politics, history, philosophy, logic, psychology, religious laws, patriotism education, socialist theory, physical education, vocal music, etc. Professional courses mainly include: Biblical background, introduction to the New and Old Testaments, study of each volume of the Bible, New and Old Testament theology; systematic theology, Christian ethics, construction of Chinese Christian theological thought; Western church history, Chinese church history, and Christian thought history; Pastoral psychology, worship, hermeneutics, preaching, spiritual theology, church management, basic music theory, appreciation of sacred music, etc. The purpose of teaching is to cultivate pastoral talents for Guangdong Province who are patriotic and religious, have certain attainments in Christian theology, and can cultivate believers in the true way. There are currently more than 300 students enrolled, mainly from Guangdong Province. Since its resumption in 1986, the college has trained more than a thousand graduates, most of whom have stayed to serve in churches in the province. About a quarter of them have been ordained as pastors or elders.[7] [3] [4]

The college currently has 15 full-time teachers, and has also invited 15 university professors or researchers to serve as visiting teachers. The current dean is Pastor Xu Jieping.[3]

The journal of the seminary is "Window of Union", which includes "Research on the Sinicization of Christianity", "Biblical Studies", "Theological Thinking", "Church History", "Spirituality", "Pastoral Counseling", and "Christian Art" ”, “Translation and Introduction of Original Classics”, “Teaching Exchange” and other columns. [3]

The school currently has teaching buildings, libraries, student dormitories, cafeterias, Concordia Chapel, indoor and outdoor sports venues, etc. The chapel is open to the public, and the library has a collection of nearly 60,000 Chinese and foreign books, as well as a wealth of electronic books and periodicals. [3][4] [8]

## Address

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Address: No. 9, Dongping Middle Road, North Baiyun Avenue, Baiyun District, Guangzhou City.

Website: http://www.gduts.org/index.html

## See also

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* List of Protestant theological seminaries in China
* Nanjing Union Theological Seminary

## References

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1. ^ a b "Guangdong Union Theological Seminary". China Christian Council. 2022-08-02.
2. ^ a b c d 王雯 (Wang Wen) (2010-09-18). "风雨30年 范秀远牧师见证广东教会的成长 (Pastor Fan Xiuyuan witnessed the growth of the Guangdong Churches in the past 30 years)". 福音时报 (China Gospel Times).
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "广东协和神学院 (Guangdong Union Theological Seminary)" (in Chinese). 中国基督教网 （the Protestant Church in China）. 2022-05-25.
4. ^ a b c d e "The Profile of Guangdong Union Theological Seminary". Guangdong Union Theological Seminary. 2022.
5. ^ a b c "广东协和神学院举行复办30周年庆典 历届校友联欢感恩". 福音时报. 2016-09-28.
6. ^ ChinaSource Team (2012-08-30). "Christianity in Guangdong – an Interview".
7. ^ "招生信息". 广东协和神学院. 2024.
8. ^ 卢恩杰 (2021-12-29). "广东协和神学院举行图书馆升级改造竣工重启感恩礼". 中国基督教网.

## External links

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* http://www.gduts.org/index.html Official website of Guangdong Union Theological Seminary (in Chinese language)
* https://en.ccctspm.org/ Official website of China Christian Council