WCC pays tribute to Bishop K. H. Ting

WCC pays tribute to Bishop K. H. Ting

Bishop K. H. Ting, who is remembered as a “great visionary” by the World Council of Churches, died on November 22, at the age of 97.

The WCC general secretary, the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, expressed admiration for Bishop Ting’s commitment to reconciliation between church and society, Christians and non-Christians in China.

Bishop Ting worked closely with the leadership of the WCC in its formative years. He was a staff member of the World Student Christian Federation in Geneva, Switzerland.

On his return to China in the 1950s, he held several positions, including that of principal of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, chairperson of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement and president of the China Christian Council (CCC).

Bishop Ting’s contribution to the re-emergence of church life and opening of the church to the outside world in the 1980s and 1990s is widely recognised.

With the creation of the CCC, Tveit said, Bishop Ting has “contributed immensely to raise the profile of the Chinese church”, and made it possible that the “church in China re-entered into WCC fellowship after four decades of absence in the global ecumenical movement.”

“Bishop Ting played an important role in ensuring that Chinese Christianity continues to survive and grow even under the communist regime,” Tveit added.

Bishop Ting also served as vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (1989–2008), and was a member of the National People’s Congress, China’s legislature.

Read full text of WCC general secretary’s tribute to Bishop K. H. Ting

“Revered, respected and loved” Kobia pays tribute to Bishop K. H. Ting as “living ecumenical ancestor” (WCC press release of November 20, 2006)

More information on the China Christian Council

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