I Educational Aims and Characteristics

The basic educational aims of the Divinity School of Chung Chi College are threefold: (1) to help students grow as mature persons, (2) to equip them in every way so that they can minister in the Spirit of Christ, (3) to promote theological research, enable inter-disciplinary dialogue and facilitate intellectual and cultural development in Hong Kong, China and overseas Chinese communities.

Divinity School of Chung Chi College is at present the only theological education institution within a Chinese public university. Apart from training pastoral workers, it also aims at raising the level of theologizing of the laity. Intellectual development, spiritual formation, community life, individual critical thinking and self-discipline are the quadrilateral of the School. The School does not belong to any single denomination, it is supported by denominations of several traditions, viz., Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed, Lutheran, Anglican, and Methodist. As a result, the approach to theological studies is open and non-doctrinal. Acceptance of one another is stressed.

Divinity School of Chung Chi College takes an ecumenical approach to theological studies. The Bible is accepted to be the main authority for faith and life. Through the historical, literary, sociological, critical approaches to the studies of Scriptures, students and faculty endeavor to be faithful to the living Word of God and to interpret the Bible in the context of the contemporary Church and the world. Students are not required to accept any specific doctrinal position but all are encouraged to develop and defend their chosen theological positions by means of the highest standards of scholarship. Mutual respect in spite of differences in doctrine is heavily stressed as the prerequisite for community life and good scholarship.

We aim to provide a holistic education which includes all aspects of spiritual, intellectual and social development. The curriculums of the various degree programmes in the Divinity School of Chung Chi College are oriented toward Missio Dei. Practical training for ministry is stressed along with intellectual and spiritual development. Recently, the project of Integration of Clinical Pastoral Education and Theological Education is implemented as one of our training models.

Full time single students are expected to be in residence in the Theology Building. Ten family quarters are provided for students with family, opportunities of interaction with students of other Departments are plentiful. Students can arrange their own life style under the principle of self-discipline and respect for the rights of others. Students can elect or audit all the courses offered by CUHK as long as he/she meets the requirements of that particular department. Students can enjoy the facilities provided by CUHK so that they are able to encounter all realms of knowledge and interact with faculty and students from different departments. The extensive academic environment and broad campus will enable them to widen their horizon and become leaders who serve the times.

 

II　Brief History

In Chung Chi College, the traditions of theological education from the mainland churches and thirteen Christian colleges of China were preserved and developed. The historical roots of the Divinity School of Chung Chi College go back as far as 1864 when the Training School of Canton Presbyterian Mission was established at Fati, Guangdong. In 1914, this School was joined by the Anglican Church and the Methodist Church to form the Canton Union Theological College. During the War, this College had, at various times, entered into affiliated relations with the University of Central China and with Lingnam University. After the War, the Anglican Church, Wei Li Kung Hui, and Christian Mission to Buddhists joined together to establish the Hong Kong Union Theological College. The Church of Christ in China and the Chinese Methodist Church supported Trinity Theological College, Singapore.

Chung Chi College had been having religious education and theological training as part of the academic programme since 1957; but starting 1962, before joining The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the theological training was separately organized as Chung Chi Theological Seminary. This Seminary was established as a joint effort by the Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China, the Anglican Church, the Chinese Methodist Church, the Wei Li Kung Hui, the Swatow Baptist Church and the Tsung Tsin Mission, with the Hong Kong Theological Institute of the Church of Christ in China as the nucleus. The Board of the Seminary which was formed by representatives from the supporting churches planned for the construction of the Theology Building on the campus of the Chung Chi College. In 1966 the Tsung Tsin Lok Yuk Seminary joined the Chung Chi Theological Seminary. Lok Yuk Seminary had a history which went back to 1864 when it was first established in Lilong of Po On District. After changing location for several times it was re-established in Sai Kung, Hong Kong. Chung Chi Theological Seminary continued in an affiliated relationship with the Chung Chi College till 1968.

In 1968 the Seminary as such had ceased to exist and its function was transferred to the Theology Division (the former name of Divinity School of Chung Chi College) in the reorganized Department of Philosophy and Religion, later known as the Department of Cultural and Religious Studies. The Theology Building was completed and began to function in 1969 and was renovated anew in 2000. The Divinity School of Chung Chi College, under the Theological Council, is mainly financed independently by Church gifts and funds from the Trustees of Chung Chi College; but academically, it is a recognized part of the University. In memory of Rev. Pommerenke who donated a piece of land at Siu Tao Fung Shan, the Pommerenke Lectureship of Christianity and Chinese Culture has been set up since 1998 by the Trustees of the College.

To strengthen the unique identity of the only theological education institution within a Chinese public university at present, Theology Division has renamed as Divinity School of Chung Chi College with effect from August 1, 2004.

Divinity School of Chung Chi College is also a full member of the Association for Theological Education in South East Asia and the Hong Kong Theological Education Association.

A little more than half of our alumni were ordained and serve in various parishes in Hong Kong and abroad. The rest serve in Christian organizations, education and social service agencies, industrial, commercial and other professional sectors.

 

III　Supporting Churches

The Churches represented in the Theological Council are: the Anglican Church, the Church of Christ in China (Hong Kong Council), the Tsung Tsin Mission, and the Methodist Church, Hong Kong.