07.12.2012
Archbishop of Dublin Attends Memorial Service for Bishop K H Ting in China
The Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, is attending a memorial service for Bishop K H Ting at Mochou Road Church in Nanjing, China, today (Saturday December 8). He is representing the Church of Ireland and the Dublin University Far Eastern Mission (DUFEM), of which he is Honorary Patron.
K H Ting was an Anglican bishop prior to China’s Cultural Revolution and a pioneer in the country’s post–denominational era. He died on November 22 in Nanjing aged 97.
In his messages of condolence to the general secretary of the Amity Foundation, Mr Qui Zhonghui; the Reverend Dr Lin Manhong, Dean of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary; and Elder Fu Xianwei of China Christian Council/National TSPM, the Archbishop described Bishop Ting as “an inspirational leader for Christian people across China and the world. His contributions to theology will continue to stimulate scholars for generations to come”.
He added that many members of the Dublin University Far Eastern Mission remembered with fondness Bishop Ting’s visit to Ireland and wished to add their sympathies to all Chinese people on the occasion of his death.
Of Bishop Ting’s dedicated vision for and leadership of the Amity Foundation, Archbishop Jackson said he had transformed the lives of countless numbers of people adding that the work of Amity was greatly admired by people all over the world.
“Bishop Ting’s commitment to global cooperation and ecumenical partnership has enabled Irish churches to support the work of Amity. This is a relationship that is greatly valued by Irish churches, as the presence of Irish delegates in Nanjing at the 2010 celebrations of Amity’s 25th anniversary testified. The Dublin University Far Eastern Mission looks forward to continuing this special relationship into the future,” the Archbishop said in his message to the general secretary of the foundation.
The Amity Foundation is an independent Chinese voluntary organisation which was created in 1985 on the initiative of Chinese Christians to promote education, social services, health, and rural development from China’s coastal provinces in the east to the minority areas of the west.