After long preparation, the international scholastic conference with the theme of “Culture Exchange between East and the West - Review and Horizon” was held at the William Carey International University in Los Angeles from Oct. 24-27. It concluded in the midst of applause and sounds of thanksgiving.
Bearing the historical responsibilities and future outlooks, “Christianity and China Research Center (Los Angeles)” hosted this meaningful scholastic seminar. With Robert Morrison’s 200th Anniversary into China as the background, 40 outstanding specialists and scholars from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and North America reviewed the past and the future horizon. The scope of the discussion topics touched upon topics of history, culture, society, theology, and other fields.
On Oct. 24, the conference began with a grand welcoming dinner banquet, and Rev. Lin Li, general secretary of the research center and the main person in charge of coordinating this conference, presided.
The Los Angeles Monterey Park Mayor and several members of the city council participated and brought some congratulatory remarks of the local officials, expressing their respect and welcome towards the scholars.
The participating scholars came from several major universities in China, which included Beijing University, Renmin University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shandong University, Fudan University, Beijing Normal University, Shaanxi Normal University, Shanghai Normal University, and from Beijing Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China Graduate School of Theology, Chun Yuan Christian University in Taiwan, Taiwan Theological Seminary, and Canada Cultural Regeneration Research Society.
Experienced scholars from Western Theological Seminary in United States also participated. One is from United Kingdom and two are from United States.
The scholastic seminars were held concentrated in the period between the 25th thru the 27th, where a total of eleven gatherings were held. Each meeting lasted for an hour and a half, and three scholars would spend 15 minutes to present their thesises. Then, the commenting professors would give their commentaries; the remaining time was given to the audience to freely ask questions.
This thesises presented in this conference represented the leading edge perspective of Chinese scholars towards the thoughts of philosophy, theology, history, and culture. The scholars presented their thought-provoking dissertation, questions were presented by the audience that pointed out their unfamiliarity, and the scholars provided responses that were very exciting. All of this allowed the 30-40 listeners to receive much inspirations and insights. They all said that it was invaluable.
Other than the formal seminar, the main coordinating committee has organized some scholars to hold seminars in churches and the community to expand the viewpoints of the mass. Those who assisted in coordinating this included Los Angeles Bread of Life Church (26th), Chinese Christian Church of Thousand Oaks (26th, 27th), First Evangelical Church of San Gabriel Valley (26th), and North America Comic Light (28th).
The main coordinating committee will publish the thesis collections presented at this conference next year.
