Leaders and educators in Chinese Christian ministry gathered at Trinity Western University from May 20 to 22, 2026, for the 7th North America Chinese Christian Education Consultation. The event was co-hosted by TWU’s Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS), through its Mandarin Theology program, in partnership with the Chinese Christian Education Association (North America), and took place at TWU’s Minoru campus site in Richmond, B.C. Over 60 participants from across North America and beyond attended, with more than 40 present in person and others joining online from locations including China and Hong Kong. Attendees included Chinese-speaking pastors from Greater Vancouver, Toronto, and across the United States; faculty from various seminaries; leaders of Chinese parachurch organizations; and 14 participants affiliated with TWU, including students, alumni, and Dr. Jordan Wang, interim director of the Mandarin Theology program.
Opening reflections & shared vision
The Consultation opened with welcome addresses from University and divinity school leadership. Rebecca Swaim, Executive Director of TWU Richmond, welcomed participants on behalf of TWU. Dr. David Pao, Dean of TEDS, was unable to attend in person but contributed a written welcome address, which was read on his behalf by Dr. Wang. In his message, Dr. Pao affirmed that the gathering embodied a shared commitment to “equipping God’s people faithfully in the midst of rapid cultural and technological changes,” a charge that set the tone for the consultations that followed. Dr. Wang also welcomed participants on behalf of the Mandarin Theology program, introducing the program’s history and mission and expressing his hope that the Consultation would mark the beginning of deeper connections among Chinese-speaking churches, seminaries, and parachurch organizations across North America.
Addressing formation in the AI era
Convened under the theme “Christian Education and Formation in the A.I. Era,” the Consultation addressed one of the most pressing questions facing churches and Christian higher education today: How should Christian educators, pastors, and communities respond to the rapid development of AI in ways that are theologically grounded, spiritually formative, and pastorally wise? Five structured plenary sessions brought together scholars and practitioners to explore this question from multiple angles, covering AI and holistic knowledge, AI and learning, AI’s impact on biblical teaching, AI and spiritual formation, and AI’s implications for Christian ministry.
Theological engagement & key insights
Across these sessions, presenters engaged a common thread: that AI is not a neutral tool but a culturally formative force capable of reshaping human identity, knowledge, and spiritual life. Speakers called for the cultivation of discernment, emphasized the irreplaceable role of the Holy Spirit in genuine spiritual knowing, and warned against reducing Christian education to information transfer or skill acquisition. The sessions consistently returned to the conviction that technology must be evaluated theologically and that the formation of whole persons remains the irreducible heart of Christian education.
Dr. Wang presented a paper in the closing ministry forum titled “When Non-Humans Speak: AI as Serpent and Donkey.” Drawing on two biblical narratives, the serpent’s speech in Genesis 3 and the story of Balaam and his donkey in Numbers 22, he explored the theological significance of non-human agency and language and what these accounts might illuminate about a Christian theology of AI.
The Consultation concluded with a comprehensive summary by Rev. Dr. Anthony Chow (President of International School of Christian Education), who identified key themes concerning AI’s cognitive capacities, its practical applications, and its implications for Christian education and the Church. The event also included the election of a new executive committee to lead the association through 2026 to 2028.
Ongoing collaboration & future impact
The Consultation carries significance on multiple fronts. It brings theological, educational, and pastoral voices into one of the most consequential conversations of our time, models the integration of Scripture, Christian anthropology, and spiritual formation with emerging technology, and represents a rare cross-sector gathering of Chinese-speaking churches, seminaries, and parachurch organizations in shared discernment. For the Mandarin Theology program, hosting this event at TWU exemplifies the program’s mission to equip Chinese-speaking church leaders for the challenges of contemporary ministry. The organizers are grateful to Rebecca Swaim and her team at TWU Richmond, including Cecelia, Robbie, Fritz, and Grace, for their extensive logistical coordination and support.
About Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Founded in 1897, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School is one of the world’s leading evangelical divinity schools, known for its commitment to Scripture, rigorous scholarship, and global ministry impact. Now part of Trinity Western University, TEDS continues its mission of forming faithful servant leaders for the Church worldwide.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students for life. Uniting faith and reason through Christian teaching and scholarship, TWU is a research institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in the humanities and sciences as well as in several professional schools. TWU has its main campus in Langley, B.C. and campus sites in Richmond, B.C. and Ottawa, Ont.
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