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Staff and Research Programmes PDF Print

The Centre for the Study of Christianity in Asia is a research arm of Trinity Theological College. The work of the Centre gathers around three research programmes: Asian Christianity, Faith and Society, and Mission Practice. It provides a learning and collaborative environment where church leaders and scholars can conduct rigorous intellectual enquiry on Christian life in the geopolitically and ethnic-religiously plural contexts in the region. CSCA aims to build up locally based Southeast Asian Christian scholarship through its publication programme. CSCA especially supports the long-term strategic needs of the governing churches of the College.

Centre Personnel

  • Rev. Canon Dr Michael Nai-Chiu Poon, Director & Asian Christianity Research Coordinator [recent publications]
  • Rev. Dr Mark Chan, Faith and Society Research Coordinator
  • Rev. Yap Seok Chin, Mission Practice Research Coordinator
  • Mr Terence Peh, Project Manager
  • Mr Kua Wee Seng, Hon. Fellow (China research projects)
  • Mr Richard Magnus, Hon. Fellow  (Public Policy Research)
  • Dr Vinoth Ramachandra, Hon. Fellow  (Faith and Society)
  • Dr John Roxborogh, Hon. Fellow (Asian Christianity)
  • Dr Tan Gee Paw, Hon. Fellow (Public Policy Research)
  • Dr Ng Kam Weng, Hon. Fellow (Faith and Society)
  • Dr Loh I-to, Hon. Fellow (Asian Composer Forum, Asian Christianity)

Research Programmes
Our work gathers around three research programmes:
 
A. Asian Christianity, Research Coordinator: Dr Michael Poon

To conduct critical enquiry on the history and theology of Southeast Asian Christianity. We do this by:
    promoting intraregional conversations and learning between church leaders and theologians in the Asia Pacific;
  • working collaboratively with the College Library and regional seminary libraries to build up a research-level Singapore-Malaysia Special Collection (Documentation of Christianity in Asia Consortium);
  • developing internet resources on history and theology for seminaries and church leaders (http://www.ttc.edu.sg/csca/csca.htm);
  • promoting documentation among the governing churches.
    • The research programme was first named "History and Documentation." It was renamed "Asian Christianity" from May 2008, to give greater attention to the theological engagements that emerge from the particular historical contexts in Southeast Asia.  The documentation projects under this programme will gradually come under the College Library, which is developing at the same time into a major theological research library in Southeast Asia.

    B. Faith and Society, Research Coordinator: Dr Mark Chan

    To facilitate Christian reflection on public issues and to promote responsible Christian engagement in society. We do this by:
      engaging in research that helps Christians understand the society they live in and to integrate the claims of their faith with the demands of the workplace;
    • providing educational opportunities for developing a Christian worldview and exploring its multi-faceted outworking;
    • equipping Christian leaders to articulate and mediate the holistic and life-transforming reality of the Kingdom of God in the church and the wider society; and
    • assisting churches to work together with other faith communities on social issues in Singapore and the region
    C. Mission Practice, Research Coordinator: Ms Yap Seok Chin

    To work with the Church in critical reflection on the impact of the Christian mission enterprise in South East Asia. We do this by:
    • facilitating the appropriate forums for the exchange of thinking and interaction in learning from our corporate experience in mission practice;
    • developing resources for research in mission studies and practice;
    • contributing to CSCA writing and publication projects participating in regional and international joint projects on mission studies.

    From November 2007, CSCA and CDCM (the Centre for the Development of Christian Ministries) jointly offer a Certificate in Mission Studies (CMS) intensive residential course. The CMS programme, under the direction of the Mission Practice Research Coordinator, is an intensive and basic theological preparation for church workers designated for overseas mission assignments and also for Christians considering cross-cultural ministry. It consists of two two-week modules, to take place annually in May/June and November.Please refer to the CMS webpage for more information.

    CSCA Annual Lectures:

    Every September, CSCA invites a renowned scholar in Asia to present a series of lectures on a contemporary concern in the life and witness of the Church in Asia. The lectures aim to promote critical reflection among Asian Christians on "Asian Christianity," "Faith and Society," and "Mission Practice," the three research clusters of the Centre.  

    The Annual Lectures, with essays by invited respondents are edited and published by the Centre to promote further discussion. The 2013Annual Lectures will be delivered by the Rev. Professor Lo Lung Kwong, director of the Divinity School of Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong, in the week of 23 to 27 September 2013. Details to follow. 

    Past Lectures:
    • The 2006 Lectures. Dr Ng Kam Weng. The Quest for Covenant Community and Pluralist Democracy in an Islamic Context.
    • The 2007 Lectures. Dr Vinoth Ramachandra. Church and Mission in the New Asia: New Gods, New Identities.
    • The 2008 Lectures. Dr Vishal Mangalwadi, Dr Takamitsu Muraoka, and Dr Carver Yu. The Cross in Asia Today.
    • The 2009 Lectures. Dr Roger Hedlund. Present-day Independent Christian Movements in Southeast Asia.
    • Annual Lectures were not held in 2010.
    • The 2011 Lectures. Bishop Robert M. Solomon. On Revivals. Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Holy Spirit.