Ginling College
Description
Wu’s travels around the world began with a request from a cable. As Chairman of the National Christian Council (NCC) in China for 1935-1937, President Wu was called to attend a meeting of the International Missionary Council in London. After that, she continued around the globe, visiting Switzerland, Berlin, and cities all across the United States. She attended conferences, visited universities and old friends. We get a glimpse into Wu’s adventurous few months through this document.
As defined by Dana Robert, Christian internationalism is an Anglo-American Protestant missionary movement that functioned to share a moral vision for the world within a global frame. Wu, as a graduate of Ginling College, was a product of this movement. After becoming a prominent figure then as president of the college, she too partook in Christian internationalism. By traveling abroad with the intent of trying to promote a Christian agenda around the world and in China, Wu was also a Christian missionary.
While the document is not explicitly dated, it is estimated to have been written in the summer of 1935, prior to the Sian Incident, in which the Communists seized control from the ruling leader of China, Chiang Kai-Shek.
What Wu did not mention is this letter is that she was elected to the position of Chairman for the National Christian Council, and eventually became the organization’s vice president. Wu held a major leadership role within the NCC. While the NCC in China had elected women, such as Wu, as leaders, it was not until 1968 that the NCC in America elected its first woman president. It was Wu’s excellent leadership skills and abilities that allowed her to effectively oversee the council's assembly, which included college presidents, bishops, and prominent male Christian leaders.
Through Wu’s writing in this document it is difficult to comprehend her involvement within the movement of Christian internationalism and leadership at large. Wu’s humbleness and kind description of facts give the impression she “is only doing her job.” However, as a graduate herself of Ginling College, Wu herself became a missionary by traveling around the world. Wu was a strong leader and important figure, as we begin to understand from her travels.
As defined by Dana Robert, Christian internationalism is an Anglo-American Protestant missionary movement that functioned to share a moral vision for the world within a global frame. Wu, as a graduate of Ginling College, was a product of this movement. After becoming a prominent figure then as president of the college, she too partook in Christian internationalism. By traveling abroad with the intent of trying to promote a Christian agenda around the world and in China, Wu was also a Christian missionary.
While the document is not explicitly dated, it is estimated to have been written in the summer of 1935, prior to the Sian Incident, in which the Communists seized control from the ruling leader of China, Chiang Kai-Shek.
What Wu did not mention is this letter is that she was elected to the position of Chairman for the National Christian Council, and eventually became the organization’s vice president. Wu held a major leadership role within the NCC. While the NCC in China had elected women, such as Wu, as leaders, it was not until 1968 that the NCC in America elected its first woman president. It was Wu’s excellent leadership skills and abilities that allowed her to effectively oversee the council's assembly, which included college presidents, bishops, and prominent male Christian leaders.
Through Wu’s writing in this document it is difficult to comprehend her involvement within the movement of Christian internationalism and leadership at large. Wu’s humbleness and kind description of facts give the impression she “is only doing her job.” However, as a graduate herself of Ginling College, Wu herself became a missionary by traveling around the world. Wu was a strong leader and important figure, as we begin to understand from her travels.
Coordinates
32.062774043695, 118.781619838
Bibliographic Citation
Dana L. Robert, "The first globalization: the internationalization of the Protestant missionary movement between the World Wars." International Bulletin of Missionary Research 26, no. 2 (2002): 50-66.
Mary Keng Mun Chung, Chinese Women in Christian Ministry: An Intercultural Study, (New York: Peter Lang Publishing), 109.
Mary Keng Mun Chung, Chinese Women in Christian Ministry: An Intercultural Study, (New York: Peter Lang Publishing), 109.