3. The Other Side of 1910: The Development of Chinese Indigenous Movements Before and After the Edinburgh Conference

Abstract

Ching-yi Cheng was one of the three Chinese delegates who attended the World Missionary Conference. Speaking on behalf of Chinese Christians, Cheng made a strong appeal for the development of indigenous Churches in China. This chapter reviews the situations regarding the development of indigenous Christianity in China before and after the 1910 Edinburgh conference, and review Cheng's speeches and subsequent work for the Christian Church of China. It was found that there was indeed a strong desire among Chinese Christians for the development of independent, indigenous Christianity in China especially in the early years of the twentieth century which laid a solid background and justification for Cheng's speech at the 1910 conference. As we are celebrating the Centenary Anniversary of the World Missionary Conference held at Edinburgh in 1910, the development of indigenous Christianity in China needs to be given greater attention and its implications further explored.Keywords:Chinese; Ching-yi Cheng; Christians; churches; Edinburgh Conference; indigenous Christianity; World Missionary Conference