Dr Kin Pan Wu

Dr Wu is a historian and theologian specialising in nineteenth‑century German missionary activity in the Orient, with particular focus on Rev. Dr Ernst Faber, a significant pioneer in Sinology as a scholarly missionary. His research explores how Christian theology engaged with Chinese intellectual traditions, revealing missionary history as a dialogue rather than a monologue. He highlights the enduring importance of intercultural theology and its relevance to both academic study and the church’s lively commitment.

About

Dr Kin Pan WU earned a PhD from the Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn, Germany. His doctoral research focused on Rev. Dr Ernst Faber, a prominent German scholarly missionary in China, which was published in 2022 in Germany.

Dr Wu has authored numerous articles and books, along with translations into Chinese, English, and German.

Not only is he actively participating in pastoral ministry, but he is also the founder of Globalintelligenz GmbH, located in Wuppertal, which pursues spiritual and cultural discourse. Since 2003, Dr Wu has been serving as a pastor across various denominations in Hong Kong. Currently, he holds the position of Adjunct Professor at Gratia Christian College in Hong Kong; he is also a Fellow both of the Royal Asiatic Society (FRAS) and the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS) in the UK; in addition, he serves as an Honorary Research Associate at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Divinity (through Australian Lutheran College). Furthermore, he teaches at the Hong Kong Lutheran Theological Seminary, offering courses on Chinese Christianity, mission studies, contextual theology, and church ministry. Nowadays, he is also elected as Vice-President of the Society for the Study of the History of Christianity in China.

In 2025, he received the “Prize of Outstanding Theological Publication” awarded by the Rev. L. H. Chow Memorial Foundation in Taiwan. This accolade recognises his significant contributions to the Chinese theological community through his publications. The details of the delivery of this prize can be found in the following news mentioned by VOX, University of Divinity:

https://alc.edu.au/connect/news/receives-prize-of-outstanding-theological-publication-in-taiwan/

His research interests encompass German missionaries, Christianity in Hong Kong, Chinese Christianity, Church History, Missiology, and the Migration history of Christians in Pan-Pacific areas, including Australia, Japan and the Global South. His reflection aims at an interdisciplinary approach across the fields of theology, philosophy, history, cultural studies, as well as various kinds of literature and linguistics.

Special interests

• Missiology, Mission Studies, Contextual Theology, Sino‑Christian Thought and Translation, Sinology, Ecclesiastical History, Lutheranism in Mission, Chinese Christianity, Intercultural Theology

Research supervision

Eligible to supervise at the Master's and PhD levels as a supervisor if applicable. Current supervision includes projects on missionary archives, Chinese Christian intellectual history, and intercultural hermeneutics.

Community engagement

• Dr Kin Pan Wu (胡健斌 / HU Jianbin) is a historian and theologian specialising in the history of German missionaries in China, who served in pastoral ministry for over two decades in various church congregations, while also teaching at seminaries and universities in Hong Kong and Taiwan. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society (FRAS) and Royal Historical Society (FRHistS). He is the present Vice‑President of the Society for the Study of the History of Christianity in China. He frequently delivers public lectures at church anniversaries and international conferences, bridging academic research with community life. H

Qualifications in detail

• BA (Hons), Hong Kong Baptist University
• MA in Religious Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong
• MDiv, Chinese University of Hong Kong
• PhD [magna cum laude], University of Bonn
• Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society (FRAS)
• Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS)

Papers and publications

Books

2022

Thy Kingdom Come: Ernst Faber’s Intercultural‑Missionary Vision of Chinese Spirituality. Edition Cathay 79. Bochum: Projekt Verlag, 2022. (Awarded the Rev Chow Lien-Hwa Memorial Foundation’s “Prize of Outstanding Theological Publication” in 2024)

2019

《天國長毛：太平天國堅離地？》[The Long-Hairs: Spirituality of Taiping Heavenly Kingdom]. Hong Kong: SuperMedia, 2019.

Articles (Selected)

2025

“Relationship between Human “Faith” and “Heart”: An Investigation on the “Theory of Human Heart” Proclaimed by German Missionary-Sinologist Ernst Faber (1839–1899) in His Commentary of the Gospel of St. Mark.” Sino-Christian Studies 40 (2025): 175–210.

2023

“German Missionaries and Bible Translation in Nineteenth‑Century China.” Nanjing Theological Journal 135 (2023): 48–71.

2022

“The Rhenish General of Chariots and Horsemen': Pastor Wong Him-yue and His German Origin.” Ching Feng n.s. 20.1/2 (2022): 111–131.

"Liebe und Frieden nach Fabers Vorstellungen: im Lichte des chinesischen Philosophen Micius." Coburger Geschichtsblätter 30 (2022): 9-64.

2020

“The Early Accommodation of German Sacramental Theology in China: with Reference to Confession, Translation and Commentary through the Rhenish Missionaries.” Ching Feng n.s. 19.1/2 (2020): 71–96.

2017

“Ernst Faber’s Criticism of the Jesuit Missionaries in China.” Minima Sinica 29.1 (2017): 27–75.