Rev. and Chinese Missioner
Father Paul Songling Xie was born in Shanghai, China. Before
coming to the U.S. he was a professor in a Medical University.
In the year 2000 he was accepted to Ashland Theological Seminary,
Ohio, where he earned his Master degree in Biblical and theological
studies. After receiving his first degree, he was called to
St. George's as a Parish Worker (Lay Pastor); at the same he
pursued his second Master degree in The General Theological
Seminary of The Episcopal Church, New York, to study Episcopal/Anglican
doctrine, discipline and worship and graduated in May 2004.
He was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons in January 2006
and of Priests in October 2006 by the Bishop of Long Island.
He is the first Chinese from mainland China who was ordained
in the Episcopal Church and the first Chinese who was ordained
in the Diocese of Long Island.
Before coming to St. George in June 2002, he visited Flushing,
noting the large population of Chinese immigrants. Many of
them tried to adapt to the culture and life of a society they
have never faced before; they did not have the opportunity
for a Christian tradition to grow, and did have a lot of spiritual,
pastoral, emotional, and other needs and concerns to be met.
He reflected that he would like to serve as the envoy of Christ
to bring God’s love to the wider community and as the one
who presents the world to the Church, working with the clergy
and the lay leaders to minister to the people in a multiracial,
multilingual, and intercultural community. Father Xie's message
is "Welcome to St. George's, the House of prayer for
all people, your welcoming and inviting home."
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