<正>THE Nanjing Union Theological Seminary (Nanjing Union) is in an obscure alley in the busiest part of Nanjing-downtown Xinjiekou. It brings to mind the Chinese philosophical paradox-that the highest state of reclusion may be found within the densest urban jungle. Nanjing was formerly the political and economic center of southern China, and served as capital for 10 dynasties. Between 1912 and 1949 it was the capital of the Republic of China. The Nanjing Union Theological Seminary is the highest Christian academy in China. It was founded in 1952 by combining 12 of East China's Christian seminaries. 'The in-orbit development of the seminary did not occur until 1981, when it resumed enrolment,'says 90-year-old Professor Chen Zemin, former vice president of the seminary. Since 1981, the Nanjing Union has graduated 3,000 students. A full 80 percent of them work in churches, Christian organizations and seminaries across the country, forming the backbone of the Chinese Christian community. Eighty percent of the teaching staff at Chinese Christian seminaries graduated from the Nanjing Union.