Ding Shujing was the first Chinese leader of the Chinese YWCA, holding office from 1925 to 1936.
19 Facts About Ding Shujing
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Ding Shujing was born in Linqing, Shandong Province, in February 1890.
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Ding Shujing's family converted from Buddhism to Christianity when Ding was ten or twelve.
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Ding Shujing enrolled in North China Union College in Beijing in 1907 and graduated in 1911.
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Ding Shujing felt that Christianity gave people wholeness of life and thus let them develop their potential as humans and search for higher spiritual ideals.
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Ding Shujing thought the church should recognize the equal participation of women and men in the Body of Christ.
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In late 1922 Ding was appointed executive secretary for the Chinese YWCA's first national convention committee.
8.
When Rosalee Venable went on furlough Ding Shujing was appointed acting national general secretary.
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Ding Shujing was given a scholarship to the YWCA National Training School in New York.
10.
Under pressure, Ding Shujing accepted this position, and returned to Shanghai late in 1925 after a year in the US.
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Ding Shujing was the first Chinese woman to head the YWCA.
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Ding Shujing thought the YWCA had to start to work with the "masses" or else go home.
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Ding Shujing gave considerable freedom to the YWCA secretaries, who vigorously developed the industrial and rural programs.
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Ding Shujing served in executive roles with Jinling College in Nanjing, Yenching University in Beijing, Bridgeman Academy in Beijing, McTyeire School for Girls in Shanghai, the National Council of Women of China and the National Christian Council of China.
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Ding Shujing took a furlough in 1935 and traveled in Europe, the United States and Japan, where she promoted peace and friendly relations between the Chinese and Japanese YWCAs.
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Haass took over most of the duties of general secretary while Ding Shujing was on furlough.
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Ding Shujing returned, exhausted, early in 1936, after saying she planned to resign, but agreed to stay on while another Chinese secretary was made ready for the job.
18.
Ding Shujing was invited to serve as a permanent representative of Asia on the YWCA World Council.
19.
Ding Shujing was replaced by Cai Kui, who was preferred by the board over Cora Deng since she was not so openly "progressive".