Deification as a Structuring Framework in Nee and Lee — Fuller Ecumenical Symposium on Deification

On the Fuller Theological Seminary campus we convened the 2025 Ecumenical Symposium on Deification, which I helped organize and at which I presented the opening paper.

The paper

“Deification as a Structuring Framework in the ‘Systematic Theology’ of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee.”

Summary

The paper examines a significant aspect of Witness Lee’s implicit and explicit exposition of the doctrine of theosis (deification). Building on Watchman Nee’s teachings, Lee—in his mature ministry—constructs his theological framework around deification, exemplifying a contextualized theology and a lived form of “systematization,” grounded in praxis and spiritual experience rather than abstract theological speculation.

Event

• Event: 2025 Ecumenical Symposium on Deification
• Host: Fuller Theological Seminary; sponsored by the Asia Research Center (ARC)
• Responses: Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen and Carl Mosser
• Venue: Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA
• Date: October 9, 2025