Between Two Worlds: Identity-Theological Reflections of Second-Generation Chinese Christians in Germany—A Case Study

Abstract

This article explores the identity-theological dynamics of second-generation Chinese Christians (ZGCC) in Germany by examining two contrasting congregational models in two major cities. Drawing on qualitative fieldwork—including participant observation and ten interviews with youth, parents, and church leaders—the study investigates how ZGCC navigate their bicultural heritage within the Chinese Christian diaspora and in relation to the German Christian context. Conceptually grounded in research on migration and diaspora, as well as on congregational typologies, the study reveals that Chinese identity plays a crucial yet ambivalent role in shaping ZGCC’s self-understanding, communal belonging, and theological reflection. The article analyzes structural church models (Transfer vs. Duplex), linguistic and generational tensions, and hybrid faith expressions. It argues that the ZGCC embody a distinct form of contextualized faith that resists binary identity frameworks and instead integrates Chinese and German elements in a theologically meaningful way. Possible implications for church structure, leadership development, and intergenerational integration are discussed. The study concludes by proposing further avenues for theological and missiological research on this topic.