Basel Christian Church of Malaysia Has a New Bishop - Bishop Thomas Tsen

Basel Christian Church of Malaysia (BCCM) has just elected a new bishop to succeed Bishop Voo Thien Fui. The responsibility now rests on the shoulders of Rev. Dr. Thomas Tsen, the father of Irene Tsen.

Like many other denominations, Basel Church has been yearning for renewal. Both clergy and lay members have long desired a more open and tolerant church leadership - one that is less rigid and more receptive to the movement of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church.

It is perhaps unsurprising that the newly elected bishop is not one of the “pastoral” pastors who have served directly within the Chinese or English congregations. Over the years, many of those leaders became seen as “controversial” figures, unable to gain widespread acceptance. Instead, the task has now fallen to Rev. Dr. Tsen, whose background as a lecturer at Sabah Theological Seminary (STS) positions him as a less divisive, more unifying choice.

One of his notable strengths is his command of languages - being trilingual in Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese, and English. This ability gives him a unique advantage in bridging cultural and linguistic divides within the Basel community. His English, in particular, has improved significantly since his return from the United States, enabling him to connect more effectively with the diverse membership of the church.

I believe Basel Church is poised for change under his leadership - perhaps not a sweeping transformation overnight, but a steady and thoughtful journey towards renewal.