China
Diocesan Press Service. January 24, 1974 [74019]
A slow trickle of information is coming out of China as more and more churchmen are allowed to visit there, and to observe as well as converse with Christians and church leaders. One such visit was made recently by E. H. Johnson, secretary for Research and Planning of the Board of World Mission of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, last year, March 23 to April 14. His notes make clear that Chinese Christians are trying to carry on church activities quietly, and in general support heartily the new China. In China today Christianity is for the most part congregational and local, with professional ministers, as well as church buildings, considered as non-essentials in the Christian community. There are services held in church buildings, but of the many church buildings still available only a few of them are being used. In Nanking, for example, there are some 500 Christians meeting regularly in four areas of the city in different halls and meeting places, often on Sunday, but also at other times, depending on the rotating schedules of the workers. Denominations have largely disappeared and so have differences between clergy and laity. Leadership is becoming less and less ecclesiastical although the Nanking group and other Christian groups do have ordained and former professional clergy among them. Those who formerly were pastors and priests often keep their titles but the people feel that leadership does not need to be in the hands of professionals, and the former professionals are simply individual members of the whole Christian group. The Christian community is now mainly an ideology and a fellowship. Christians are not burdened financially by their faith, and there are few Christian activities, because Christians work six days and have many study and political meetings. However, from some of the Christian leaders contacted they reported that Christians have not suffered discrimination. This applies to the young people who, even though they are Christians, suffer no discrimination in their school work or the agricultural and industrial work which they do after leaving middle school and before they enter university. There is still a theological college in Nanking and the seminary buildings are still available for its work; the seminary staff continues and is engaged in the process of formulating what kind of expression the church should have, and what kind of theological colors they want, for the new society of China. Dr. Johnson visited not only Nanking but also Canton, Shanghai, and Peking. In Peking he found two churches formally open for public worship -- one Protestant and one Roman Catholic. Even these brief glimpses of the Christian evidences in China are enough to give hope that all is not lost there, and that the Christian religion will continue to exercise a quiet and subtle influence in China, even though it is no longer an obvious and aggressive force. It is clear that there are still those in China who wish to keep up with what is going on in America in the Christian religion, and are asking for magazines and church papers that will help keep them informed. According to Dr. Johnson they are also eager to let their North American friends know that they, as Christians of China, will continue to work for friendship with Christians in all the world.
(NOTE: This press release is designed for diocesan papers as an attempt to bring home the relevance of Response, the devotional guide in praying for mission, following the Cycle of Prayer for Anglican Use. Each press release is based on an item listed in Response for that month asking for intercessory prayer. This release is designed to supplement the intercessions for China on March 31, 1974.)