On November 12-13, the Suzhou CC&TSPM held a meeting and seminar on the Sinicization of Christianity.
Attended by 100 members and pastoral staff, the seminar focused on two themes entitled Can believers be yoked together with unbelievers? and Construction of Urban Christianity, according to the Suzhou CC&TSPM. Papers were submitted by 86 pastors in the city, of which 25 were selected for exchange.
Pastor He Jiemiao, chairman and president of the Suzhou CC&TSPM (Christian Council & Three-Self Patriotic Movement), concluded that there were common attributes between believers and unbelievers in spite of different beliefs. As everyone worked hard to have a better life, Christians should share the gospel by their actions. In response to the saying, "Believers will go to heaven, and unbelievers will go to hell", he emphasized, "No one can misinterpret the Bible and challenge the sovereignty of God. He said we should study the whole Bible and not jump to conclusions."
Second, He shared the huge challenges they faced in the construction of urban Christianity. The first was that the church lacked leaders and the authority of the church and status of pastors were challenged. The pastors lacked the knowledge and ability to handle affairs and had personal shortcomings, so they were far from meeting the requirements of the church and society. The image of the pastors continued to deteriorate due to secularization, contradictions within the church, foreign influence, heretics, and cults. The second point was that the current church establishment (patriotic organization) also faced challenges. From time to time there is the phenomenon of teaching tyrants, one person has the final say or one family has the final say. There was also chaos, irregularities in church asset control and financial management.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
2020年11月12-13日，苏州市基督教两会举行十二届委员（扩大）培训学习暨基督教中国化论文交流会，共有委员及教牧同工100人参加会议。
基督教中国化论文交流会分两个主题：“信与不信能否同负一轭”和城市基督教建设。全市共有86名教牧人员提交了相关论文，会议选用了其中25篇作交流。
苏州市基督教两会主席/会长何介苗牧师作总结讲话。
何牧师指出：一、信与不信信仰上虽有差异，但人生在世，有更多共同的属性，我们应该向往共同的美好生活，以实际行为见证福音。针对有的人宣讲“信上帝上天堂，不信上帝下地狱”，何牧师强调：“当让整本圣经说话，当从圣经原文入手研读，任何人都不可随意曲解、谬解圣经，更不可在恩典中僭越上帝的主权”；
二、城市基督教建设中面临的巨大挑战：1、教会缺乏领袖，传道人的教会权威、地位面临挑战。传道人自身的知识水平、处事能力、品格修养存在严重缺陷，与教会、社会要求相差甚远。同时，由于世俗化越来越严重，信仰淡化，加之不断有教会内部矛盾激化、境外渗透、异端、邪教冲击，传道人的整体形象在持续变差。2、教会现行体制（爱国组织）面临挑战。各地教会不时发现“教霸”，“一个人说了算”、“一家人说了算”、教会资产支配、财务管理混乱、不规范等等现象不断出现.
苏州市委统战部民族宗教工作处叶海闯处长出席闭幕会并讲话。他肯定苏州基督教所取得的成绩，同时强调基督教团体要提高政治站位，持续推进基督教中国化工作。闭幕会由苏州市基督教三自爱国会副主席兼秘书长顾云涛牧师主持。
http://www.gospeltimes.cn/article/index/id/54405
苏州市基督教两会举行十二届委员（扩大）培训学习暨基督教中国化论文交流会
On November 12-13, the Suzhou CC&TSPM held a meeting and seminar on the Sinicization of Christianity.
Attended by 100 members and pastoral staff, the seminar focused on two themes entitled Can believers be yoked together with unbelievers? and Construction of Urban Christianity, according to the Suzhou CC&TSPM. Papers were submitted by 86 pastors in the city, of which 25 were selected for exchange.
Pastor He Jiemiao, chairman and president of the Suzhou CC&TSPM (Christian Council & Three-Self Patriotic Movement), concluded that there were common attributes between believers and unbelievers in spite of different beliefs. As everyone worked hard to have a better life, Christians should share the gospel by their actions. In response to the saying, "Believers will go to heaven, and unbelievers will go to hell", he emphasized, "No one can misinterpret the Bible and challenge the sovereignty of God. He said we should study the whole Bible and not jump to conclusions."
Second, He shared the huge challenges they faced in the construction of urban Christianity. The first was that the church lacked leaders and the authority of the church and status of pastors were challenged. The pastors lacked the knowledge and ability to handle affairs and had personal shortcomings, so they were far from meeting the requirements of the church and society. The image of the pastors continued to deteriorate due to secularization, contradictions within the church, foreign influence, heretics, and cults. The second point was that the current church establishment (patriotic organization) also faced challenges. From time to time there is the phenomenon of teaching tyrants, one person has the final say or one family has the final say. There was also chaos, irregularities in church asset control and financial management.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Suzhou's Sinicization of Christianity Meeting Focuses on Reaching Non-Christians with Bible Alone
