Churches in North China’s Shanxi Province were visited by church leaders because of their long-time suspensions of in-person gatherings.
A church leader paid visits to grassroots churches that faced great challenges of self-financing and carrying out pastoral care, Shanxi CC&TSPM reported.
Since the beginning of this year, the coronavirus pandemic has repeatedly attacked all parts of Shanxi. In order to support pandemic prevention, churches in the province have been implementing the measure of "double suspension", which refers to suspending the opening of places of worship and collective religious activities.
Jin Yuting, executive vice chairman of Shanxi TSPM and director of Social Service Department of Shanxi CC&TSPM, on May 6 led staff workers to visit Xiaodian Meeting Point, Shigou Gathering Site, and Yijing Meeting Point in Taiyuan City for research and visits.
During the discussion with each church’s staff members, the research team learned about the development of church ministries, such as self-financing, pastoral care, safety, epidemic prevention, and social services, as well as difficulties in any of these spheres. Affirming the efforts of each church, Jin encouraged church staff to have faith at the end of the epidemic, to do a good job in epidemic prevention, pastoral care, and social welfare services, and to adhere to the principle of developing religion in the Chinese context.
What’s more important, Jin stated that they intended not to require the special donations made by local churches to the provincial CC&TSPM, in order to ease the financial pressure on grassroots churches.
“This grassroots survey does not only reflect the pastoral heart of church leaders but also reflects the mission of the provincial CC&TSPM which is serving others as a religious group," he said.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
今年以来，新冠病毒反复袭击山西各地，为了配合各地疫情防控，山西教会一直认真贯彻“双暂停”，以实际行动支持抗疫。然而长时间的不能恢复聚会，也给教会的牧养、自养都带来了巨大挑战，为了深入了解基层教会的实际情况，表达关爱。
5月6日，山西省基督教三自爱国运动委员会常务副主席、社会服务专委会主任金玉庭带领同工到太原市小店区小店堂、石沟聚会点、晋源区义井堂调研走访。
调研中，调研组每到一处都和同工座谈，了解各堂点的自养、牧养、安全、防疫、社会服务等各项事工的开展情况，存在哪些困难。常务副主席金玉庭肯定了各堂点的工作，并强调：一要坚定信心，相信抗疫必胜，曙光必会到来；二要安全有序，做好安全防疫工作和信徒联络牧养工作；三要坚持基督教中国化，做好场所规范化建设，创新思路做好社会公益服务，发挥基督教积极的作用。
金玉庭还表示，省基督教两会拟取消各地教会今年给省基督教两会的专项奉献，以缓解基层教会的自养压力。
此次下基层调研，不仅体现了省基督教两会心系教会的牧者之心，也反映了省基督教两会作为宗教团体的服务之旨。
http://www.fuyinshibao.cn/article/index/id/62542
山西省基督教两会社会服务专委会一行到基层堂点调研
Churches in North China’s Shanxi Province were visited by church leaders because of their long-time suspensions of in-person gatherings.
A church leader paid visits to grassroots churches that faced great challenges of self-financing and carrying out pastoral care, Shanxi CC&TSPM reported.
Since the beginning of this year, the coronavirus pandemic has repeatedly attacked all parts of Shanxi. In order to support pandemic prevention, churches in the province have been implementing the measure of "double suspension", which refers to suspending the opening of places of worship and collective religious activities.
Jin Yuting, executive vice chairman of Shanxi TSPM and director of Social Service Department of Shanxi CC&TSPM, on May 6 led staff workers to visit Xiaodian Meeting Point, Shigou Gathering Site, and Yijing Meeting Point in Taiyuan City for research and visits.
During the discussion with each church’s staff members, the research team learned about the development of church ministries, such as self-financing, pastoral care, safety, epidemic prevention, and social services, as well as difficulties in any of these spheres. Affirming the efforts of each church, Jin encouraged church staff to have faith at the end of the epidemic, to do a good job in epidemic prevention, pastoral care, and social welfare services, and to adhere to the principle of developing religion in the Chinese context.
What’s more important, Jin stated that they intended not to require the special donations made by local churches to the provincial CC&TSPM, in order to ease the financial pressure on grassroots churches.
“This grassroots survey does not only reflect the pastoral heart of church leaders but also reflects the mission of the provincial CC&TSPM which is serving others as a religious group," he said.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Shanxi Cancels Local Churches' Donations to Administration to Ease Their Financial Stress
