Introduction
From 20 July – 24 July 2024, a global delegation from the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and the World Chinese Christianity Alliance–our affiliated organization that serves Chinese Christians all over the world visited China to learn about the state of Christianity in China and rekindle ties with with key leaders of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) and the China Christian Council (CCC).
This delegation was organized by Rev. Ezekiel Tan, Special Envoy of WEA to China as well as an International Council (IC) member of the WEA. Rev. Dr. Frank Hinkelmann, Vice Chair of the IC of the WEA led the delegation. Other members of the delegation include Rev. Godfrey Yogarajah, Chair of the Asian Evangelical Alliance and IC of the WEA, Dr. Mario Li Hing, Chair of the African Evangelical Alliance and IC member of the WEA, Connie Duarte, General Secretary of the European Alliance and IC member of the WEA, Dr. Brian Stiller Global Ambassador of the WEA, Rev. Samuel Chiang, Deputy Secretary General of Ministries of the WEA, Dr. Peirong Lin, Deputy Secretary General of Operations of the WEA and finally Rev. Gabriel Teo, World Chinese Christianity Alliance Secretariat. They were accompanied by Ms Jingqin Gu, Interim Director Overseas Relations Department CCC&TSPM. The last time the WEA visited China was in 2017, when then Secretary General, Bishop Efraim Tendero, led a delegation.
The Itinerary
The visit started in Beijing with a worship service at Chongwenmen Church, founded as Asbury Church in 1870. After the service, Rev. Liu Cuimin, president of Beijing CC and senior pastor of the church together with other staff of the office shared about church current activities.
In the afternoon, the delegation met with a delegation of the Beijing Christian Council. Leading the delegation of the Beijing Christian Council were Chairman Rev. Wu Weiqing of Beijing CC & TSPM as well as Rev. Li Hua, vice president and general secretary of the Beijing Christian Council (CC). A key point discussed during this meeting was the Chinanization of Christianity. For them, the goal of the Chinese church is one that is faithful to biblical truth, rooted in Chinese culture and adapted to Chinese society. The use of Sacred Music has been integral in the adaptation to the Chinese society. Rev. Li Hua emphasized that there was no desire to change doctrine, but rather what was hoped for was contextualization that leads to the sustainability and adaptation of the Christian faith in the Chinese context.
On the 22nd July, the WEA delegation visited the National Religious Affairs Administration at their compound, Prince Chun mansion. Director Wu Guosheng reiterated the existing freedom of religion in China with the presence of five major religions: Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, Protestantism, and Catholicism. As a land ruled by law, Chinese citizens have been living in religious harmony and WEA is welcomed to engage within those boundaries for the sake of the Christians in the country.
On the 23rd July, the WEA delegation visited both Nanjing Union Theological Seminary as well as Amity Printing Press and Foundation. Nanjing Union Theological Seminary was formed through the merging of 12 different theological seminaries as China moved towards a post denominational Christian scene. Offering bachelors, masters and doctoral level of education across the whole of China, Nanjing Union Theological Seminary is the premier seminary as it leads in the training of pastors and theological reflection on Chinanization. They provide holistic education to their students, with the inclusion of spiritual formation activities outside academic excellence. In discussing the work of the Holy Spirit in China, the delegation remarked that it was the Holy Spirit that provided them with a sense of unity during the years of persecution. They have felt the spirit at church powerfully as wind, rain and fire in the way church has developed.
Nanjing Amity Printing Company is a joint venture between the Amity Foundation and the United Bible Societies. First focused on printing bibles for China, as of 23 July, they have printed more than 264 million Bibles in 229 different languages. The Amity Foundation seeks to serve society through the promotion of holistic development and public welfare. They have been involved in supporting the revitalization of rural communities in China as well as recent international disaster relief.
On the 24rd July, the WEA delegation visited the national CCC and TSPM headquarters and met with Rev. Dr. Lin Manhong, Vice President and General Secretary of CCC, Rev. Geng Weizhong, Residential Vice President of CCC, and Mr. Gu Mengfei, Secretary General of National TSPM, along with other colleagues. The state of Christianity in China was described and WEA colleagues shared insights from where they are and how the Spirit of God had moved in the regions where they are at.
In discussing the project of Bible translation embarked by TSPM, the Chinese leaders pointed out that the objective of this exercise is to better articulate the meaning of the text in mandarin as originally intended. They have brought together a team of Chinese biblical scholars that are skilled in the ancient languages as well as the Chinese language. By and large, they operate on the principle of keeping status quo as far as possible. Within the Chinese culture, history holds a special place and the Bible as sacred text is treated with reverence. They remarked that the current Bible that they have been using was the Chinese Union version that was updated in 2010. This version retained the primary translation of the version in 1919.
The visit to the national CCC and TSPM headquarters ended with a visit to the newly renovated Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Grace Telling Bookshop.
Collaborating for the sake of the Gospel
One observation made during the several visits was the desire for more resources. it was evident the pressure felt due to the shortage of Christian workers in the churches. As reported, there are approximately 38 million Christians who attend TSPM churches. At present, it has been a challenge to shepherd these Christians well due to the lack of trained Christian workers. WEA shared ideas for further collaboration which was welcome by leaders.
A Global Movement
Throughout the visit, WEA used the Bebbington Quadrilateral, a well know descriptor to describe Evangelicalism. This included Biblicalism, Crucicentricism, Conversionism and Activism. The delegation further emphasized the global nature of Evangelicalism and how different regions have sought to contextualize so as to further indiginze their faith wherever they are. Such an understanding of Evangelicalism resonated with the Chinese leaders WEA met. One emphasized TSPM & CCC desire to be faithful to the Bible and his personal motivation to support believers in expressing their faith in the Chinese Context. Another described their belief in the incarnated God, the historical Jesus who lived, died and was resurrected. There was evidence of the growing and deepening faith Christianity is and the baptisms that they have been witnessing. Church leaders are actively involved in evangelism at their church especially during Christmas. As WEA leaders were leaving the national CCC & TSPM headquarters, Rev Dr. Lin unabashedly refered to the Christians in China as Evangelicals. For her, Chinese Christians share a deep desire to serve the same God and she asked for believers all around the world to embrace them as part of the Evangelical family.
Originally from Webpage 'The WEA'
CCD edited and reprinted with permission
引言
2024年7月20日至7月24日，世界福音派联盟（WEA）和世界华人基督教联盟（WCC，WEA的附属组织，服侍世界各地的华人基督徒）的全球代表团访问了中国，了解中国基督教的现状，并与中国基督教三自爱国运动委员会（TSPM）以及中国基督教协会（CCC）的主要领袖重新建立联系。
代表团由WEA中国特使兼WEA国际理事会(IC)成员陈业伟（Ezekiel Tan）牧师组织，WEA国际理事会副主席弗兰克·辛克尔曼（Frank Hinkelmann）牧师带队。代表团成员包括亚洲福音派联盟主席、WEA国际理事会成员戈弗雷·约格拉贾（Godfrey Yogarajah）牧师，非洲福音派联盟主席、WEA国际理事会成员Mario Li Hing博士，欧洲联盟秘书长、WEA国际理事会成员Connie Duarte，WEA全球大使Brian Stiller博士，WEA事工副秘书长Samuel Chiang牧师，WEA运营副秘书长Peirong Lin博士以及WCC秘书处Gabriel Teo牧师。随行的还有中国基督教两会海外联络部临时负责人顾静琴女士。WEA上次访问中国是在2017年，当时秘书长以法莲·腾德罗（Efraim Tendero）主教率领代表团访问中国。
行程安排
代表团一行首先在北京崇文门教堂参加了礼拜，该建堂建于1870年，原名为亚斯立堂。礼拜结束后，北京市基督教教务委员会会长、崇文门堂主任牧师柳翠敏以及其他教职人员向代表团介绍了教堂的基本情况。
下午，代表团访问北京市基督教两会，北京市基督教三自爱国运动委员会主席吴伟庆牧师、北京市基督教教务委员会副会长兼总干事李华牧师热情接待。此次座谈讨论的重点是基督教中国化。对他们来说，中国教会的目标是忠于圣经真理，扎根中国文化，适应中国社会。圣乐的使用是基督教信仰适应中国社会不可或缺的一部分。李华牧师强调，他们无意改变教义，而是希望实现本土化，使基督教信仰在中国背景下具有可持续性和适应性。
7月22日，WEA代表团访问了位于醇亲王府的国家宗教事务局。吴国生重申了中国的宗教自由政策，指出中国有五大宗教：道教、佛教、伊斯兰教、基督教和天主教。中国作为一个法治国家，不同宗教信仰的中国公民和谐相处，欢迎WEA在法律范围内与中国基督徒进行交流。
7月23日，WEA代表团访问了金陵协和神学院、爱德印刷厂和爱德基金会。金陵协和神学院是中国教会向后宗派过渡过程中由12所不同的神学院合并而成。金陵协和神学院为全国性神学院校，有学士、硕士和博士学位，是中国首屈一指的神学院，在牧师培养和中国化的神学反思方面处于领先地位。学院为学生提供全人教育，除了优秀的学术教育，还注重学生的灵性培养。在讨论圣灵在中国的工作时，谈到在中国基督徒经历逼迫的岁月，圣灵将他们团结在一起。在教会的发展过程中，他们强烈地感受到圣灵的工作，如风、如雨、如火。
南京爱德印刷厂由爱德基金会和联合圣经公会合资创办。最初主要为中国印刷圣经，截至7月23日，已经印刷了229种不同语言超过2.64亿册圣经。爱德基金会通过促进全面发展和公共福利来服务社会。他们一直致力于支持中国的农村振兴以及最近的国际灾难救济。
7月24日，WEA代表团访问了中国基督教全国两会，与中国基督教协会副会长兼总干事林曼红牧师、中国基督教协会驻会副会长耿卫忠牧师、中国基督教三自爱国运动委员会秘书长顾梦飞同工等领袖会面。两会领袖介绍了中国基督教现状，WEA代表团各自分享了所处地区的情况，以及圣灵在当地的工作。
在讨论三自爱国运动委员会发起的圣经翻译项目时，中国领袖指出，该项目的目的是更好地用普通话表达圣经原文的含义。他们组建了一个精通古代语言和中文的中国圣经学者团队。总的来说，他们遵循尽可能保持现状的原则。在中国文化中，历史占有特殊的地位，圣经作为神圣的文本受到崇敬。他们目前使用的圣经是2010年更新的中文和合本圣经。这个版本保留了1919年版本的主要翻译。
对全国两会的访问以参观新装修的圣三一教堂和书说恩典书房结束。
为了福音合作
在几次访问中，我们发现，中国教会渴望获得更多资源。由于教会缺乏同工，牧者的压力很大。据报道，中国教会大约有3800万基督徒。当前由于缺乏受过训练的传道人，牧养这些基督徒是一项挑战。WEA分享了进一步合作的想法，中国的领袖表示欢迎。
全球运动
在整个访问期间，WEA使用了贝宾顿四边形（一个描述福音派信仰的常用术语），包括圣经主义（Biblicalism）、十字架中心主义（Crucicentricism）、归信主义（Conversionism）和行动主义（Activism）。代表团进一步强调了福音派的全球性，以及不同地区如何寻求处境化，以进一步将他们的信仰本土化。这种对福音派的理解引起了WEA会见的中国领袖的共鸣。其中一位强调了基督教两会忠于圣经的愿望，以及他支持信徒在中国背景下表达信仰的个人动机。另一位描述了他们对道成肉身的神的信仰，即历史上那位耶稣的生、死、复活。有迹象表明，基督教信仰在中国正在不断增长和深化，他们见证了越来越多的洗礼。教会领袖在教会里积极参与传福音，尤其在圣诞节期间。WEA的领袖将要离开全国基督教两会时，林曼红牧师毫不掩饰地将中国基督徒称为福音派信徒。对她来说，中国基督徒怀有强烈的愿望去事奉同一位神，呼吁全世界的信徒接纳他们为福音派大家庭的一部分。
中文翻译转载自《福音时报》
三自爱国运动里的主内弟兄姐妹们
Introduction
From 20 July – 24 July 2024, a global delegation from the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and the World Chinese Christianity Alliance–our affiliated organization that serves Chinese Christians all over the world visited China to learn about the state of Christianity in China and rekindle ties with with key leaders of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) and the China Christian Council (CCC).
This delegation was organized by Rev. Ezekiel Tan, Special Envoy of WEA to China as well as an International Council (IC) member of the WEA. Rev. Dr. Frank Hinkelmann, Vice Chair of the IC of the WEA led the delegation. Other members of the delegation include Rev. Godfrey Yogarajah, Chair of the Asian Evangelical Alliance and IC of the WEA, Dr. Mario Li Hing, Chair of the African Evangelical Alliance and IC member of the WEA, Connie Duarte, General Secretary of the European Alliance and IC member of the WEA, Dr. Brian Stiller Global Ambassador of the WEA, Rev. Samuel Chiang, Deputy Secretary General of Ministries of the WEA, Dr. Peirong Lin, Deputy Secretary General of Operations of the WEA and finally Rev. Gabriel Teo, World Chinese Christianity Alliance Secretariat. They were accompanied by Ms Jingqin Gu, Interim Director Overseas Relations Department CCC&TSPM. The last time the WEA visited China was in 2017, when then Secretary General, Bishop Efraim Tendero, led a delegation.
The Itinerary
The visit started in Beijing with a worship service at Chongwenmen Church, founded as Asbury Church in 1870. After the service, Rev. Liu Cuimin, president of Beijing CC and senior pastor of the church together with other staff of the office shared about church current activities.
In the afternoon, the delegation met with a delegation of the Beijing Christian Council. Leading the delegation of the Beijing Christian Council were Chairman Rev. Wu Weiqing of Beijing CC & TSPM as well as Rev. Li Hua, vice president and general secretary of the Beijing Christian Council (CC). A key point discussed during this meeting was the Chinanization of Christianity. For them, the goal of the Chinese church is one that is faithful to biblical truth, rooted in Chinese culture and adapted to Chinese society. The use of Sacred Music has been integral in the adaptation to the Chinese society. Rev. Li Hua emphasized that there was no desire to change doctrine, but rather what was hoped for was contextualization that leads to the sustainability and adaptation of the Christian faith in the Chinese context.
On the 22nd July, the WEA delegation visited the National Religious Affairs Administration at their compound, Prince Chun mansion. Director Wu Guosheng reiterated the existing freedom of religion in China with the presence of five major religions: Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, Protestantism, and Catholicism. As a land ruled by law, Chinese citizens have been living in religious harmony and WEA is welcomed to engage within those boundaries for the sake of the Christians in the country.
On the 23rd July, the WEA delegation visited both Nanjing Union Theological Seminary as well as Amity Printing Press and Foundation. Nanjing Union Theological Seminary was formed through the merging of 12 different theological seminaries as China moved towards a post denominational Christian scene. Offering bachelors, masters and doctoral level of education across the whole of China, Nanjing Union Theological Seminary is the premier seminary as it leads in the training of pastors and theological reflection on Chinanization. They provide holistic education to their students, with the inclusion of spiritual formation activities outside academic excellence. In discussing the work of the Holy Spirit in China, the delegation remarked that it was the Holy Spirit that provided them with a sense of unity during the years of persecution. They have felt the spirit at church powerfully as wind, rain and fire in the way church has developed.
Nanjing Amity Printing Company is a joint venture between the Amity Foundation and the United Bible Societies. First focused on printing bibles for China, as of 23 July, they have printed more than 264 million Bibles in 229 different languages. The Amity Foundation seeks to serve society through the promotion of holistic development and public welfare. They have been involved in supporting the revitalization of rural communities in China as well as recent international disaster relief.
On the 24rd July, the WEA delegation visited the national CCC and TSPM headquarters and met with Rev. Dr. Lin Manhong, Vice President and General Secretary of CCC, Rev. Geng Weizhong, Residential Vice President of CCC, and Mr. Gu Mengfei, Secretary General of National TSPM, along with other colleagues. The state of Christianity in China was described and WEA colleagues shared insights from where they are and how the Spirit of God had moved in the regions where they are at.
In discussing the project of Bible translation embarked by TSPM, the Chinese leaders pointed out that the objective of this exercise is to better articulate the meaning of the text in mandarin as originally intended. They have brought together a team of Chinese biblical scholars that are skilled in the ancient languages as well as the Chinese language. By and large, they operate on the principle of keeping status quo as far as possible. Within the Chinese culture, history holds a special place and the Bible as sacred text is treated with reverence. They remarked that the current Bible that they have been using was the Chinese Union version that was updated in 2010. This version retained the primary translation of the version in 1919.
The visit to the national CCC and TSPM headquarters ended with a visit to the newly renovated Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Grace Telling Bookshop.
Collaborating for the sake of the Gospel
One observation made during the several visits was the desire for more resources. it was evident the pressure felt due to the shortage of Christian workers in the churches. As reported, there are approximately 38 million Christians who attend TSPM churches. At present, it has been a challenge to shepherd these Christians well due to the lack of trained Christian workers. WEA shared ideas for further collaboration which was welcome by leaders.
A Global Movement
Throughout the visit, WEA used the Bebbington Quadrilateral, a well know descriptor to describe Evangelicalism. This included Biblicalism, Crucicentricism, Conversionism and Activism. The delegation further emphasized the global nature of Evangelicalism and how different regions have sought to contextualize so as to further indiginze their faith wherever they are. Such an understanding of Evangelicalism resonated with the Chinese leaders WEA met. One emphasized TSPM & CCC desire to be faithful to the Bible and his personal motivation to support believers in expressing their faith in the Chinese Context. Another described their belief in the incarnated God, the historical Jesus who lived, died and was resurrected. There was evidence of the growing and deepening faith Christianity is and the baptisms that they have been witnessing. Church leaders are actively involved in evangelism at their church especially during Christmas. As WEA leaders were leaving the national CCC & TSPM headquarters, Rev Dr. Lin unabashedly refered to the Christians in China as Evangelicals. For her, Chinese Christians share a deep desire to serve the same God and she asked for believers all around the world to embrace them as part of the Evangelical family.
Originally from Webpage 'The WEA'
CCD edited and reprinted with permission
Brothers and Sisters in Christ Within the Three Self Patriotic Movement
