wfn.org | WCC delegation to China

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                   WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

        Office of Communication - Press and Information

              150 Route de Ferney, P.O. Box 2100
                  1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland

 Telephone: (022) 791 61 52/51        Telefax: (022) 798 13 46
                   E-mail:  JWN@WCC-COE.ORG

PRESS RELEASE			FOR IMMEDIATE USE		22 MAY 1996

      WCC DELEGATION TO CHINA ENCOUNTERS RAPIDLY GROWING,
               VULNERABLE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES

A 13-person World Council of Churches (WCC) delegation has just
completed a wide-ranging, eleven-day visit to China.  Invited by
the China Christian Council (CCC), the delegation's mandate was
to observe the implementation of 1994 State decrees on religion.

"We have encountered a vital, rapidly growing Christian church in
all the provinces visited," commented Rev. Dwain Epps, WCC
International Affairs coordinator, upon his return to Geneva. 
"Church-State relations were positive, overall, but with
important and troubling exceptions."

The following were highlighted in the provisional report prepared
by staff:
	
-	Astonishing economic activity and construction under way in
virtually every major urban centre;

-	Explosive church growth throughout much of the country;

-	Government officials generally cooperative in efforts to
implement decrees welcomed by the CCC, but religion subject to
strict regulation;

-	Abuses of power in religious matters by local authorities 
observed in specific regions;

-	Churches facing shortage of qualified pastors and lay
leaders in a time of rapid transition and growth;

-	Churches struggling to be "truly Chinese" and yet remain
faithful to their prophetic tradition in the face of the State's
growing obsession to maintain social stability at a time of
exceedingly rapid economic development;

-	Foreign missionary activity officially prohibited, but
clandestinely continuing in some areas, creating tensions in the
churches and with state authorities.
	
N.B.  A full detailed briefing paper on the visit is available in
English only upon request.

Dwain Epps (English/French/Spanish/German-speaking) and Clement
John of the WCC International Affairs staff, who organized the
visit, are available for interview.

Contact: John Newbury  WCC Press & Information Officer
                       (+41.22) 791.61.52 (Office); 369.37.26
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