wfn.org | NCCCUSA DELEGATION RETURNS FROM CHINA

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: Carol J. Fouke, NCC, 212-870-2252
Internet: carol_fouke.parti@ecunet.org

NCC8/12/96                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES DELEGATION 
RETURNS FROM OFFICIAL VISIT TO CHINESE CHURCH

 NEW YORK, Aug. 12 ---- Members of an official 
National Council of Churches delegation visit to 
China (July 23-Aug. 5) returned with news of a 
church that is "vital and alive," facing the 
challenge of training leaders to meet the needs of 
its fast-growing numbers, worshipping freely yet 
still restricted in many ways by their nation's 
communist government.

 "We saw a church very vital and alive," said 
the Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, NCC general 
secretary who was the 13-member delegation's co-
leader along with United Methodist Bishop Melvin 
Talbert, the NCC's president.  "Chinese Christians' 
faith is very deeply personal.  They speak very 
freely and often of their own personal conversion."

 Congregations accommodate the many worshippers 
by holding three or four services each Sunday, and 
in order to cope with a shortage of pastors - Dr. 
Campbell estimated there to be only one pastor for 
every 3,000 to 4,000 parishioners - the Chinese 
church has trained a large number of lay people to 
serve "meeting points, or what we'd call house 
churches."

 In Hangzhou, the NCC delegation worshipped in 
Si Cheng Church.  Dr. Campbell brought greetings, 
quoting a passage from Ephesians.  "Everyone in the 
sanctuary opened their own Bibles in order to read 
along," reported the Rev. Krystin Granberg, 
Coordinator, NCC/Church World Service and Witness 
China Program and a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 
minister, who accompanied the delegation.

 But formal religious training of children under 
age 18 is prohibited by law, and there are areas of 
the country where Christians have a much harder time 
than in other areas, Dr. Campbell reported.  "We 
were told that whatever you say about China, it will 
be true in some places and not true in other places, 
and true some times and not other times."

 The Amity Foundation carries the social service 
role on behalf of the churches (the NCC China 
Program has provided more than 150 teachers of 
English to the Amity Foundation during the last 11 
years and supports a host of Amity emergency relief, 
development and service projects).  Amity's efforts 
have included irrigation projects, primary health 
care, rehabilitation of disabled people, assistance 
to rural areas and educational programs.  In 
addition, Amity also has a printing plant in Nanjing 
- a gift of churches abroad through the United Bible 
Societies - where Bibles and hymnals in Chinese and 
minority languages are published.

The NCC delegation was interested to find 
several congregations that are providing homes for 
the elderly in their churches.

 "We went into one where they had just a few 
rooms in the upstairs of the church," Dr. Campbell 
reported.  One of that place's 15 or so residents 
was "a very bright-eyed, able woman, 93 years old, a 
United Methodist minister who had been ordained well 
before the years of the Cultural Revolution.  She 
told us how happy she was to see in our delegation 
four ordained women and she called us over and 
wanted to talk with us right away and to get her 
picture taken with Bishop Talbert when she found out 
he was a United Methodist bishop.  Even in their 
post-denominational times, those who were in 
denominations before still carry those memories."

 The NCC delegation visited China in response to 
an invitation from the China Christian Council.  It 
was the third official visit by NCC officials since 
1981.

 "We come to spend time with you in order to 
deepen and sustain our relationship; to learn more 
about the recent developments in the churches and 
society in China, and to reinforce the unity we 
share in and through Christ," the NCC church leaders 
delegation said in their "Message to the Christians 
and Churches in the People's Republic of China," 
delivered through the China Christian Council.

 "At a time in history when U.S.-China relations 
have experienced new tensions, we, in churches 
related to the NCCCUSA, unite at this gathering to 
pledge the continuation of development for further 
partnership between the people of China and the 
United States through the relationship we share as 
members of the worldwide body of Christ," according 
to the message.

 The NCC delegation visited churches and 
seminaries and met with Chinese Christians and 
church leaders, exploring what it means to be a 
Christian in a country where less than 1 percent of 
the population is Christian, but where the church 
has experienced much vitality and rapid growth in 
recent years.

 They sought to deepen their understanding of 
the Chinese church's selfhood and integrity as 
expressed in the Three-Self Principle - self-
governing, self-propagating and self-supporting - 
during nearly five decades as a post-denominational 
church existing within a socialist system.

 The delegation met with church leaders in 
Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Xian and Beijing; 
visited Amity Foundation projects in villages 
outside Hangzhou and Yixing, and heard presentations 
by staff of the Religious Affairs Bureau and a 
professor at the Institute of Social Sciences.

 "In Shanghai," Rev. Granberg reported, "we met 
China Christian Council leaders: Dr. Han Wenzao, 
Acting General Secretary of the China Christian 
Council and General Secretary of the Amity 
Foundation; Rev. Cao Shenjie, Vice President of the 
China Christian Council; Mr. Luo Guanzhong, Vice 
President of the National Three-Self Patriotic 
Movement Committee; local pastors and leaders of the 
Shanghai Christian Council, and the Editor in Chief 
of Tian Feng, the official publication of the China 
Christian Council.

 "In Nanjing, the delegation was hosted by 
Bishop K.H. Ting, seminary professors and 
administrators, local pastors and leaders of the 
Nanjing Christian Council.  All joined together for 
a dinner celebration.  Bishop Ting presented Dr. 
Campbell with a special scroll.  The NCC delegation 
presented Bishop Ting with a special gift for 
recognition of his life's work in the Church and in 
the ecumenical movement.

 "In Xian, the Shaanxi Christian Council 
celebrated our brief visit to their city.  The 
delegation visited the museum containing the tablet 
that is the first-known indication of Christianity 
in China from 635 A.D."

 Since China's expanding relations with the rest 
of the world in the 1970s, the NCC/CWSW China 
Program has organized many study groups to the 
People's Republic of China.  The first official 
delegation visit was in 1981, the second in 1992.  
During this time, hundreds of church groups have 
visited China and there has been increased contact 
and growing partnerships between the people and 
churches in the United States and China.

 These include:

 The NCC China Program providing more than 150 
teachers of English to the Amity Foundation during 
the last 11 years.

 Beginning in 1991, the NCC China Program, 
working with the CWSW Emergency Response Office, 
began channeling emergency relief assistance to 
flood victims in China.  More than $500,000 in aid 
has been sent to the Amity Foundation, which has 
distributed the emergency supplies, for flood 
relief.  In 1995-96, nearly $250,000 was provided 
for victims of three earthquakes in China.  In 
addition, CWS has provided assistance for 
development and service projects.

 The China Christian Council has sent a number 
of students to the United States for graduate 
theological study.  These students have since 
returned to China and are now in positions of 
emerging leadership.  Among them are the Rev. Li 
Yading, dean at Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, 
and the Rev. Gao Ding, pastor of a Beijing church, 
who serves on the board of the Amity Foundation and 
will spend one year with the World Council of 
Churches in Geneva.  Currently two theological 
students sponsored by the China Christian Council 
are studying in the United States.  The Rev. Gao 
Feng and Wang Jianguo are studying, respectively, at 
Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., and Princeton 
Theological Seminary in Princeton, N.J.

-end-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Statements from delegation members 
follow.  Please check with the NCC Communication 
Department (212-870-2252) regarding photos from the 
visit.

*  *  *  *

STATEMENTS FROM DELEGATION MEMBERS
NCCCUSA OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE CHURCH IN CHINA
July 23 - August 5, 1996

 Following are comments and reflections offered 
by several members of the NCC delegation.  Other 
delegation members included: Bishop Anderson's wife, 
Elizabeth; the Rev. Victor Hsu, Director of the East 
Asia and Pacific Office, NCC/CWSW (Presbyterian 
Church (U.S.A.)); Mr. Page's wife, Sandra; and Mr. 
Peter Yoon K. Sun, Organizing President, Pan Pacific 
University (United Methodist Church).

*  *  *  *

"This visit to China is one I shall never forget.  
In spite of its tragic history of the so-called 
'Cultural Revolution,' China is on the upswing.  
There is construction and development everywhere, a 
sign of growth and prosperity.  As for the Church, 
the strength of its faith and witness is evident 
everywhere.  The Church in China faces the marvelous 
problem of not having enough seminary trained 
leaders for the growing number of churches.  I leave 
China with the great assurance that God's Spirit in 
Jesus Christ is present here and is being widely 
acclaimed and received by the masses.  The Church 
leaders are visionary and inspiring."

United Methodist Bishop Melvin G. Talbert
President, National Council of Churches

*  *  *  *

"The Christian community in China has known 
tremendous struggle.  They experienced the closing 
of their churches and watched their precious 
sanctuaries transformed into factories -- and all 
the while the Church lived in their hearts.  
Scripture was hand written from memory and faith was 
sustained through prayer.  Today the Christians of 
China rejoice as their churches are reclaimed and 
the pews are filled to overflowing.  They have run 
with perseverance the race that was set before them 
and no one can doubt that they are ready for the 
challenges a more open China presents to them -- 
always on their lips are the words 'God is God' -- 
and so it is."

The Rev. Dr. Joan B. Campbell, NCC General Secretary
Minister, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and 
American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A.

*  *  *  *

"Through many difficult years the Christians in 
China have clung to their faith.  Now the Church is 
growing by leaps and bounds.  It has been a 
privilege to experience the growth and dynamic faith 
of the Church in China."

The Rev. Dr. Rodney Page, NCC Deputy General 
Secretary
Executive Director, Church World Service and Witness
Minister, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

*  *  *  *

"The rebuilding of China is marked by the 
omnipresent icon of the construction crane.  
Paralleling such rapid change in the skyline is the 
religious change and reformation born of the new 
religious freedom in China.  'Post-
denominationalism' and the phenomenal growth in 
membership within Chinese Protestantism contains 
elements that might well deepen our understanding of 
ecumenism in the United States.  Central to such 
'post-denominationalism' is evangelism based on 
deeds as being more important than words."

Episcopal Bishop Craig B. Anderson, NCC President-
Elect
President, General Theological Seminary, New York 
City

*  *  *  *

"There are signs and wonders throughout the places 
we have visited in China.  Signs of growth in the 
building of skyscrapers and roads; signs of change 
in transportation; and amidst it all stands the sign 
of the cross firmly planted in China."

Dr. Will Herzfeld, NCC Vice President
Chair, Church World Service and Witness Unit 
Committee
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

*  *  *  *

"In China I have experienced burning faith under 
subtle fire."

The Rev. Larry W. Camp, Pastor, Bethlehem Baptist 
Church, Brooklyn, N.Y.
National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.

*  *  *  *

"Everything I have heard about the Christian Church 
in China is now firsthand knowledge: the vitality of 
faith, the amazing numerical growth in membership, 
the enthusiasm of pastors, elders and congregational 
members in sharing the joys and challenges of 
ministering to a huge population with a shortage of 
trained leaders and many facility needs.  Christ's 
Spirit is blessing the ministry of Chinese 
Christians and I'm grateful for their strong 
witness."

The Rev. Sandra Peirce, Chair, Worldwide Ministries 
Division
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

*  *  *  *

"It is only through sustained conversations that we 
can know one another.  The Chinese Church is 
responding to the power of the Holy Spirit in a 
manner that honors the Chinese social and political 
realities.  It is important that we are here to 
listen and learn from our brothers and sisters in 
Christ."

The Rev. Dr. Margaret J. Thomas, NCC Treasurer
Synod Executive of Lakes and Prairies
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

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