wfn.org | China Religious Affairs Delegation Visits NCCCUSA

[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: carolf@ncccusa.org

NCC7/18/97     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DELEGATION FROM CHINA'S RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS BUREAU VISITS NCC

 NEW YORK, July 18 ---- A delegation from China's 
Religious Affairs Bureau today defended that government as 
respecting religious freedom and promised that the churches 
in Hong Kong will be able to continue to administer their 
own affairs.

 "The situation of religion in China is the best it has 
been in 20 years," said the delegation's head, Mr. Ye Xiao-
Wen, Director General of the Religious Affairs Bureau and 
the son of a pastor who was forced into hiding during the 
Cultural Revolution.  "So why are so many questions coming 
only now, in the past year?"  He suggested that it was 
related to the controversy around whether the United States 
should grant Most Favored Nation trading status to China.

 The eight-member delegation was hosted at lunch today 
by the National Council of Churches and its General 
Secretary, the Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, at the NCC's 
Interchurch Center headquarters.  Eighteen denominational 
and ecumenical representatives, most of whom relate to 
China, along with a journalist were the NCC's lunch guests.

The was one stop of many during the group's July 9-23 
U.S. visit, hosted by the Christian Leadership Exchange, 
Arcadia, Calif.  The CLE's Executive Director, Dr. Pang Wing 
Ning, said the visit's objective "is to help the RAB top 
officials to learn about the Christian Church in the U.S. 
and her role in the society, especially her impact on 
national policies."  An RAB delegation also visited the NCC 
in 1993.

The delegation included the Rev. Deng Fu-Cun, a pastor 
since 1956 who now serves as Vice President and Secretary 
General of the National Committee of the Chinese Christians 
for Patriotism and the Three-Self Movement.  In response to 
a question, Rev. Deng assured his audience that the 
relationship between the China Christian Council and the 
churches in Hong Kong would be based on the three principles 
of: of non-subordination, non-interference and mutual 
respect.

Mr. Ye said 100 million Chinese are religious, and that 
leaders of the five religions practiced in China meet 
cordially with each other and with high-level government 
officials.  Mr. Ma Yu-Hong, a researcher in the delegation, 
commented on the long, deep history of religion in China.  
"Religion can't be eliminated by force," he said.  "Religion 
is a necessary element of development of a society.  In 
China, if a religion obeys the regulations of the 
government, it can exist in harmony with Chinese society."

Dr. Campbell, in her welcome, noted that her visit to 
China last year has helped her know how to address issues 
concerning people of faith in China, particularly in her 
service on the National Committee on Religious Liberty, 
which advises the U.S State Department and the President.  
"Seven NCC-related persons are on that committee," she said.  
"I believe we are responsible for helping to broaden the 
understanding of the people who serve on the committee.  It 
began with a concern for the persecution of Christian.  It's 
now concerned for the religious liberty of all persons of 
faith."
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