Ecumenical Delegation Visits Rural Chinese Churches

On the second day of a weeklong tour to China, the World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary Rev Dr Samuel Kobia characterised Christianity in the country as being "rooted in the soil", and suggested that the WCC's member church in the country needs to interpret itself and the story of the church in China.

Kobia addressed a group of more than a thousand parishioners gathered at the Qian Deng Church, built on land provided by the local government in rural Kunshan. He said, "Until we see how people live in a rural situation, we really can't get to know what a country is all about."

Despite heavy rains on their second day in China, Kobia and members of the WCC delegation were warmly welcomed by a colourful brass band and throngs of well-wishers waiting on the steps of the newly built church.

The delegation was also given an overview of the dramatic transformation of the area's 2,500-year agrarian history by the local pastor, who described the impact of the newly developed industrialised society on the lives of the people in nearby Suzhou city.

The delegation later visited Suzhou Industrial Park, recognised as one of the fastest-growing industrial development zones in the world, where a joint venture of Chinese and Singapore governments and multi-national corporations are trying to reap the benefits of globalisation.

Earlier in the day, Kobia had met with local pastors and the leadership and staff of the Shanghai Christian Council, who credited the phenomenal growth of the church in China to its close identification with the Chinese people.

"The church is now rooted in Chinese history," said Rev Cao Shengjie, president of the China Christian Council (CCC), which has been a member of the WCC since 1991.

Cao also made a favourable assessment of the current situation of her church in comparison with its experience in the past.

While in 1949 there were 700,000 Christians in China, today members of congregations that make up the CCC number 16 million, and belong to more than 55,000 local churches, with 18 seminaries and Bible schools, and some 2,700 ordained pastors and associate pastors, reports the WCC.

"In many parts of the world," Kobia reflected, "the roots of Christianity haven't gone down deep enough. We are learning, here, what it means for Christianity to be rooted in the soil rather than in a clay pot. You have broken the clay pot and now the roots of Christianity are really deeply planted in the soil."

Kobia noted, however, that the phenomenal growth of Christian congregations brings with it a great responsibility in society.

He said, "This phenomenal growth is observable to the whole world, because China is developing into a major global power. How will that shape the challenge of the churches' witness?"

Among the challenges facing the CCC, church leaders in Shanghai mentioned the concern to meet the needs of the growing churches, particularly pastoral care for younger intellectuals who are expressing interest in Christianity.

Some 42 per cent of Christians belonging to the CCC are now under the age of 40 as compared with 28 per cent just a few years ago.

Given the growing influence of the market economy in China, local church leaders also expressed concern about the temptations of power and wealth, and the need to emphasise Christian ethics in society.

Cao said, "Man does not live by bread alone. To be light and salt in the world, to glorify God and benefit the people" is a popular saying among Christians in China.

With regard to the challenges facing the CCC, Kobia lifted up "the challenge to 'self-communicate' rather than allowing others to interpret the story of the church in China".

He also suggested consideration of three additional "self" principles: self-understanding, self-representation and self-articulation.