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Chinese Christians visit Germany
A delegation of the Chinese Christian Council were invited by the Asia secretary of the Association of Protestant Churches and Missions (EMW)
In April 2003, a delegation of the newly elected (May 2002) Chinese Christian Council (CCC) came on a visit to Germany, which was organised by the Asia secretary of the Association of Protestant Churches and Missions (EMW). For almost a week, they visited church institutions in Berlin, Brandenburg and Wittenberg, and showed particular interest in the role of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) in social responsibility, education and their involvement in formulating general values.
For the Christians in China have new opportunities, even if old reservations are still strong. The visitors from China reported that both the Communist party and also the religious authorities had learnt to value the positive contribution of the Christians in building a socialist society. Nevertheless Christianity remains in the general assessment very closely interwoven with western political interests. From the history of Christians in China and the missionary work by American Christians in China, the impression is reinforced that Christians feel themselves to be more American than Chinese.
The visitors from China made it repeatedly very clear to their German hosts that the Chinese Christian Council had decided against the use of missionaries in China. They want to develop ecumenical relations, and follow with great optimism the development that the politics of religious freedom are continually improving. The continually growing number of church members however, does not necessarily mean a firm rooting in belief, reported the Chinese guests. At the same time, the demands on church workers have increased enormously - there are pastors who have to care for up to 10,000 members in their community.
Nevertheless, or because of this, the Chinese Christian Council will undertake an active social role within society. The "Social Service Department" has been created for this purpose, and in the first seven months of its existence has already started 47 projects. The guests from China reported on the growing necessity of such social engagements, because the flight from the countryside, the increasing poverty of farmers, the rapid increase in Aids and the new disease SARS as well as the (officially not referred to) unemployment in China, have openly revealed human needs. According to the visitors, in this situation the Christians in China regard themselves "as light and salt for the world".
