Bombay Dude
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Over recent years China has experienced a surge in spiritual life which has seen Christianity expand significantly across the Asian economic powerhouse. However, religion remains a sensitive subject in the Communist-led country.
Building relations through open dialogue is the key goal of the mutual effort between Chinese officials and Christian organizations, Tunnicliffe said in a conversation with The Christian Post this week.
"As part of a global Christian family we have to publicly engage with the Church in China," Tunnicliffe told CP.
The WEA Secretary General confirmed that a two-hour meeting had taken place with SARA, a department overseeing religious affairs and issues under China's State Council. The purpose of the meeting was to address the Chinese government's concerns regarding "what sort of outside influence an organization was going to bring to China and with what kind of spirit and attitude they would approach the Chinese Church and China in general."
The concerns stem from the fact that "often times Evangelicals are defined by a flag of American Evangelicals, who are considered to be of a certain political persuasion." However, Tunnicliffe explained to CP that it should be recognized that "Christians around the world come from different political perspectives" and fit into many categories.
He confirmed that WEA was "able to dismiss some of those misunderstandings of the Chinese government towards evangelicals" at this meeting.
The meetings earlier this month also covered a wide range of other topics, including the challenges of rapid church growth, Bible engagement, business ethics, religious liberty, gendercide, and human trafficking, WEA officials have explained.
The WEA has acknowledged that Church life in China is complex, however it has reaffirmed its commitment to building bridges of understanding and to develop a closer relationship, Tunnicliffe said.
He said, "Minister Wang expressed great appreciation for WEA and its desire to work in partnership with the Church in China. He commented on his own interest in knowing more about Evangelical Protestants, noting that it was critical to have a working relationship with the WEA as Evangelicals are the fastest growing segment of the global Church."
Evangelicals building relationship with Chinese governent and churches
Building relations through open dialogue is the key goal of the mutual effort between Chinese officials and Christian organizations, Tunnicliffe said in a conversation with The Christian Post this week.
"As part of a global Christian family we have to publicly engage with the Church in China," Tunnicliffe told CP.
The WEA Secretary General confirmed that a two-hour meeting had taken place with SARA, a department overseeing religious affairs and issues under China's State Council. The purpose of the meeting was to address the Chinese government's concerns regarding "what sort of outside influence an organization was going to bring to China and with what kind of spirit and attitude they would approach the Chinese Church and China in general."
The concerns stem from the fact that "often times Evangelicals are defined by a flag of American Evangelicals, who are considered to be of a certain political persuasion." However, Tunnicliffe explained to CP that it should be recognized that "Christians around the world come from different political perspectives" and fit into many categories.
He confirmed that WEA was "able to dismiss some of those misunderstandings of the Chinese government towards evangelicals" at this meeting.
The meetings earlier this month also covered a wide range of other topics, including the challenges of rapid church growth, Bible engagement, business ethics, religious liberty, gendercide, and human trafficking, WEA officials have explained.
The WEA has acknowledged that Church life in China is complex, however it has reaffirmed its commitment to building bridges of understanding and to develop a closer relationship, Tunnicliffe said.
He said, "Minister Wang expressed great appreciation for WEA and its desire to work in partnership with the Church in China. He commented on his own interest in knowing more about Evangelical Protestants, noting that it was critical to have a working relationship with the WEA as Evangelicals are the fastest growing segment of the global Church."
Evangelicals building relationship with Chinese governent and churches