Thursday, 9 October 2014
Lessons from China and the Social Gospel: The Canada China Programme's Fort Qu'Appelle Conference, 1979
Critics would at times assail the Canada China Programme as too close to the official government-approved Protestant church, the China Christian Council. CCP staff and board members, for their part, located their work in the Canadian social gospel tradition: a link they tried to make explicit with a conference on the social gospel on the Canadian prairies and the challenge of China for Canadian Christians held in 1979 in Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan. The 80-person gathering, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency and church donors, portrayed “a church challenged by the Chinese
revolution and the protests in Canadian society” and struck a note of
repentance in focusing on areas where the church, organizers thought, had been
a barrier to change: the social gospel on the Canadian prairies and the quest
for social justice in China, held back too often by missionary strictures. This post reproduces Elizabeth
Smillie, “Lessons from China and the Social Gospel,” Catholic New Times, 1 July 1979.
Wednesday, 7 May 2014
CCP China & Ourselves 18.4
This issue opens with a
transcription of a speech given by Bishop KH Ting at the Spring Festival Tea
Party for Religious Leaders (hosted by Li Ruihuan in Beijing) on January 29th,
1994. It also transcribes the regulations for religious activities of
foreigners with borders of the PRC, regulations of managing premises for
religious activities. Regarding changes and developments in religious policy,
it features a text by Jian Woo, titled “Is the Cup Half or Half Empty?” The CCP
then makes a statement on solidarity with Christians in China and excerpts the
statement on human right in China (1993) made by the Canada Asia Working Group.
CCP China & Ourselves 18.2-3
In this issue, the editor
begins with a tribute in memory of Dr. Katharine Boehner Hockin, highlighting
her life and work in China, and provides some short news updates on China and
the CCP. In honour of Hockin, two pieces of hers are excerpted: “Servants of
God in People’s China” (1962) and “Some Random Missiological Musing”
(1983). It then features reflections on
the life and witness of Dr. Hockin from Church officials in China (Nanjing
Theological Seminary, Theresa Chu in Shanghai) and Canada (family and
colleagues). It then provides a review by Siu May Kuo on a biography on the
life of Dr. Hockin by May Rose Donnelly and Heather Dau. The issue proceeds
with a text introducing Bishop Shen Yifan, including his education, work and
publications. It features an extensive paper by Bishop Shen, titled “Religious
Liberty: A Chinese Perspective.” It contains an extensive report by Cao
Shen-jie (first published in 1985) on the process of editing a new Chinese
hymnal, which is part of the self-propagating mission of the Chinese church. A
report is given of a visit of a delegation of six members of the China
Christian Council from May 17th to June 21st. The issue
concludes with a series of news vignettes for the Catholic Church in China.
CCP China & Ourselves 18.1
This issue opens with a report
on Protestant Christianity in China, surveying its history in the twentieth
century and the work of the Three-Self Movement. It features a report on the
Nanjing Theological Seminary, highlighting the levels of training, the
syllabus, and enrolment; this report is followed by a glossary of terms
pertinent to the Chinese Christian Church. It contains a summary and update on
the activities and projects of the Amity Foundation, especially its development
work and focus on Christian education. An update for the Canada China Programme
for the year 1993 is also provided, setting out the challenges expected for the
1990s.
CCP China & Ourselves 17.4
This issue opens with the
editor’s comments on the “Christ and Culture: A Sino-American Dialogue” at
Columbia Theological Seminary. It features an extensive report on the
conference by Philip L. Wickeri, titled “Making Connections: Christianity and
Culture in the Sino-American Dialogue,” touching on the American Christian
understandings of China and the role of the session in opening dialogue. It
also provides short news vignettes on religious events and developments in
China, organized by Protestant and Catholic. It concludes with reviews of
several recent publications on China and the Chinese Church.
CCP China & Ourselves 17.3
In this issue, the CCP
reports on the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China, focusing on
an announcement by its president for a new open Church. It reports on the
training of lay leaders in China to form parish administrative councils and
provides a report of a trip to China by Theresa Chu. It contains news and
reflections from students of Zhong Wan Seminary, Wuhan, who visited Canada in
the summer of 1992, written by Rev. Ge Baojuan. It also features an
introduction of Ms. Gao Shi-ning (a sociologist of religion by Dean Chen Zemin
(Nanjing Theological Seminary). It concludes with an interview conducted by Tan
Liying (Assistant to the General Secretary of the Amity Foundation) with Dr.
Wenzao Han (General Secretary of the Amity Foundation, Executive Vice-President
of the China Christian Council).
CCP China & Ourselves 17.2
This issue features the
complete resolution on Church order for trial use in Chinese Churches, passed
by the Standing Committee of the Chinese Christian Three-Self Patriotic
Movement and the China Christian Council. It contains resolutions on the
organization and management of churches, including meeting points. It features
a text by Li Baoluo, titled “How I Organise a Blackboard Newspaper,” on his
initiative to help preach the Gospel to literate people who do not want to hear
a complete sermon. It provides a series of vignettes on Protestant and Catholic
news in China, as well as general news and publications.
CCP China & Ourselves 17.1
In the editor’s note for
this issue, the events and conclusions of the national China Christian
Conference in Beijing in January. It transcribes sermons by Wan Weifan, titled
“The Lord of Sorrows,” and Gao Ying called “Love and Reconciliation.” It
contain a French report by Lucien Casterman (OMI) on the progression of the
Church in China, titled “L’Église de Chine: une Église vivante – une Église
souffrante.” The issue concludes with a retrospective on the life and work of
Rev. Florence Li Tin Oi, the first woman ordained in the Anglican Communion,
who passed away in February in Toronto.
CCP China & Ourselves 16.4
In this issue, the
editor’s note discusses the refusal of the western media to report on the
positive development in China, which impedes true understanding of the
challenges faced by the people of China. It contains a report, titled “China in
Transition: New Roles for Christians in the 1990s,” which provides an overview
of the changes in China of all sectors, including its relationship with the
United Nations, economic reforms and the end of the iron ricebowl, and its
cultural developments. This report comprises the whole of the issue.
CCP China & Ourselves 16.3
In this issue, the editor
opens with remarks on the devastating floods in eastern and central China,
which has been ignored by western media and international assistance
organizations. This is followed by a report by Gotthard Oblau, titled “Floods
Strike the Lowest in Society.” It contains an analysis of Church growth in
Southern Zhejiang by Charlie Wilson, highlighting the successful evangelism and
church re-openings of the Protestant church there. It features a text by
Aloysius B. Chang (sj), analyzing the principles and activities of the Bridge
Church. It contains a brief report on the production and distribution of
liturgical texts for the Catholic Church in China. It provides a report by Doug
Allen, touching on the place of regions and its growth and advancement in
China. It concludes by transcribing the Beijing Ministerial Declaration on
Environment and Development.
CCP China & Ourselves 16.2
This issue opens with a
few notes from the editor, touching on the impending return of Hong Kong to
Chinese hands and the implications of that event for China. It contains a
report by Ting Yenren, titled “Amity Learns from the Filipinos,” in which an
account of the trip of an Amity delegation to the Philippines is given. It
features an extensive report by Georg Evers on the Catholic Church in China,
emphasizing the tensions between the “official” Church and the “clandestine”
Church. It transcribes the presentation of the Reverend Florence Li Tin Oi at
the Trinity College Convocation (May 14th, 1991), by Cyril Powles,
Emeritus Professor, and a report of the ordination in Nanjing by Philip
Wickeri. It concludes with a review by K. Hockin of Siu May Kuo’s book Journeying Through the Bible.
CCP China & Ourselves 16.1
This issue opens with a
note on the rejoining of Chinese Christians to the World Council of Churches, a
decision made at the Seventh Assembly of the WCC in Canberra, Australia, in
February 1991. It transcribes a speech by KH Ting on the recent admission of the
China Christian Council to the World Council of Churches, which he sees as an
acknowledgement of Chinese Christian selfhood. It contains brief report and
description of the China Christian Council and a report on Amity English
teachers in China by Lois A. Cole and Diane J. Allen. It provides part II of KH
Ting’s “What We Can Learn from Y.T. Wu Today,” continuing from the previous
issue. A French report on the Projet Canada-Chine is provided for the years
1988 to 1991. It concludes with a review of China
Briefing 1990, edited by Anthony J. Kane, a collection of articles prepared
by the China Council of the Asia Society in New York.
CCP China & Ourselves 15.4
In this issue, Theresa
Chu begins by reporting on a trip she took to China from October to November,
with Lucien Casterman, Fleurette Lagace, Cynthia McLean, and Ray O’Toole. It
contain a brief report on 1991 Amity calendars and an interview with Sister Xu
Yaying and Sister Qiu Huamei, who were visiting Canada at the time. It
transcribes an extensive article by KH Ting, originally published in the
International Bulletin of Missionary Research in October 1990, titled “What We
Can Learn from Y.T. Wu Today,” reflecting on the future of the Chinese Church.
CCP China & Ourselves 15.3
In this issue, the editor
begins with comments on major developments in China, including the 10 day
census and the continuing creation of infrastructure for flood control. It also
features an interview conducted by students of the Nanjing Seminary of KH Ting,
evaluating the work of the church in China and the Three-Self Movement. It
contains a reflection based on the thoughts of Ruth Hayhoe (head of Cultural
Affairs, Canadian embassy in Beijing) on people-to-people exchange programs and
Sunday worship. Theresa Chu provides an update on the Catholic Church in China,
especially highlighting the tensions in Vatican-China relations that seem to be
improving. It contains an update on the treatment of religion by the Chinese
media and a report by Jin Yang on his experience in North America.
CCP China & Ourselves 15.2
This issue begins with an
extensive analysis by Dan Heap, MP, titled “What About China Now?” (May 1990),
which addresses the political and economic concerns surrounding China since the
Tiananmen massacre. It also features a report by Theresa Chu called “Mixed
Signals on Religion in China,” examining the tension between the rumors of
tightening control and improvements on religious freedom. A continuance of the
report on theological centres from the previous issue is provided. Bernard Embree
reports on his trip to Kunming, Yunnan as China Liaison for the Presbyterian
Church in Canada. It also includes a trip report by Marilyn Grav on her time in
China while working for the Amity Foundation.
CCP China & Ourselves 15.1
This issue opens with an
extensive analysis of the situation in China by Theresa Chu, addressing the
expressions of concern from the readership and touching on the stance of the
Chinese Church. A report of the theological centres of China is also provided.
An update is also given on the activities and projects of the Amity Foundation,
including a personal message from Kuo Siu May. In “Chinese Christianity Since
1949: A Review Article,” Cyril Powles reviews various recent books published by
members of the CCP on the subject of China, comparing and contrasting the
subject matter and opinions presented.
CCP China & Ourselves 14.4
In this issue, Theresa
Chu follows up on the atmosphere in China since the student protests in a
report, titled “China after June 4th: A Bird’s Eye-View,”
highlighting population growth and economic developments. It contains an
interview with KH Ting, discussing the stance of the Chinese Church in light of
the student protests and the events of June 4th. It provides a
report by Bernard Embree on the training of church workers in China, titled
“Protestant: Theological Education in China.” The issue also provides
statistics regarding Protestant churches in China (re-openings, membership,
etc.) and a report on the establishment of a fund for theological education. It
also contains a review by K. Hockin of Siu May Kuo’s book Venturing Into the Bible. It also features a report of the visit of
Ms. Wang Juzhen to Canada and a report by Raymond Whitehead, titled
“Reflections on the Edinburgh Meeting, Enlarged Planning Committee.”
CCP China & Ourselves 14.3
This issue opens as
Theresa Chu asks the question: Have we been too naïve about China? The issue
attempts to answer that question in light of recent developments that motivated
the students to go Tiananmen Square. It features an interview conducted by Glen
Davis (board member of the CCP) of Theresa Chu, in which she relates her
observations from a trip to China in August. It reports on recent events in
China, in a feature titled “What has Been Happening in China Since June 4th,”
exploring the launch of three campaigns to reform government corruption and
administration. The Amity Foundation receives some attention, especially its printing
company, and an interview with Gu Renfa, an Amity official in Nanjing, on the
progress of the project is transcribed. It also contains a report, titled “Why
Chinese Christians did not Attend Lausanne II,” addressing the absence of a
Chinese delegation. It concludes with a short section on Chinese news.
CCP China & Ourselves 14.2
In this issue, Theresa
Chu reports on a trip to China and illuminates the students’ protest movement,
providing the background information and a detailed chronology for the
conflict. It draws on sources to provide a descriptive account of the protests
and analysis of the events. It features a report of recent honours accorded to
Bishop KH Ting and his wife Kuo Siu May by Victoria University. The convocation
address at Emmanuel College (Victoria University) delivered by KH Ting on May
11, 1989, is transcribed. The issue concludes with a short section of general
news and developments in China.
CCP China & Ourselves 57
This issue begins with an
extensive statement by KH Ting and Wang Weifan on recent development in the
study of religion in China. It also features a report on theological education
in the PRC for the Foundation for Theological Education in South East Asia,
based on the observations of Dr. Ching-fen Hsiao and Dr. Marvin D. Hoff from
consultations with Janice and Philip Wickeri, and Bishops Peter Kwong and KH
Ting. It concludes with an analysis of the Edinburgh ’89 Conference, named
“Living the Gospel in Society: An International Dialogue with Chinese
Christians,” which took place from September 20th to 27th,
1989.
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