THE MISSION MAGAZINE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MAY-JUNE 1996

h.ina and Hong Kong · lfe ill a Multicultural Socie~ . ---- NEW WORLD OUTLOOK ABOUT THIS ISSUE ... New P11blislier l 96-97 Mi' Randolph Nugent We invite you on an exciting journey through time and space as you 9 explore this 1996-97 Mission Study Issue of New World Outlook. The Associnte P11blislier greater part of the issue is devoted to the Geographical Mission Rena M. Yoco m ..... Study on China and Hong Kong. Begin with the historical overview Editor GEOGI Ima Graham of China by Richard Bush. And, for reference and guidance as you Associnte Editor go, consult the color-coded map and timeline on pages 24-25. Note Chri tie R. House that the Chinese symbols used in the design of the China section are 4 Chi1 from John 3:16 and mean "God loves the world's people." by R Co11s11/ti11g Editor Diane J. Allen We are especially grateful to our consultants-the Rev. Ewing W. Ad111inistrntive Assistnnl 8 Cha Patricia Y. Bradley Carroll Jr., director of The United Methodist China Program, and by L Diane J. Allen, a World Division missionary assigned to the pro­ Art Director gram- for careful content checking of our China coverage. Roger C. Sadler 12 Mal Prod11ctio11 Mnnager Nancy Quigley Articles related to the General Mission Study, "Life in a by ]1 Layout/Design Multicultural Society," begin here and continue in July-August. Hal Sadler 16 AC Cirwlntion F11lfil/111e11t Supplementing our centerfold timeline and the overview articles by I Susan Siemer by Richard Bush and Kenneth Mcintosh, we offer the additional Editorial Offices timeline entries below, provided by Consulting Editor Diane J. Allen. 475 Riverside Drive, Room 1333 19 Mil ew York, N.Y. 10115 by l Advertising/Promotion Director MORE UNITED METHODIST HISTORY IN CHINA Ruth Kurtz 475 Riverside Dri ve, Room 1337 22A1 New York, N.Y. 10115 • In 1857, 10 years after the Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC) sent b¥ J 212 /870-3784 its first missionaries to China, the China Central Conference of the Published bim onthl y by the Genera l Boa rd o f MEC was formed. This was followed, in 1886, by the formation of the Global Ministries of The Uni ted Methodist Church, China Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South 27 An Mis ion Education and C u ltiva tion Progra m Department. (ISSN-0043-8812) (MECS). In 1941, after the 1939 merger of the MEC and MECS, the by . Second class postage paid at ew York, NY and China Central Conference of The Methodist Church (TMC) was orga­ additional mailing offices. Copyright © 1996 by the nized. Finally, in 1984, the General Conference of The United 30 A~ General Board of Global Mi nistries of The United Methodist Church (UMC) voted to remove the China Central Methodist Church. o part of New World Outlook by may be reproduced in any fo rm without w ritten Conference from its rolls, recognizing the autonomous and postde­ permission fro m the Ed itor . nominational nature of Chinese Protestantism. 34 He Printed in U.S.A. • In 1927, the Church of the United Brethren in Christ was instru­ mental in helping to form the Church of Christ in China as a way of by New World Outlook editorials and unsigned articl es reflect the views of the editors an signed articles overcoming denominational divisions and creating an indigenous, II the views of authors on ly. self-governing church in China. Unsolicited manuscripts wi ll be acknowledged onl y • In 1948, the Rev. Thomas and Ms. Jennie Harris arrived in China. 24 Po if used. Otherwise, the editors cannot be responsible They were the first-and only-African American missionaries sent fo r returning them. to China by The Methodist Church. Report change of address to: Magazine Circulation, • In 1949, Lewistine and Jessie McCoy became the first missionaries Service Center, 7820 Reading Road, Caller o. 1800, GENI Cincinnati, Ohio 45222-1800. Also send old address, appointed by the Board of Missions of TMC to serve in Hong Kong. enclosing if possible address label. Allow at least 30 • In 1951, after enduring starvation while under house arrest in days notice. China, Gertrude Cone-the last Methodist missionary to leave China 40 C1 POSTMASTER: Send add ress change di rectl y to after the Communists came to power-managed to walk across the New World Outlook, Service Center, 7820 Reading bt Road, Caller No. 1800, Cincinnati, Ohjo 45222-1800. bridge from China to Hong Kong. Greeted by Katherine Ward, Cone Subsc riptions in the United Sta tes and Possessions: collapsed, lost consciousness, and died four days later. One yea r $12.00 (combination wi th Respo nse, • In 1978, the United Methodist China Program was organized as a 43 M $20.00). Single copies $2.50. Two years $20.00 (com­ bination with Response, $36.00). All foreign coun­ way of engaging in new-not renewed-forms of mission partner­ b~ tries: One year $17.00 (combination $25.00). ship with the growing autonomous church in China. I I • In 1988, Bishop K. H . Ting, President of the China Christian Cover Photo: Richard Lord-In Ming Ling, Council, addressed the UM General Conference, saying that "United DEP, ]ia11gs 11 Province, China, workers head for tlte tea Methodism in China played a very active role in the work of making fields to harvest tea . A hydroelectric plant crea ted the church in China self-governing, self-supporting, and self-propa­ by The Amity Foundation genera tes enough electric­ gating." According to Bishop Ting, some of the most important lead­ 2 A ity for the villagers to process the tea they harvest, ers on the national, provincial, and local levels of the China Christian keeping business within tlte village and creating a 26 ~ healthy economy. Council were originally of United Methodist-related background. Photo/Art credits: p. 47

2 NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JU E 1996

• • I ' • ' " . '• • . .. . , , •• • : , ~ ' • • , • ~ ', . • -. • ~ • ' -- New Series Vol. LVI No. 5 NEW WORLD OUTLOOK ew World Outlook Whole Series Vol. LXXXVI, No. 3 ce asri 'look.· "' 196-97 Mission Study Issue MAY-JUNE 1996 Missi )Venie e as yv GEOGRAPHICAL STUDY: CHINA AND HONG KONG ·25. N ction ~ 4 China: Resistant to Change-Ever Changing by Richard Bush wing\\ 3m,an: 8 Challenges for the Church in China the p1l1 by Lois Cole

12 Making Up for Lost Time: Theological Training in China ife in , by Jean Woo .t. 16 A Changing View of China by Merrillyn McNary

19 Missionary Roots and Present Realities in Putian by Lois Cole A 22 A Tribute to Mell Williams C) b~ Paul Yount ·of th 1 of th , Sout 27 Amity: For and With the People of China :s, th by Ewing W. Carroll Jr. orgo J nit~ 30 A Summer of Sharing entr1 by Diane J. Allen 1ostd 34 Hong Kong: Voices From the Church by Kenneth B. Mcintosh

24 Poster Map and Timeline : CHRISTIAN HISTORY IN CHINA

naril'l GENERAL STUDY: LIFE IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY )ng. est iii :hini 40 Common Ground ;s the by Robert A. Harsh (0111 43 Ministering in a Different Cultural World I as ' by Donna Lee Martin :tner·

stian DEPARTMENTS nit~ .l,;M IN' 'C :opa· 2 About This Issue... More United Methodist History in China lead· stiall 26 Mission Memo

NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 3 .. " ~- ... - . - . - - -~°"_ . ... ,. •• ,.- :• _; .. ,,_ ~ - -...... - . - -- • - ---- ·~ ...... ,....,......

Workers harvest tea in ]iangsu Provi

ed exce n to Chi1 ting int r rite , trover y, hibitior nfucian · ese Cat the fore uit fn . tianity

China: Resistant to Change- Ever Changing by Richard Bush

If we had been sent in mission Member of the Roman to China at the end of the nine­ Catholic Franci can teenth century and could go back now at the end of the twentieth, we surely might exclaim: "How things have changed!" A hundred years ago, we might have thought China impervious t change, failing to see the accelerating changes before our eyes.

Christians Come to China Nestorian Chri tians from the The 10-foot Ne torian monument in Middle East were welcomed to Slzaanxi Provincial Mu eum. seventh-century Changan (pres­ ent day Xi'an [ HE-AN]), th capi­ monum nt from .o. 7 1 tal of Tang Dyna ty China, d cribing their "Luminou along with Buddhi t , Mu lirn , Religi n" urvive , a do manu- and other religiou group . cript f prayer and c nfe - everal mp ror patronized ion of faith, along with the Nestorian faith. But a p r e­ r c rd f torian continu­ cution of all for ign r ligions in ing in leader hip po ition . In A.O. 845 virtually wip d out th th lat thirt nth c Ne torian . Mar o Polo f und Howev r, th N t rian did church all al ng th not di app ar with ut a tra . A r ut to B ijin . ffi ial

4 EWW RLD UTL K called e ce i e accommoda­ Charles S. Heininger was sent to The Church of Christ in China tion to Chine e cul tu re. The Kalgan (Zhangjiakou [JAH G­ continues in Hong Kong today. re ulting inter-order quabbles JYAH-KO]) by the Woman' s o er rite , called the Rites Foreign Mis ionary Society of A "Foreign" Religion Contro er , led to the Vatican's the Methodist Protestant Our plot line now shifts to the prohibition of any use of Church. He was joined in 1914 secular world, where we will Confucian ceremony by by the Rev. and Mrs. Carl G. find an explanation of nine­ Chine e Catholics. This re ulted Soderbom. teenth-century Chinese reactions in the forced withdrawal of The Evangelical Association to Western missionaries. The Je uit from China when and the United Brethren in British wanted the Chinese to Chri tianity wa banned by the Christ first sent missionaries to buy opium (grown in British emperor in 1721. ot until two China in 1889. That fall, the India) to balance British trade in centurie later, in 1939, did the Women's Missionary Assoc­ Chinese tea and silk. But the papac decree that a pects of iation of the United Brethren Chinese knew what opium traditional Chine e culture and (UB) sent four missionaries to smoking did to the populace cu tom might be included in Guangzhou [cwo G-JO]: Mr. and objected-decisively-by 1 Catholic wor hip. Moy Ling, the Rev. George burning a huge shipment of Sickafoose, Miss Lillian Shaffner, opium on the Guangzhou docks. Protestant Missionaries and Miss Austia Patterson. In The British retaliated with guns, Protestant mi ionary activity 1890, Miss Patterson became the and the Opium War of 1839 - did not begin until the end of first superintendent of the UB 1842 followed. the eighteenth century, and no China mission, eventually over­ The British won the Opium n mi ionarie were sent to China seeing work with orphanages, War and thereby acquired Hong until Robert Morrison of the London Missionary Society arri ed in 1 07. In 1818, Methodi t in England orga­ nized the Wesleyan Missionary ociety, but it sent no one to China until George Piercy trav­ eled to Hong Kong at his own ' expense in 1 50. The predecessor denomina­ tion of The United Methodist Church ent their first mission­ arie to China in the mid-to-late nineteenth and early twentieth Above: In the late 19th century, Un ited Brethren missionaries Austia Patterson and centurie . The Methodist Susan Lavina Halverson learn Chinese. Episcopal Church sent the first Below: "These Little Ones," a photo taken in 1897 in Hinghua. American Methodi t rnissionar­ education, and medical mis­ ie -the Re . Moses C. and Mrs. sion in southern Guangdong Isabel White and the Rev. J. D. Province. and Mr . Collins- to Fuzhou Pioneers in ecumeni m, the [FOO-JO] in 1847. A year later, in United Brethren in Christ were 1 4 , the Methodist Episcopal instrumental in helping to form Church, South, ent the Rev. the Church of Christ in China in and Mr . Charle Taylor and the 1927. This union of 16 denomi­ Re . and Mr . Benjamin Jenkins na hons re ul ted in an indige­ to Shanghai. In 1909, the Rev. nous, self-governing church.

NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 5 • • ' .. ' •• '•" . - ~ ,rt ' ".__, _ _l_ _ - ·_' '"• ~ •J _ •' : 1._• : r <. ~~ • · · 2 - • _• l - - -. it,;•• - ~ - - -- _.._.. ...:.... ____ ..__....- ...... --il.·~.r.p ; -

Kong. With oth r Western pow- lead r in the Self-Strengthening Missionaries pioneered in edu­ r , they negotiated treati s that Mov m en t tha t p roclaim ed: cation for women at all levels, gav them traterritorial privi­ "Chines learning for the sub­ from kindergarten to college leg s (exemption from local stance; W stern learning for the and university. N anjing law ) in certain Chine e ports. u se." Ch ina felt n o n eed for University, now one of the top In fi e port citi s, groups of anything from the West except 10 institutions of higher learn­ We tem er lived and worked in it science an d tech nology­ in g in China, w as firs t a their own "legations," each sub­ certainly not a "foreign" faith. Methodist school, then a coop­ ject to their own country's laws, As the nineteenth century erative Protestant venture. police, and courts- not China's. gave way to the twentieth, the A typical mission s tation Missionari s who lived, like secret "Society of Harmonious would have a chapel, clinic or merchants, under the shelter of and Righteous Fists" (known to dispensary, kindergarten, mis­ extraterritoriality confirmed in Wes tern ers as the " Boxers") sion residences, and utility m an y Chinese minds that brought to full flame the wide­ buildings. For example, in and Ch ristian ity wa a "foreign " rangin g Chin ese resentment around Guan gzhou in the religion . Re entment over for­ against everything fo reign . In 1890s, the United Brethren eign interferen ce grew a fter the resulting Boxer Rebellion of began medical, evangelistic, and Hong Xiuquan [SHEW-CHEWEN], 1900, many m issionaries and educa tion w ork. Dr. Susan a peasan t convert with a gar­ Chinese Christian s lost their Halverson, the UB's first med­ b led understanding of the liv s. Churches, schools, and ical missionary, arrived in 1891. anyarea Gospel, began the unsuccessful clinics w ere p illaged and She was followed by Dr. Regina On May Taiping Rebellion (1851-1864)­ burned. M. Bigler, who opened a dispen­ the strE a bloody civil war attempting to sary in 1893 that later became at the' overthrow the Qing [CHI G ] A Balanced Mission Be th Ed en Hospital. A girl's hich enc Dynasty. Hong had "studied" Despite Chinese resistance, the boarding school and a . e formE Christianity for a month with a various mission boards tried to foundling home followed. With I f Qingc Protestant missionary living carry out a balanced mission to support from other denomina­ apan ins under treaty-port protection. China. This mission included tions, the Brethren opened a hina. D Zen g Guofan [ZUNG GWAH­ evangelism, education, medical middle school in 1911 and, three alled fo FAHN], w h o led an army that work, social services, and care years later, a Union Seminary. nee. An defeated the Taipings, became a for women and children . Chinese Leadership A truly Chinese church, led in p art b y Chinese m en and women, began to emerge in the ational early twentieth century. Greater the 15 trust p revailed between the al and Chinese and the Westerners, stablisr w h o in creasin gly saw each eader other as colleagues. The educa­ pril 19: tion of Chinese for lay and cleri­ l hangh cal vocations was a priority. ! Commu While Western n a tions ists we1 received large indemnities to time of cover losses in the Boxer I many n ( Rebellion , the United Sta tes I as a rei assigned much of the funds it though received to "Boxer Indemnity I 1927-19: Members of the Shamian Christian Church in Guangzl10u receive com mu nion . Sch olarships." They e n ~ bl e d 1 mission

6 NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 A invading Japanese armies increa ingly occupied China's easternmost provinces, the Nationalist government moved from Nanjing to Chongqing in Sichuan [CHO G-CHI G in SUH­ CH UAHN]. Millions of Chinese, including pastors, missionaries, and Chinese Christians, also moved westward to the interior.

Communist Victory No sooner had World War II Bishop K. H. Ting, President of the China ended in 1945 than the struggle Christian Council. between Chinese Nationalists dozens of Chinese (mostly men) and Communists resumed with to tudy in top American univer­ renewed vigor. The Communist sities. The ideas of those who Party of China (CPC), founded returned to China energized in 1921 in Shanghai, emerged many areas of Chinese life. victorious 28 years later. On On May 4, 1919, students took October 1, 1949, in Beijing, to the streets to protest the fact Chairman Mao Zedong pro­ that the Treaty of Versailles, claimed the establishment of the which ended World War I, gave People's Republic of China. the former German concession Chiang Kaishek's Nationalist of Qingdao [CHI G-DAOW] to forces and supporters were Japan instead of returning it to forced to withdraw to Taiwan. China. Demonstrating students Mao Zedong and the Top: A woman worships nt Slin111ia11 Cliristinn Church called for democracy and sci­ Communist leadership rapidly in Guangzhou. ence. An observant missionary consolidated power over China. Above: People of Nanjing, Chinn. commended the "moral tone" Through its Unit d Front Works of what was called the "May Department, the CPC related to July 1950 as the TSPM's b gin­ Fourth Movement." those people who were not ning. It w as sharply critical of Communists but who were imperialism, which was identi­ Nationalists vs. Communists willing to work for national fied especially with the United In the 1920s, a degree of politi­ unity. Protestants organized the States. This is not surprising, cal and military order was Protestant Three-Self Patriotic since the Korean War-in which established by the Nationalist Movement (TSPM), calling for China and the United Sta tes leader Chiang Kaishek. By self-adminis tra ti on, self-sup­ supported opposing sides-had April 1927, his forces controlled port, and self-propagation. The just begun. The Manifesto called Shanghai, where opposing three-self idea had been dis­ for "a patriotic, democratic, self­ Communists and labor union­ cussed in Protestant circles since respectful, and self-reliant spir­ ists were massacred. It was a the 1880s but now was imple­ it" to be attained by ceasing to time of antiforeign riots that mented quickly. rely on foreign personnel and many missionaries experienced Wu Yaozong [woo-YA OW­ financial aid. Large numbers of as a reign of terror. Overall, ZONG ], recognized leader of the missionaries h ad already left though, the prewar decade of TSPM for its first two decades, China and those remaining were 1927-1937 was a good period for regarded the publication of "encouraged" to leave. mission and the church in China. "The Christian Manifesto" in (Continued on p. 39.)

EW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 7 eedorn v. 80, the 01 ina Chri rrned. Wi illion Pn day, the at its efl I en root i aul's Chl ample, t: own fron an2000. Accordi ing, Pre ~ hristian volution mphasis 1 e churcl

J he chun \ omman:

that the church in China, which is postdenominational, has Challe9ges f9r the Church devised a cons ti tu ti on with a church order that takes into Ill China by Lois co1e consideration most denomina­ nterpre tional backgrounds represented epressi1 in its congregation. ials. Fo The church traces its roots 45, wh Many images come to mind many sanctuaries, each with its back to the Protestant Three­ equire: when one thinks of the church white walls and neon cross. The Self Patriotic Movement. establish in China. Most often I picture a only added frill may be a poster Discussed in Protestant circles ~eligiou~ packed sanctuary-with more with the character ai (love) and since the 1880s, the Three-Self safegua women present than men-the verses from I Corinthians 13. Movement was initiated by venues overflow crowd spilling into The innovation and pragma­ Protestant church leaders in and fac: the church courtyard. In the tism visible in the worship give 1950. To make the church truly of venu1 courtyard, latecomers (those clues that the church is a very indigenous, they established the official who did not come two to three young one. Communion in criteria of self-administration, standin hours early to ensure a seat some churches-though this is self-support, and self-propaga­ gious f inside) sit on stools and bricks. not the norm-involves the tion of the Gospel. registra They listen patiently and eager­ passing around of a chalice into Church life, like all religious meetin ' I ly as the service reaches them which plastic spoons are activity, was suspended during ing po by loudspeaker or megaphone. dipped, followed by the clatter the Cultural Revolution (1966- this reg There is a certain earnestness of trays passed around to col­ 1976) but w as revived in 1979 guardi evidenced in the starkness of lect the spoons. It is remarkable when the policy of religious from hi

8 NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JU E 1996 freedom was reinstated. In 1980, the organizing body, the China Christian Council, was formed. With an estimated 12 million Protestant Christians today, the church has shown that its efforts have, in fact, taken root in Chinese soil. At St. Paul's Church in Nanjing, for example, the congregation has grown from 400 in 1985 to more than 2000. According to Bishop K. H. Ting, President of the China Christian Council, a natural evolution from the three-self emphasis is toward "running the church well." Nonetheless, the church in China suffers from many tugs and pulls. Opposite, p. 8: Parishi.oners stream out of Dongshan Chu rch in Guangzhou. Above: Constructwn site of the new Guangzhou Christian Council Office. Religious Freedom Over the past 15 years, the gov­ the province, Wenzhou has had ernment has periodically legis­ The quality of religious free­ privatization and little govern­ lated regulations on religious dom is often dependent upon ment interference since the activities. Some, like Document the relations churches have 1950s. 19 in 1982, paved the way for with officials in their area. Some Wenzho 's situation is the greater religious tolerance and places, like the burgeoning port polar opposite of that of a understanding. Others can be city of Wenzhou [WHEN-JO] in church in Yunnan Province. The interpreted in either fair or southern Zhejiang [JEH­ Yunnan church wants to mobi­ repressive ways by local offi­ GEEAH NG ] Province, seem to lize all its resources in expand­ cials. For example, Regulation permit relativ freedom for ing a church clinic, which is 145, which came out in 1994, Christian expression. Small pri­ vate cars have bumper stickers sorely needed in a region requires registration of the marked by poverty and inhabit­ establishment of any venue for with words like "Immanuel" or "Peace on your journey." A sign ed by many minority-group religious activities "in order to members. The church should be safeguard the legal rights of in front of a shoe store says "Gospel Shoe Factory." It is run able to manage the expense venues for religious activities because it owns an entire block and facilitate the management by Christians who say their business is a way of serving the of property. But the rent it col­ of venues." In some areas, local lects is based on contracts officials with a poor under­ Lord and witnessing to the Gospel. Some merchants give forced upon the church when standing of the policy of reli­ its property was seized and gious freedom have used this testimony by closing their pri­ vate businesses on Sundays. occupied in the early 1950s. registration to eliminate home Today's rents still reflect the meetings and unofficial meet­ The church in Wenzhou shares in the wealth of the region, and prices of 45 years ago-which, ing points. Others have seen even then, were fixed as low as this regulation as a way of safe­ surplus funds are used to build even more churches. Cut off possible. For an entire apart­ guarding religious believers ment in a mud-brick residential from heretical teachings. geographically from the rest of

EW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 9 . '• ~- ...... ,P '_• > • ... , •• ,/' •• ~-~ : '~~ · _ J ·· -~ ... _ a_ ...... _ .. _: ____4_.,,,_.._...... _.-.. . ~--:-p.....-,...... _.,.~..,.... , ....

hou e, the church r ceives only students there. They had been persuaded by their self-appoint- j aduates. i cents a month. Its negotia­ sent b y local church es and ed "p astor" to sell all their \ reclosec tion with the local government meeting points in rural areas of b elon gings. They then w ent volution have so far yielded nothing. Jian gxi Province. Most w ere away exp ecting the imminent !lowing, between the ages or 30 and 50 return of Jesus Christ. In anoth- stars wl A Shortage of Pastors and had only a junior middle er case, a "p astor" randomly e aide The church in China encounters school [high school] education. b aptized n ew b elievers, \ reers W( many problems and conflicts that They did not find student life preached heresies, took advan- e Cultu have to do with its struggle to an easy adjustment. tage of women in his congrega- aking UJ 1 keep up with an ever-increasing "Many of us have made sacri­ tion, and defrauded the church ay be W number of converts. Since 1985, fices, leaving our families and of money until he was arrested. ad y to 5 the China Christian Council's 13 our job s to study the Bible Situa tions like these also iththey< eminaries have graduated near­ here," said a mother of two in reveal organizational problems A few Y ly 2000 seminary students, yet her 30s. "We are very earnest to of the church in China. eaking 1 fewer than 300 have been learn. But some of us have had Although most provinces have ate who ordained, despite the need. little education, and we cannot a provincial Christian Council, perieno The areas exp eriencing the study well. We worry that one the council is p ower less to es a ye year is not enough time. Much en sure accountability on the \ t yo uth is d ep endent on our ow n part of local churches. While the tudie s. efforts, as we do not have full­ provincial Christian Council rd ained time teachers here." provides a set of policy regula- hen he The Jiangxi Bible School is tions for the reference of local is respo evidence of how pressing the churches, it has little adminis- sk me "" need for church workers in the trativ e control other than province is. It was set up quick­ approv ing the ordination of ly with little funding, its facili­ pastors. Even then the council ties the bare minimum. Located has no way to ensure that semi­

on the grounds of Nanchang nary graduates are actually other 1 Protestant Church, the school ordained as pastors by their China has one classroom in the main local churches. church building. Students said This brings up another diffi­ they spent seven hours of class cult dynamic in the church-the and many hours of study time generation gap between older HU NG -C in this d amp and dimly lit p astors and new seminary hristi2 room. There were not enough ttempt texts to go around. Some said ccount, Two women at worship at the Shamian Christian they were so eager fo r ional b Church in Guangzhou. resources and materials that hurch c they cut daily living costs, often most church grow th are in the forgoing on e m eal a d ay to countryside. Quite often, city have money to photocopy texts. churches set up one-year Bible The lack of trained Christian I n a schools for church workers leadership in rural areas can rovin( from these regions. After com­ result in serious problems with Unifo rrr pletion of their studies, these heretical teachings and disor­ Which j people can serve as pastors. der. Last year, m ore than 600 ' ist-an1 Last year I visited Jiangxi believers from a poor, moun­ I s h i p-~ [GEEAHNG-SHE] Bible School and tainou s region in Guan gxi The Rev. Mian Yu Wong, Presiden t of the I Churcr talked with several of the 23 [G WAH N G-SH E] Province were Guangzhou Christian Council. • separa

10 NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 graduates. Because seminaries were closed during the Cultural Revolution and for a few years following, the church has few pastors who are middle-aged. The older pastors, whose careers were curtailed during the Cultural Revolution, are making up for lost time. This may be why they are none too ready to share their authority with the younger generation. A few years ago, I remember speaking with a seminary grad­ uate who had six years of work experience, was preaching 300 times a year, and was officiating Some churches conduct clinics after the worship service to aid parishioners who are in need at youth meetings and Bible of medical assistan ce. Studies. Yet, he was not yet ordained. When I asked him church, accommodated w ith It continues to grow at a phe­ when he hoped for ordination, their own services because they nomenal rate, undeterred by a his response was curt: "Don' t do n ot feel comfortable with lack of resources or by bureau­ ask me when I'll be ordained. some elem ents of the postde­ cratic hurdles. It thrives as a liv­ That's a question to put to the nominational church. There are in g source of much-need ed authorities." also a few new groups emerg­ spiritual nourishment. ing that choose not to relate to The comment of a student at Postdenominational Unity the China Christian Council. Jiangxi Bible School reveals the Another question for the church "People from different back­ real strength of the church in in China is whether it can main­ grounds have different ideas," Ch in a and explain s w h y its tain its unity as a postdenomi­ said Cao in an interview with members work so hard to sus­ national church. According to China Ta lk, a United Methodist tain it and build i t up: the Rev. Cao Shengjie [ TSAO China Program publication . "Although the conditions here SHUNG- GEE- EH] of the China "Some may think, why should are p oor, we are discoverin g Christian Council, ev ery w e h ave a bish op ? Are we much about Christianity that attempt was made to take into going to fo llow the An glican we didn't know before. Before account the differing denomina­ tradition? In Zhejiang they call coming here, we found there tional backgrounds when the associate ministers 'teachers.' were many unhappy, compli­ church constitution and church So we say, that's all right. We'll cated things in the world. But order were devised in 1980. have bishops, pastors, teachers, this place has brought us some From my experience of attend­ preach ers. We try to put it all answers and some peace." 0 ing churches in cities and towns together in our constitution. We in a variety of Chinese try to keep the spirit, let people provinces, I have observed a know that we are the Chine e uniformity in their theology­ church, that we can't be exclusive Lois Cole is a Un ited Methodist which is largely fundamental­ about the traditions we follow." missionary assigned to Hong Kong, ist-and in their style of w or­ Despite the challenges it faces where she most rece ntly worked ship-which seems to be Low and its fragile unity, the church with Th e Amity Foundation Church. Yet there are several in China is one of the fas test­ Overseas Coordination Office and separatis t groups w ithin the growing churches in the world. the Christian Conference of Asia.

EW W RLD OUTLOOK M Y-JU E 1996 11 aUnistrY brings nefits or secUJ ent in one's sl are three to fo1 orning largelyl can accornrn1

Growing Chi s of 1995, C hristians wer bout 30,000 rr laces, most of -----• earby).Yet the ot exceed 1501 MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME: 000 graduates THEOLOGICAL TRAINING IN CHINA he Rev. Sur Zhejiang [JEH-C by Jean Woo t least 30 yea ur churches." The age gap "What is the most pressing issue faced by the Seminaries Reopen rbates the p church in China today?" asked a visitor to the When the news of the reopening of Nanjing [wo G WAY-FJ Huadong [WHAH-DOONG] Seminary in Shanghai. Seminary in 1981 reached the provinces, about described the All eyes were focused on the faculty members 1500 young people applied-of whom only 53 ters as a hulu­ sitting in the front row. Suddenly a young stu­ were selected. By 1989, there were 13 theological thin, long nee: dent at the back of the chapel stood up. "The centers established in China (some are shown on young people harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few," she the map, p. 24); but, of these, Nanjing Seminary Zhejiang is spoke softly. Clearing her throat, she raised her remains the only national theological school. It Christian pro voice: " It is not just a matter of numbers-so offers a four-year undergraduate curriculum [HUH-NAN] ar, many believers and so few ministers. My con­ and a three-year graduate course of studies second-smallE cern is about the overwhelming needs of the equivalent to a Master of Divinity program. more than 24 growing Christian community in our country. Today, more than 45 graduates of Nanjing built) and 351 Can we provide enough ministers qualified to Seminary are teaching in regional and provincial have a sanctu meet their needs?" seminaries throughout China. tor). Since 19 The student from Shandong Province did not There are five regional seminaries in China. have been ba look more than 20 years of age, but her com­ Their students-recruited from surrounding are not nearlJ ments were right on target. Her concern is provinces, municipalities, and autonomous all these Chru echoed throughout the church in China. regions-follow two- to four-year courses of The 1950s were a decade of consolidation study. In addition, seven provincial Christian Lay Training when denominational lines of separation gradu­ Councils sponsor seminaries that aim largely to Programs I ally merged. In 1952, 12 theological schools in train rural pastors. Most offer a two-year pro­ Zhejiang be~ east China united into one seminary in Nanjing. gram but some have expanded to three years. Sun, there a The following year, 13 seminaries in the north Admission to a seminary today is not nearly as the provinc~ joined to become Yanjing Union Theological competitive as in 1981. Not only are ther many the Christia Seminary in Beijing. In 1961, these two seminar­ more seminaries, with a yearly total enrollment Revolution ies merged to become Jinling (Nanjing) Union of about 800, but there are other job opportuni­ b~e: Today, 't Theological Seminary, the only Protestant theo­ ties to attract young people away from the min­ !Uhes togetl logical school in China. It, too, was closed during istry. The general climate of economic r form leaders nati the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). favors money-making venture . By contra t, the Among thE

12 N WW RLD UTLOOK MAY-JU E 1996 mini tr bring little pre tige, no guarantee of who e service to th church i unpaid. Al o th re b n fit or e urity, and little hope f r irnprove­ are many who forgo better-salaried jobs to s rve rn nt in one' tandard of living. Ev n o, ther full-time in the church. Y t it is common for r three to four time a many applicant - these lay leaders to lack a formal ducation, Sun coming largely from rural areas-as th eminar­ reports. Thus the provincial Christian Council an accommodate. r gard them as "not yet qualified to feed the flock." Growing Church In Zhejiang Province, lay-worker training is on of 1995, hina's 12 million Protestant three different lev 1 . The one-year provincially hri tian were erved by 9500 churches and sponsor d program is a theological course lead­ about 30,000 meeting point (regular gathering ing to ordination. Students are selected for the plac , most of th m relat d to a pa tored church Zhejiang Seminary from every county of the nearb ).Yet the number of ordained clergy does province so that the educational benefit is equal­ n t e c ed 1500. /1 Although we have had nearly ly distributed. Experienced pastors and teachers 2000 graduat from seminaries since 1985," said are invited from other parts of the province to the Rev. Sun Xipei [ HE-PAY], principal of give courses in Basic Christian Doctrine, Church Zh jiang [JEH- EEAHNG] Seminary, "it would take Administration, Homiletics, Pastoral Theology, at lea t 30 year to train enough pastors for all Introduction to Old and New Testaments, Life of our churche ." Christ, Church History, Church Music, Bible Th age gap in church leadership further exac­ Geography, and Hermeneutics. The goal in erbate the problem. Professor Wang Weifan Zhejiang, according to Eleanor Tsai, who teaches [w c WAY-F H ] of Nanjing Seminary once Church Music, is to give every lay worker in the de cribed the age distribution of trained minis­ province a turn to be enrolled in the training ter a a hulu-a gourd with a very small top, a course in the next few years. thin, long neck, and a large bottom repre enting young people till in training. Opposite, p. 12: Zh jiang i known a one of three "million­ Nanjing Union Chri tian province ," the others being Henan Theological Sem­ inary and (right) a [HUH- A ] and Anhui [AH -HWAY]. Though the classroom within econd- malle t province in China, Zhejiang has the seminary. When more than 2400 churche (nearly half are newly the seminary reopened in 1981, built) and 3500 meeting points (many of which 1500 young people have a anctuary though they lack a full-time pas­ applied for the 53 tor). Since 1985, an average of 60,000 Christians openings. Of the 13 theological centers have b en baptized in Zhejiang each year. There now operating in are not nearly enough ordained clergy to provide China, Nanjing all the e Christians with pastoral care. Seminary is the only national theological school. Lay Training Program to train lay church workers in Zhejiang began in the early 1980s. According to In a district-sponsored program, the course is un, there are now 7000 lay church workers in divided into four one- or two-month sessions the pro ince. Laypeople were the backbone of over two years. In addition, 100 students partici­ th Chri tian community during the Cultural pate in a three-year correspondence course relat­ Re olution, when no public worship wa possi­ ed to Nanjing Seminary. Those passing a final ble. Today, their ministries still hold the commu­ examination are given seminary diplomas. nitie together and keep the faith alive. Other County-sponsored programs, initiated by local leader naturally evolve from home gatherings. Christian Councils, provide occasional short­ Among them are retirees living on pensions, term training courses for 10 to 15 days each.

NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 13 rs (six ~ Th y are usually h eld in a help in meeting the ~ee d s of I uired to local church and scheduled their ministries. dents aJ after a harve t so tha t by ha farmers who lead horn Correspondence Courses dents . ~ congregations can The Syllabus p rep ared Tuition attend. This type of b y the fa culty of B(app course has b come Nanjing Seminary was unt b< very popular. Fuyang first intended to be a 0 ailing o [FOO-YAHNG], a rural correspondence course uctant t township south of for rural church work­ e studer Hangzhou [HUNG-JO], ers. But w ith 45,000 eas. Ma has held 12 su ch subscriber s, it was e30 RM training sessions impossible for semi­ eir local between 1983 and n a ry teachers to ostlyov , 1992. Each time, 200 respond to thousands 1 people attended the 15- of letters from readers. Young am. On day course. Since 1993, Now, the Syllabus has the program has d evel­ been developed into a set J oped into a 30-day, twice of resource materials sent l yearly Bible school, each out six times a year for cler- \ month-long session enrolling gy and lay workers. 150 students from seven su r­ Still, Bish op K. H . Ting, rounding counties. The balcony of President of the China Christian Si' en Church in Fu yang is stacked Council, strongly supported the devel- with straw mattresses for the m ale stu­ opment of theological education through dents, w hile female s tudents crowd into a correspondence. In 1989, he in vited the Rev. third-floor fellowship room used as a makeshift Kong Xian gjin [ KUNG SHEAHNG- JI ], a w ell­ dormitory. Classes are held in the social hall on known educator, to develop a workable corre­ the ground floor. spondence course. Kong and a small group of Hundreds of training p rograms similar to Nanjing Seminary graduate students designed a those in Zhejian g can be found in o ther three-year course that was launched in 1990. The provinces throughout China. Though the dura­ course enrolls about 1000 students p er year tion, sponsorship, and size may differ, these (1 6,000 applied in the first year). Successful programs are meeting the needs of fa st-grow­ applicants are committed to followin g the ing Chri tian comm unities, esp ecially in the course work, doing the assignments, asking countryside. However, there are also m any questions, and taking exams. problems. Those carrying the bulk of the teach­ In its fifth year, this program now has 4000 reg­ ing load are mainly pastors with heavy respon­ istered students. Applicants must be high chool sibilities in their local congregations. Most are graduates recommended by their home church­ quite elderly, their own theological education es. They must write a 300- to 500-word essay dating back several decades. Another problem describing their faith journey and aspirations to is the lack of good teaching material, although serve the church. There are also a large number the China Christian Council is improving edu­ of "back-door students" for whom th re is no cational materials. In addition, som local vacancy. N evertheless, they participate in the Christian Councils in the countryside sponsor program in a "self- tudy" fashion with ut acad­ courses tailored to whatever teachers they can emic credit. recruit. Very often, such training course turn The correspondence course, which offers 1 into revival m etings. All the participants get cour es in Bible, Church Hi tory, Homil tic , Studen t fired up but go away without any substantial Pastoral Care, and Hermeneutic , take three Semina1!!

14 NEW W RLD OUTLOOK MAY-JU E 19 6

"' !• ' ' • ~ '' " • ~ • ' ~ - • • ' • » • • ' • • • I years (six semesters) to complete. Students are Supporting Education required to take open-book exams. The graduate In February 1987, under the auspices of th students and faculty used to write the curricu­ China Christian Council, the Commission on lum by hand and mimeograph copies for the Theological Education was formed to coordi­ students. Now most work is computerized. nate work and set standards and regula tions. Tuition for the correspondence course is 30 Yearly summer confer nces bring together the­ RMB (approximately $3.50) per semester. This ology teachers who discuss issues related to amount barely covers the cost of printing and their work and make curriculum plans. mailing course material. Yet the seminary is Christians overseas have been in partnership reluctant to raise the fees because 80 percent of with the church in China especially in theologi­ the students are farmers, some from very poor cal education. Church organizations in the areas. Many rural students cannot even afford United States, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, the 30 RMB and are receiving scholarships from Singapore, Korea, and Hong Kong have spon­ their local churches. In urban areas, students are sored theological students who were selec ted by mostly over 50, retired, and better educated. the China Christian Council to study abroad . Young or old, rural or urban, all are eager to The host churches hav learned much from learn. One student, unable to understand the these future leaders of the church in China. lessons, walked more than 10 miles to ask his pastor for help in reading. Another, whose hus­ Trained by God band resented the time she spent on her studies Visiting the Yang Village meeting point in and burned all her textbooks, app ealed to Jiangsu [G EEAHNG-SOO] Province, on e cannot Nanjing Seminary and was sent a new set of help admiring the beautiful sanctuary, hand­ books and lectures without charge. built by members of the congregation and larg Often teachers in the seminary travel to remote enough to seat 1500 people. The elder in charge counties to meet with correspondence students had just completed a lay training course in and give lectures. The arriving teacher is often Nanjing. "Where did you receive your theologi­ greeted by a crowd of enthusiastic students at cal training?" asked a visitor. "I was trained by the bus station. Students are eager to ask ques­ God," said the elder seriou. J_ . tions. "It is very helpful to find out what they are He gave the right answer. Let us ask the Lord thinking," said Sun Jiaji [GEEAH-GEE], who helps of the Harvest to continue pr paring laborers to develop the correspondence course. for this field. 0 "Understanding their context is so important as we prepare the study material. Learning is a Jean Woo works with th e Ch ina Progra m, two-way street." Presbyterian Church, US A. Formerly, she coordinat­ ed the China Program for the National Co uncil of Churches, USA.

Students exercise on the grounds of Nanjing Union Th eological Sliaanxi Bible School in Sa ny 11 a11 . A young graduate ~f Na njing Seminary. Seminary stands next to an e/dery pastor.

N W WORLD OUTLO K MAY-JU NE 1996 LS ,,.. ..._ r *?"

) There \ old pac A Changing View of Chi·na I · g proc tables, 1 by Merrillyn McNary ggs we treet m ere sp and fun. My students are from once or twice a day-some­ Nanjing Normal University times for a short interval, some­ (NNU), a teacher-training times for hours. The setting of a bicyc school, and Ginling Women's the sun brought the level of away. I College on the campus of NNU human activity almost to a halt. ment, y in Nanjing, China. If I were to In Nanjing, a city of more than market ask students in the United 4 million people, homes were carts or : States to give me words they illuminated by a single bulb single I associate with China, I wonder and candles, businesses had no items o! what they would say? neon lights, and streets were knacks, I What I associate with China dimly lit. Toda' has certainly changed since I Tonight, however, three years not de: arrived in Nanjing in August later, I will see a city of lights, breeze, 1992. Then I was a college­ shining and twinkling in every stop dE teacher-to-be, having had an color-streets lined with lights, everyth: instant promotion from a posi­ skyscrapers decorated top to tic item tion teaching in an elementary bottom, shops and stores lit up "USA ?"-"English." to dis1 school. Even so, the changes I in holiday style, and great spot­ leather experienced were not nearly as lights illuminating construction "English ?"-"Language." shops e great as the changes in China sites for the night shifts. Even from "Language?"-"International." itself in the last three years. Let though some of this is hoopla Taiwan, me do some associating for you. for the Third National Urban Germai "International?"-"Trade." Games, to be played October have p1 China ?- Lights. 22, the fact remains that China but we "Trade?"-"Export." With a population of 1.2 billion is generating great amounts of Korean, people, China has millions of electricity to brighten the cities. cuisine. homes and businesses that need However, it is also true that, noodle The "Associations Game" is a lights. But electricity must be just a few kilometers outside have t; favorite in my English conver­ generated and it is costly. The the city, villages remain with a more cl sation classes. I often use it to first year I was here, the elec­ limited supply of electricit , lights tl start the class because it is quick tricity might go off as often as while some have none at all. Wes terr The l Lights?- Businesses. some c In 1992, when I took a few stu­ windo dents at a time out in the cause evening to eat noodles, there money were only a few shops along buy, th the street in front of our univer­ Barg air sity. The one or two tables at of Chili each stand were often filled. So pearin we would wait our turn or though grope our way to the next shop, till ali The pictures above depict the rapid pace of change in Nanjing, China. hoping to find empty stools. .

16 EW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996

" I , • • • •• ~ • •~ . • • ' • • ~ ~ • • • , • • I I I

I

There were tw o shops that Business?-Skyscrapers. Jinling Hotel and the telecom­ sold packaged foods and clean­ At first, Nanjing reminded me munications center of about 20 ing products. Fresh fruit, veg­ of Boston , Massachusetts . It stories. etables, meat, fish, chicken, and was a relatively small city with Th ere are now 10 times as eggs were available daily in the lovely parks, narrow, tree-lined many tall buildings and enough street market. Other businesses streets, well-defined financial cran es bobbing around in the were specialized. To find the and busin ess dis tricts, and cityscap e to soon double the '· items on our shopping list, we m an y his torical and scenic number again. Streets have been ~ would go to many places, often spots. There-were only two real- widened in an effort to unlock a bicycle trek or a bus ride 1y tall buildings: the 36-story the traffic jams cau sed b y away. If you wanted excite­ in creasing numbers of cars, ment, you went to the night taxis, buses, an d trucks. This market with its long rows of street widening has wiped out carts or stands. Each was lit by a hundreds of small sh ops and single bulb that illumina ted large shade trees. Tens of thou­ items of clothing, books, knick­ san ds of people hav e been knacks, and even food. forced to relocate to Nanjing' s Today, though I w ould still outskirts. not describe shopping as a breeze, there are modern one­ Business ?- Economy. s top department stores w ith In m y first year of teach ing everything from imported plas­ English, I thought of many top­ tic items and dried mushrooms ics that would be interesting to to disposable diapers and write or talk about. One topic leather jackets . Many sm all would be "Your Future Job or shops even sell imported items Occu pation ." I w as not pre­ from Japan , Hong Kong, pared for the reaction: "We do Taiwan, the United States, and not have a choice. Students at Germany. Chinese restaurants the Norma University w ill be have popped up everywhere, teach ers and Ginlin g College but we can also select Japanese, students will be office workers." Korean, Vietnamese, or Western Th ough I was seeing changes cuisine. We still have our even then, no amount of noodle shops, but they encouragement could alter h ave tables inside and the stu dents' fe elings, so more chains of little white they talked and w rote lights than you'd see on a about what jobs they Western Christmas tree. would h ave to do after The favorite pastime of their graduation. som e of m y students is Just three years later, window sh opping b e­ some students have great cause they h ave little dreams of getting rich. One m on ey. When they d o student described her fash­ buy, they like to bargain. ion salon in exquisite Bargaining is another part detail. It included a play of China life that is disap­ corner w h ere children could entertain themselves p earing in the cities The man at top ru bs Chinese characters, a fa st and sure though in the villages it is way to tra nsfer calligraphy. The second man is carefu lly with games w hile their still a lively art. carving calligraphy by sight, the ancient way. mothers shopped.

NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 17 Although and small col­ some of the leges. the num­ students will ber of baptized become Christians and unwilling the number of teachers in people attend­ their home­ ing churches towns, there continues to are others rise. The press who now of The Amity look forward Merrillyn McNary stands in a park that has since been plowed under to make a 4-lane Foundation con­ to their call­ highway. Notice the new architecture backing up a building from the 1800s. tinues to print ing. They see the NNU manages a large restau­ many more Bi­ importance of educating China's rant down the street from the bles and other Christian litera- children for the new, open-to­ school. The food is served by ture each year. the outside-world society. A few some of the students. Students students leave college or unive~­ are also asked to act as guides Hope?- Change. sity without graduating-much for visiting hotel guests. The ways in which Chinese peo­ to their parents' horror-to go Because of the ongoing need ple relate to me change accord­ into business. Added to this, for funds, professors and stu­ ing to the circumstance. Some many people from the country­ dents are drawn away from people will go out of their way side are coming into the city their focus on education. for me-like the shopkeeper looking for their chance to get Many colleges and universities who took me to get the glass for rich. Above: 01 provide night courses in English my picture frame instead of just The changes in China' s Below: Ed and business for fee-paying stu­ telling me where to go. Others growth have been based on dents and other adults who did will treat me just like everyone Last fall what the leaders in Beijing call not get into a university. These else-another body to be shoved Florida. "a market economy [actually, students are diligent, goal-orient­ on the bus. To still others, I in the I still socialism] with Chinese ed people who, upon receiving a remain a curiosity. When I stop unpress characteristics." Some of these diploma, can enter the university to buy something in the street eightietl characteristics are revealed to study for a master's degree. market, for example, people will father l through the colleges and univer­ gather round to watch. But how­ served; sities. Increasingly, unless a uni­ Economy?-Hope. ever I am treated or perceived, versity is one of the select 100 retume1 Hope is not so much spoken of when I pass people on the street, chosen by the government to unable I as it is acted upon. Every day I we nod and smile, communicat­ receive financial support, the The ( see this in the people I meet. ing in the universal language of institution must provide much like a ti Individuals are taking on the humankind. And I continue on of its own funding. Many insti­ was bei responsibility of building up my way full of hope-praying tutions are supported by cities Putian 1 small businesses, even when that I can help to make a differ­ or provinces, but these too have and Fuj that means paying at least two ence in a changing China. 0 limited income. As a result, the cance o types of taxes. There are fewer cost of higher education for stu­ students expressing a desire to M errillyn McNary is a United dents has gone up considerably. Notes I go abroad because of increased Methodist missionary assigned to Whether they want to or not, I had, economic advantages within the United M ethodi t Ch ina schools must employ entrepre­ history. China. There are more requests Progra m and seconded to the neurial means to raise funds. showin for foreign teachers to lecture National Council of Churches of For example, a department may , Variou1 in business settings or teach Christ, USA, to teach English in establish a business that gener­ that re~ English in primary schools, Nanjing, China, with The Amity ates income for that department. The middle schools (high schools), Foundation. worke(

18 NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996

'~ I ' • '. " ' ' • • ' ~ • ;. ; • ' ' • ~ • ~ ' l • • I Missionary Roots and Present Realities In Putian

by Lois Cole

fortress of Methodism there. There was the Methodist women's compound where my grandmother had lived when she was a young single mission­ ary. There she worked at a boarding school for homeless women and girls, teaching them to read a Romanized ver­ sion of the Bible. Just across the street was the old Christian printing press. A walk down the lane brought us to the Methodist church, which neigh­ Above: Delegates at the Putian Protestant Church Anniversan;. Below: Edith Cole (Lois's grandmother) at right, in Putian . bored the Methodist middle

Last fall I received a call from my aunt, Doris Blitch, who lives in Florida. She told me that the Putian [POO-TEE-EN] Protestant Church in the Fujian [FOO-GEE-EN] Province of China had sent her an impressive red card etched in gold, inviting her to celebrate the eightieth anniversary of the church's founding in 1915. She and my father had been raised in Putian, where my grandparents had served as Methodist missionaries from 1910 to 1952. My aunt had returned to China for a visit in 1986. Now, in her early 80s, she felt unable to travel so far. The celebration was set for Sunday, October 29, 1995. "It looks like a ticket to heaven," Aunt Doris said. A few weeks later, as I was being driven along the coastal road from Fuzhou [FOO-JO] to Putian with distinguished members of the Fujian Christian Council and Fujian Seminary, I began to feel a little awestruck at the signifi­ cance of the event before me.

Notes From a 1992 Visit I had visited Putian a number of times before to research family history. On my last trip with family members in 1992, Putian was showing the benefits of economic reform. Much of the town was in various stages of dismantling and building, reflecting a prosperity that resulted from foreign investment. The neighborhood where m y grandparents had lived and worked was still as I remembered it. Missionaries had established a

NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 1 formerly Methodist), th~ church workers showed us the sanctu­ ary. It could seat more than 3000, making the church one of the largest in southeast China. There were two male pastors and a young female seminary graduate (not yet ordained) on the payroll. In addition, there were two female elders, one male elder, and a man who took care of the church grounds. \. Wlilile officially retired, these At the annive f~ur people worked full-time on men whollnd a voluntary basis. Apparently, voluntary workers were much in missio1 needed, as the church's main led ferve: means of financial support was the streel the congregation. and singii As we sat down for a discus­ contrast,: sion time, we were offered today he sweet Putian oranges, called make the "peaceful fruit" in the local grow in C dialect. "That is why we always the chur give an orange to everyone who interest [ attends our Christmas service," support said the head pastor, Chen seas, the 1 Zican. "It represents peace." were eagE We were told the church was growing, each year bringing in The 1995 more members than the year When WE before. So many young people the churc were joining that two youth sary, I nol groups had been formed. There Gate was were also Bible studies, prayer was a baE meetings, and choir and orches­ aries, ba school for girls. Nearby were entranceways decked with large tra practice. ow it is the Methodist middle school for cloth lanterns, I wondered if it According to Pastor Chen, shops r boys and the Methodist Bible was from those doorways that 1 since the church's reopening in Chinese i school that my grandfather had m y grandfather had heard the 1980, it has grown tenfold from er years. helped administrate. The Bible shrieking of little girls having the time when missionaries Church school had functioned as a sem­ their feet bound by their moth­ I were in Putian. This growth 1A~th a Cl inary, taking in prospective pas­ ers. "How this cry of China's lit­ reflects the struggle of Chinese and Wes tors as young as 14. Across the tle girls rings in one's ears!" he Chris tians to shake off the gone a L street was the Cole fa mily home had written. I like to think he image of Christianity as a u pi­ wa adc where my aunt and father spent was part of the missionary effort cious foreign import. Certainly, bows, b their childhood. to have this custom ended. 1 my grandfather did his share of flags. Ir As we walked down cobbled Wh en we visited Putian imposing his culture on the packed lanes and past old homes, their Protestant Church (which was I Chinese during his early years congreg, of churc

20 EW WORLD UTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996

. . . " I • ' " .. , ,. . , •,: . • • ' • • - • ~ ' • surrounding it and repre­ while it was being built. I told sentatives from 100 other them how m y p arents had churches in Fujian. taught at a theological seminary In the sermon, the pas­ in Taiw an and how m y father tor compared the first 80 had told u s so many spirited, years of Moses' life to the colorful stories of his growing­ first 80 years of the up years in Putian. I said that it Putian Protestant Church. was my sense of having some During Moses' first 40 roots in Putian that eventually years, the pastor said, "he brou ght me to China as a lived in an Egyptian teach er w ith The Amity palace and gained a lot of Foundation and that started me At the anniversary celebra tion , Cole met these three know led ge from the on seven years of China-related men who had been childhood playmates of her father. Egyptians. Before libera­ work. As I spoke and aw the in mission. After a revival, he tion, our church gained knowl­ response of w arm, nodding led fervent believers through edge from the missionaries. Like encouragement, I could feel a the streets, clanging cymbals Pharaoh 's palace, the church connectedness that seemed to and singing Western hymns. By also played a powerful role in go beyond my own lifetime and contrast, indigenous Christians society, doing a lot of work in to embrace my grandparents as today hav e to find w a ys to social development. well. make the church take root and " For his second 40 years, Before we left, Putian grow in Chinese soil. But while Moses lived like a nomad in the Christians gave us the farewell the church in China has no land of Midian. He quietly fed blessing: "One way in peace." interest in asking for m aterial the sheep and spent much time Then, as we rode off, I looked support from churches over­ thinking and workin g on h is back at the people waving, my seas, the church leaders we met character. After 1957, during the eyes falling on the older were eager to form friendly ties. Cultural Revolution, there was Christians. The dazzling fanfare no worship in China. Churches of the eightieth anniver ary cel­ The 1995 Anniversary w ere d estroyed . So Chin ese ebration formed a striking con­ When we arrived in Putian for Chris tian s also h ad to keep trast with the e simple, humble the church's eightieth anniver­ their faith quietly and build Ch ristians w ho h ad liv d sary, I noticed that the old South their characters. through so much. But I realized Gate was still standing. Once it "At last, in his 80s, Moses that it was their struggle which was a bastion against revolution­ responded to God's call to set had made the celebration po i­ aries, bandits, and warlords. the people of Israel free. Since b le. They had come out of Now it is flanked with electronic our church was reopened in Egypt, out of Midian, and now shops rather than the sm all 1980, we have also resp onded h ad their ey fi xed on the Chinese specialty shops of earli­ to God 's call of service. O ur Promi ed Land. 0 er years. The Putian Protestant church work has b come better Church, a solid stone structure and better, and our m ember­ with a Chinese-style sloping roof ship is getting larger and larger. and Western arches, had under­ We have learned from our expe­ gone a lively transformation. It rien ces and h ave b orne fru it Lois Cole is the third generation of was adorned w ith red velvet rich in the spirit. " her family to work as a Methodi t bows, b anners, and colorful Later in the service I spoke, mi sionary. She is n ig 11 ed to Hon flags. Inside, the church was telling of my family's history in Ko ng, where he 11L o t re e11 tl y packed, not only with its own Chin a and of h ow my fa ther worked with The A111ihJ Foundation congregation but with members and aunt h ad played on the Overseas oordi11 ntion )_ffi e n11d of churches in the five districts church 's fo unda tion s ton s the C/J ri tinn onferen e of Asia .

NEW WORLD OUT OOK MAY-JU 1996 21 who heard began to know those The Will many missionary candidates. It was evident that Mell knew arrived them all very well. zhou on l Melville 0. Williams Jr. was l, 1929 . the middle child of a deeply new miss religious family. He went to col­ ies cam lege at Virginia Polytechnic China in by Paul Yount Institute, preparing to study days, and aeronautical engineering. fighting iJ Then, in his junior year, Mell ed the sE participated in a Virginia was resp Student Volunteer Movement gious life (SVM) conference for World versity. H Mission. There, he said, he later reg heard "for the first time ... of the first masf needs of the world." A mission­ Dur in~ ary from Africa spoke to the furlough students, saying: "Men are ate in Ee dying and they know not Teachen Christ." On the way to this Theologi meeting, on a train platform, York Cit Mell had met Annie Lee Young, then re a sophomore at Randolph 1936. 1 Macon, who was already com­ Suzhou mitted to a missionary vocation. when t A few days after the conference, attackeo Mell made his own life decision occupiec for world mission. the uni1 The couple became engaged school M ell Williams shortly thereafter. After gradua­ Shangh; Dr. Melville 0 . Williams Jr. died in A memorable moment in tion, while attending another Socio lo~ Oberlin, Ohio, March 4, 1995, at every annual meeting of the SVM meeting, Mell and Annie afterno1 the age of 91. His passing was Methodist Board of Missions Lee spoke with a missionary with t ~ mourned by many: missionaries he during the 1950s and 1960s from China. He told them: Cross ir had recruited and placed, fellow came when Mell Williams intro­ "China is the place for you two. and mu staff members, friends and family. duced the new couples and sin­ You are just what China needs." refugee He was born February 2, 1904, in gle men to be commissioned as After their marriage and four ated wiu Portsmouth, Virginia. He and his missionaries. U nhesi ta tingly, more years of education and er the Su wife Annie Lee, who survives him, with natural spontaneity and preparation, China was where The V were missionaries of the Methodist professional ease, Mell, as their they went. Annie Lee, with a China l Episcopal Church, South, zn personnel secretary, presented master's degree in Christian was dia, Suzhou [SOO -JO], China, from crucial information about each Education, and Mell, with a sis. Aft~ 1929 to 1940. In 1941 , he was one. Again and again, the master's m Sociology and had corr hired as a secretary of Missionary detailed facts flowed forth: Religion, were assigned by the leaders] Personnel in the newly reunited name, education, background Mission Board of the Methodist the fal i Methodist Church's Board of preparation for service, and Episcopal Church, South, to many Missions. He served in that office personal data that was both serve the Suzhou University Western until he retired in 1969. pertinent and public. Those near Shanghai in east China. · toChini

22 NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996

. . l-t. I '' • ' ••" .,, ,. • , "· .r_:- »• • • •·•- " , , " 1 , , ' • 1 The Williamses motiv ations and arrived in Su­ expectations for a zhou on August career in mission. A 1, 1929. Few nationwide n et­ new missionar­ work of profession­ ies came to als was developed China in those and was shared ecu­ days, and internal menically. fighting in the country disrupt­ Mell and Annie Lee at the 1987 After his retire- ed the service of some. Mell Missionary Conference in ment, Mell worked William sport, Pennsylvania. was responsible for the reli­ on special assignments with the gious life program of the uni­ After months of recuperation Presbyterian ecumenical mis­ versity. He lectured in English, in the United States, Mell joined sion board in mission personnel later regretting that he had not the staff of the newly reunited assessment and development. first mastered Chinese. Methodist Church as Secretary He also pursued his lifelong During the Williamses' first of Mission Personnel. He also interest in China, writing an furlough, Mell earned a doctor­ completed the requirements for article for M ethodist History ate in Education at Columbia ordination and became a clergy (April 1993) about the history of Teachers College and Union member of the Virginia the Methodist Episcopal Theological Seminary in New Conference. Over more than 28 Church, South, in China from York City. He and Annie Lee years, he recruited, counseled, 1848 to 1886. then returned to China early in and selected more than 2500 Mell Williams was always 1936. There, they served missionaries, bringing a loving, seeking a broader understand­ Suzhou University until 1937, firm, clear-headed, grace-filled ing of mission and searching when the Japanese army quality to these relationships. for better predictors for making attacked Chinese forces and Mell had strength, intelligence, personnel decisions. He w as occupied Suzhou, taking over foresight, and objectivity. He seen in Metl odist and ecumeni­ the university. Much of the made realistic assessments and cal circles as the "dean" of mis­ school was then moved to shared them in ways the candi­ sionary personnel secretaries. Shanghai. Mell taught in the dates for mission could accept. For "Mell's kids"-the many, Sociology Department in the Mell was also innovative. His many missionaries he recruit­ afternoons and volunteered first assignment with the Board ed-he was an ideal role model, with the International Red of Missions in 1941 was to com­ always calling himself and his Cross in the mornings to set pletely revise the forms used in colleagues to give their most and monitor standards for the application process. He effective service to God. 0 refugee camps. He also negoti­ worked with Presbyterian and ated with the Japanese to recov­ American Baptist colleagues to er the Suzhou campus. produce a complete set of Paul You n t worked with Mell The Williamses remained in instruments useful across Williams from 1955 to 1962 in the China until 1940, when Mell denominational lines. Southern Board of Missions' M issionary was diagnosed with tuberculo­ Baptists had been using psycho­ Personnel office. From 1962 to sis. After 11 years in China, he logical profiles for some time. 1974 he direc ted the ecumenical had come to trust in indigenous Mell took a leading role in Missionary Orientation Center at leadership. He had overcome bringing that resource to the Stony Point, New York. Until his the false pride that caused Methodists and to other recent retirement, he served as the many missionaries to see denominations. He contacted Director of Overseas Personnel for Western civilization as superior psychologists and psychiatrists the National Cou ncil of Churches to Chinese culture. to help candidates explore their of Christ, USA.

NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 23 'V' 'V' 'V' 'V' 'V'

EIMONGGOL XINJIANG AUTONOMOUS UYGUR 'V' ,,. • 'V' REGION (INNER AUTONOMOUS REGION Mongolia MONGOLIA)

QINGHAI

Yellow Sea

XIZANG AUTONOMOUS REGION (TIBET)

India SI CHUAN * East China Sea

Theological Training Centers t National * Regional + Prov incia l Nanjing Seminary, Nanjing (1981) t Huadong Seminary, Shanghai (1985) * Myanmar (Burma) Yanjing Seminary, Beijing (1986) * ·=· Fujian ~ry, Fuzhou (1982) + '---· ''-··--•...... '"'"'n• • • UNITED METHODISTS AND THEIR PREDECESS AND SUCCESSORS IN CHINA UNITED METHODISTS AND THEIR PREDECESSORS AND SUCCESSORS IN CHINA

A.D. 625-845 1807 1839-1842

Nestorian Christians come Franciscans and Jesuits come to First Protestant Opium War: Britain to Xi'an, capital of Tang Dominicans in Yuan Guangdong; bring missionary to China acquires Hong Kong Dynasty China Dynasty China (Beijing) Western science to China

1847 1848 1851-1864 1869 1889

First MEC missionaries First MECS Taiping Re bellion First ordination of First UB missionaries sent to sent to Fuzhou missionaries sail Chinese pa st ors in Guangzhou; First Evangelical MEC missionaries sent to Hunan Province to Shanghai

1900 1909 1927 1937-1945 1946-1949 . 1950-1953 1966-1976

I 77 • 7 nr s ntzera nr mrrv s f Boxer First MPC mi ssionary UBs j oin with 15 Japan at war Nationalists and Three-Self Patriotic Great Proletarian Rebellion sent to Kalgan other groups to form against China Communists in Movement begins; Cultural Revolution: (Zhangjiakou) the Church of Christ a civil war; Communists Korean War churches closed in China win KEY:

Predecessor Denominations of The United Methodist Church (UMC):

1978 1979 1980 1985 1997 The Methodist Episcopal Church -MEC The Methodist Episcopal Church. Britain to return UM China Program Religious freedom rein­ China Christian Council Amity Foundation founded South-MECS Hong Kong to China organized stated; first formed; The Methodist Protestant Church Protestant church 1981-Nanjing Seminary -MPC reopens reopens The United Brethren in Christ -UB

Nestorian History Beginn ing of Catholic Church Protestant Church History Secular Eve nts ~~1!tA Mission Memo _____

GBGM To Stay Put In addition, the General Conference mandated a com­ By a vote of 584 to 354, the 1996 General Conference prehensive plan for town and country ministry, com­ adopted a resolution that leaves the General Board of parable to the urban ministry plan, "Holy Boldness"; Global Ministries in New York City, at least until the established The United Methodist Church in Zaire as next quadrennium. The legislation mandates "that a third Central Conference in Africa; honored the fifti­ the standing joint committee of the GCOM and the eth anniversary of the EUB Church; and created a GCFA. .. continue their regular review of all general separate General Commission on United Methodist agency locations." Men. A full report of General Conference actions as they relate to the work of the GBGM will appear in GBGM Restructure our September-October issue. General Conference voted its approval of the GBGM' s new structure. Instead of remaining divided Top Protestant Magazine into National and World divisions, the GBGM will On April 12, New World Outlook was honored by the work in six program areas: Evangelism and Church Associated Church Press with a Best In Class award Growth; Community and Institutional Ministries; for Denominational General-Interest Magazines­ Mission Contexts and Relationships; Mission placing second only to U.S. Catholic and thus leading Education; Mission Volunteers; and Mission all other Protestant denominational magazines in a Personnel. The Women's Division will retain its divi­ 51-entry field (out of 200 ACP member publications). sional status, and the new Health and Relief unit will New World Outlook also won a first place Award of Excellence for best fulfilling its Statement of Purpose combine under one administration two separate cor­ mitment in its Europe Mission Study Issue (May-June 1995); porations: UMCOR and Health and Welfare. sion mak1 an Award of Merit for its issue on "Refugees in Our World" Oan.-Feb. 1995, praised as "moving, timely, cooperati Mission Initiatives and informative" and as "truly first-rate"); and two organizer All of the GBGM's proposed mission initiatives won honorable mentions for photography. "One of the the approval and funding of the General Conference. best magazines in content and style that I have eval­ The Native American Comprehensive Plan was contin­ uated," wrote one judge. Observed another: "This is that direa ued with a budget of $1,075,000 and with a major an outstanding publication." emphasis on rural and reservation ministries. The National Plan for Hispanic Ministry was continued DEATHS Mary Goodloe, retired missionary with 5 with a budget of $2.8 million. General Conference years of service in Zimbabwe, died May 5, also celebrated the publication of an official Hispanic 1995 ... Bertie W. Bradley, who served the Women's hymnal: Mil Voces Para Celebrar. Division 7 years as a deaconess, died July 22, A new "Missional Initiatives/Focus 2000 Fund" will 1995 ... Annie Clara Howard, retired Women's include funding for a churchwide "Shared Focus on Division missionary with 41 years of service in Korea, Young People," an Asian American Language died December 17, 1995, at the age of 100 ... Dorothea Ministry Study, and a Korean American Task Force to Lang, retired missionary with 38 years of service in study the needs expressed in an earlier proposal for Japan, died December 22, 1995 ... Dr. Herbert Jai Korean missionary conferences. The Special Program Singh of the Methodist Church in India, former pro­ on Substance Abuse and Related Violence, continued fessor at Hartford Seminary Foundation in with a budget of $1,836,000, was expanded to address Connecticut, died December 27, 1995 ... Sallie Lewis the drug problem in Northern Europe. The Browne, retired Women's Division missionary with Communities of Shalom movement-active in 103 36 years of service in Liberia, died January 4, 1996, urban and rural communities, 24 annual conferences, just before her 96th birthday. . .Jean Stone, retired mis­ and 250 congregations-was continued under the a'Q\ajor P1 sionary with 32 years of service in Singapore, died opment guidance of a 12-member national committee. In her 0 January 7, 1996 ... Katherine Paty, retired missionary and social address to General Conference, First Lady Hillary with 19 years of service in China, died January 9, Rodham Clinton said the Communities of Shalom 1996 ... Mary Lou Schumacher, retired deaconess with ..Recent Initiative "will do more to change lives than any pro­ 27 years of service, died January 18, 1996. 0 gram that will be passed by any legislative body."

26 NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 T e Amit Foundation was ounded in 1985 on the initia­ tive of Chinese Christians. It is an independent voluntary Chinese organization. Among its strengths are a strong con­ viction that the people of China must assume leadership of growth-frequently described to Nanjing in China's eastern China's development and an as an overheated economy­ Jiangsu [GEEAHNG-SOO] Province organizational structure in much of China's eastern coastal for a year of basic course work which eopl~'s participa­ areas and ' ·or. moun\ainous in primary hea1th care. tion is fundanumt•l. regions re }?OOr. F-Ollowing Be~ause £ scarce or poor­ a worldwid trend of decrease • ...... ,,, v medical and hea th-care

a!l}'laj0r particip ti•~~r:rin.:.i opment of China's and social services. ~ecent statistis:s note tha 80 ~. !GJ:lt.Sll. Chi .2 .bill ion sp Qiu Zhor Economic Self-Help WAY], Amit: Through an arranged marriage, ment Direct Hou [How] Tingying left her proj ects s.1 mountain village near China's Youfang Vt border with Vietnam and re hape thE moved to Youfang [YO-FAH G] tionof the C Village in the more prosperous Responding coastal province of Jiangsu. dice , Qiu Unfortunately, Hou quickly no t lack ; learned that her husband's fam­ opportunit The AGAPE Center, operated by Christians ily was no better off than her an effort to in Guangzhou, was started in 1985 with own. Then, in 1994, Amity help from Amity. It is a special kindergarten Power provided by the hydroelectric plant for the po for children carrying the hepatitis B virus. helped sponsor an income-gen­ that Amity built in the village of Ming women in As the government steps up vaccination era ting project for poor women Ling made it possible for villagers to open a bamboo crafts factory. Women , who had no are na turall programs for newborns, the special-needs in Youfang Village. The local kindergarten will eventually become a work outside the home before the plant and benefic regular church-run kindergarten. women's committee chose Hou opened, have now organized to work and to participate, mostly out of raise their families' incomes. The average Church anc various government agencies. income of this once-poor village is now sympathy. Little did they realize seven times more than it was before the "I know n Just when he was about to give at that time that the 25-year-old hydroelectric plant was built. But I must up, a close friend told him H ou, a member of the Miao believe in, about Amity. After lengthy dis­ [MEOW] ethnic minority, was women learn the centurie -old aved me< cussions and planning, Amity highly skilled in traditional techniques of material design ond life." : invited Zhang to coordinate the Miao embroidery and in the and embroidering. Now, work­ an elderly ' Youth Polio Project. This project techniques of making batik ing together, the women of doc tors al has successfully secured med­ cloth. Youfang Village are u ing their Christia n ical expertise from many active Hou's creative flair for design newfound skills to become eco­ [l.1\-CHEW] and retired doctors in China, soon made her the best student nomically self-sufficient. They Province. provided training for family in the wool embroidery class. are overcoming much of the taff learrn members, and begun training She quickly became a teacher poverty that formerly con­ and herb classes in rehabilitation-a and helped other village trolled their lives. lived in di much-needed service in China. only perf1 Estimating that there are ur ery fre fewer than 200 rehabilitation al o gave doctors for China's 50 million are home, physically challenged people, some u ed Amity has initiated or has part­ In recen nered many training programs. moved te Its work with hearing-impaired ket econo1 and mentally challenged chil­ dren has become a model for guarantee Job, retiren other organizations in China. Amity's approach stresses a drastically lC and small student-teacher ratio and r op ened b the involvement of volunteers, rural and p arents, and the community. Explaining Amity's success, one \'! itor t staff member responded: "We Parishione stress commitment to p eople In Nanjing, The AmihJ Foundation helped to found a weavin factory. Tlie cooperatiiie l'olun teer and a belief in their potential." provide work and a living for ix to ei ht deaf-11111te women, who weave ma lilly scan•e:. ollowing

28 EW W RLD TL KM Y-J E 1 Qiu Zh nghui [ HEW JAH G­ growing number of retired rapidly over the past decade: w Y], Amity' Rural De el p­ medical personnel, both "Many of u have been able to ment Dir tor, i con inced that Christian and non-Christian, reconcile the common concern project uch a the one in are finding gr at satisfaction in for personal salvation with a Youfang Village are helping to giving time and services to sense of ocial responsibility." r hape the culture and tradi­ these programs. China's open-door policy of tion of the Chinese countryside. Dr. Han Wenzao [WHE - market reform has engendered Re ponding to long-held preju­ ZAOW ]-General Secretary of a get-rich-quick attitude among dice , Qiu notes: "Women do both the China Christian many Chinese, rural and urban, not lack ability; they lack Council and The Amity young and old. Fortunately, opportunity. As Amity makes Founda hon- believes such Amity continues to focus on the an effort to create opportunitie involvement in societal needs marginalized and less fortunate. for the poorest of the poor, has not always been the case for In his opening speech to the women in remote rural areas Christians in China. According workshop, Han said church are naturally our main partners to Han, "Christians in China participation in Chinese society and beneficiaries." h ave tra ditionally been very is essential for at least three rea­ con servative and have lived sons. By definition, Christians Church and Society th ir faith in quiet ways, aloof are called to do good work and "I know nothing about God. from worldly affairs." to share their love with other But I mu t thank the God you members of society, especially believe in, because you have those who are disadvantaged aved me and given me a sec­ and in difficulty. Participation ond life." So said Grandma Li, in social service also helps an elderly village woman, to the Christians develop a better doctor at the privately run understanding of their own Christian Hospital in Linqu faith. And, at the same time, [L -CHEW] County in Shandong social involvement helps the Province. When the hospital church gain respect from the staff learned that Grandma Li Chinese people. and her bedridden husband In a short span of 10 years, The li ed in dire poverty, they not The tea fields of Ming Ling (above and on Amity Foundation has made only performed her cataract p. 27) . great strides in developing pro­ urgery free of charge, but they grams both for and with the peo­ also gave her money for bus Recently, in cooperation with ple of China. Christians represent fare home, plus extra cash and the China Christian Council, less than 1 percent of China's 1.2 ome u ed clothing. Amity sponsored a workshop billion population-yet their In recent years, as China has on "Christian Involvement in involvement in society, especially moved steadily toward a mar­ Social Service." P artici pan ts in areas served by Amity, is prov­ ket economy, the former "five came from 23 provincial or ing to be a tremendous witness guarantees" [birth, education, municipal Christian Councils and service. 0 job, retirement, and death] have w here Amity is involved in drastically changed. Small clin­ major projects or where local ic and ho pitals are being churches have started health or The Rev. Ewing W. Carroll Jr. and opened by churches in both social projects of their own. his wife Millie spent 20 years in rural and urban areas. Many Chen Xida [SHE-DAH], a young missionary service in Taiwan and vi itors to China have seen worker in the China Christian Hong Kong. Bud Carroll has been parishioners being examined by Council's Nanjing office, told the director of The United olunteer medical personnel the gathering one reason the Methodist China Program following church service . A church in China has grown so (G BGM) since 1986.

EW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JU E 1996 29

0 ' • ' • • • ' - ' ' • ' I ' • •, - l • , ~= , • ' ,_ •, I • ~ . "1.• A sum Photo E~ by Diane

SOS allowed me to "/ really liki and having t/1t ships withthe packed up a/111 experience China withm e111 as

Participanb not as a tourist but ed by the G are from Zl Engage 10 North Americans, ages 18 University, 01 to 30, with 15 energetic young adults tions. The NG from China. Add six weeks of cultural as a friend. cal, racial, at exchange and a generous dollop of language learning. Lavishly top this with a yearning to learn as much as to share. The result? A memorable "Summer of Sharing"-SOS for short.

The best tribute to any recipe is in the testimonials of those who've tasted it! Two participants described the SOS experience as "absolutely, unequivocal­ ly, awesomely phenomenal." Other voices with other comments about SOS follow-interspersed with information about the program so you'll know what the raves are all about.

"SOS allowed me to experience China not as a tourist but as a friend. Applying to SOS was one of the best decisions I have ever made. "

Young adults from China and North America share their lives and lan­ guages in the Summer of Sharing pro­ gram. SOS is sponsored by the China Program of the National Council of Churches of Christ (NCCCUSA, or NCC for short). Its partner is the Guangzhou [GWAHNG-JO] Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA). For six weeks each summer, young adults from both hemispheres gather at the Guangzhou YWCA and blend a mixture of classroom and out­ door group activities into a dynamic summer exchange.

30 NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996

I ~I; , t , , • · ··• ,i,.,. ,,, ... .,_: ~~~~ ) 1· ~ • - •-,. , • ' \~ l ,.; •• • ' • ' 1 ' ' ' mer of Sharing

Photo Essay participants have been United Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, by Diane J. Allen Southern Baptist, American Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, members of "I rea lly liked being engaged with people the United Church of Canad a, and and having the chance to develop relation­ True Jesus (a denomination indigenous ships with the Chinese. I wish I could have to China). When speaking of the packed up all my frie nds and brought them Guangzhou YWCA leadership, one with me in a su itcase." participant affirmed: "I'm especially enthusiastic that we had predominant­ ly female leaders throughout the SOS Participants from China are recruit­ experience. It's good to observe such ed by the Guangzhou YWCA. Most strong leadership by women." are from Zhongshan [J U G- SHA ] University, one of China's top institu­ "My expectations were that we'd be very tions. The NCC team reflects ecumeni­ busy, we'd work hard, and Summer of cal, racial, and ethnic diversity. Past Sharing would be an incredible experience. "A ll these expectations were met. What I didn't expect was to feel as close as I did to the Chinese and North American partici­ pants. It was an incredible bond."

Summer of Sharing is intensive. Ask any participant. From 9 A.M . to 5 P.M. Monday through Friday, culture and relationships are explored through two avenues: classroom exchange and out­ door activities. Themes are developed b y the group. They have included health care, the role of women, creation stories and myths, family life and val­ ues, humor, education, and nurturing children in a changing society.

"Any stereotypes I had about what a typical young person is like are banished. Breaking people out of boxes is so much more satisfying than attempting to put people into them."

Creative classroom activities build trust. Imaginative skits, small-group discussions, one-on-one exchange, art­ work, reading, interactive writing, and games can enable each participant to express a personal point of view. During one classroom exercise on eth­ nic diversity, for example, each person was asked to write down three things that made her or him different from other SOS participants. No one needed perfect English to get the points across. Fei Wong from China wrote: "One: No matter how you scold me, I won't get angry. Two: I don't mind anyone talk­ ing something unpleasant during the meal. I won't lose my appetite.

NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 31 "Three: I'm always trying to save as much water as possible. For instance, after washing the vegetable, I use those water to water the plants. After wash­ ing the clothes, I use the water to mop the floor."

"This experience opened my ei;es and my heart to a land and its people. I learned as much from the Chinese participants as I shared (or maybe more)."

The outdoor activities, held two days friend, bicycled in pouring rain with a a week, are a highlight of SOS. Being pot of homemade soup known for its out and about in Guangzhou, rain or medicinal powers to "cool the body" shine, using public transportation, and "reduce heat." embodies the grassroots spirit of the This rich in1 program. SOS has visited newly devel­ "There are so many things I've learned: cultural shar oped social-service programs, such as a about my spirituality and faith, about words. Exper youth hotline and counseling program; China, about living in a different cu lture are. One par a publishing house run by released pris­ and respecting other people's faith and return: ''.I tol oners; folk, Buddhist and Daoist [Taoist] beliefs. I am so glad that God has given me worshiping temples; and an Islamic mosque. this opportunity." UEIN] church Museums and other cultural sites, how profoWJ parks, and a botanical garden are also A vital component of SOS is its Christian lov\ on the agenda. Chinese and North Christian Youth Camp, which is held understand C Americans pair up during outdoor after the 4-week cultural exchange the same God activities to further encourage cross-cul­ activities at the Guangzhou YWCA. The tural sharing. "The high points for me Youth Camp is an attempt to under­ "I never th were private conversations," one partic­ stand the realities of the growing church wou ld provok ipant said. "That's when the most valu­ in China and the importance it plays in knowledge of C able sharing takes place." the life and faith of Christians there. For Igo to Ch inai this camp a new group of participants Asian Studies "This experience has given me a broader from China is recruited, all of whose gratefully th view of the world and allowed me to see members are Christian. mvolve eithe things though the eyes of other cultures." room learning about the status and role neighbors." of women was a natural tie-in. "Ordinary believers embraced us and Chinese participants find themselves sang with us and wept with joy with us. Where doe learning about programs and places in "The reception the Chinese offered us was How important it is to experience the living For Elizabett their country that they have not yet had unbelievable and challenges me to be more faith that so many Christians in China have and working the chance to visit. A morning at the hospitable to strangers. " and the aspirations that we share in the Julius, and ~ Guangzhou Orphanage to hold and Spirit of God." ment to ord1 play with children is usually a first-time The North American team lives at the Chinese lar experience for all. One North American Guangzhou YWCA hostel and remains In 1995, after a breathtaking 30-hour teach the l' participant recalled her own mixed amazed at the array of delicious yet train journey through the south China sc hool of c emotions. "Where I saw sadness simple meals prepared by the canteen mountains, the Christian Youth Camp Jo anne dev because the orphans have no parents," cook. Each adapts to a Chinese way of arrived in Guizhou [GWAY-JO] Province. China with she said, "the Chinese saw happiness life, including the much-needed noon­ The Guizhou Christian Council Cultures cla that the children were being cared for. I time xiuxi [SHEW-SHEE], or rest, especial­ arranged worship at local village fro mteachi learned to look at things from a differ­ ly when the temperature and humidity churches, many of which had members Hmong is i from the Miao [MEOW] ethnic minority. ent perspective." soar to subtropical levels. When illness sharing the t China has 56 non-Chinese ethnic minor­ A trip to a government shipyard that strikes, medicinal soups, Chinese medi­ Hmong [fro1 employed more than 3000 workers cines, and offers of acupressure are ity groups. Many of these groups have a And What revealed women doing the same con­ common gestures of concern. One separate language, written script, cus­ Chin a, Who struction jobs as men. A day of class- evening, Mary Gao, a longtime YWCA toms, and traditions. Participants

32 NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996

- . ' . . - •/ '·J} ... , , . ._.; , ,.. . , . ,,., . ,., ... d : '; .. ~'- # • 1 : ~,~ >1~~ i ,· ._ , ,,,'1·~ • .; •• •• ' ' • ' I 1 '' Author Diane Allen (second from left, back row) and friends. (Below) Participants visit churches in Guangdong and Guizhou and hear a Miao choir, whose members belong to one of China's ethnic minorities.

Opposite, p. 32, clockwise from upper left: Participants were jostled in a city bus, visited the Panyu ancestral temple, held children at an orphanage, and visited women working in a government shipyard.

This rich intergenerational and multi­ cultural sharing is not easily put into words. Experiences of the heart rarely are. One participant wrote after her return: ''. I told [a church group] about worshiping at the Qianlian [ CHEEIN ­ LEEIN] church and tried in vain to share how profoundly I felt surrounded by Christian love that day. I didn't have to understand Chinese to know we follow the same God."

"I neve r thought that this experience would provoke me to further develop my knowledge of China and its people. How can I go to China just once? I'm focu sing on an Asian Studies major in college and realize gratefully that my career will someday involve either this coun try or one of its neighbors. " On their first date, Huang found himself Where does the SOS experience lead? in a place he'd never been before-the For Elizabeth, it led to living in Taiwan Henan Christian Church where Deng and working with the YWCA; for Ellen, worships and sings in the choir. Huang, Julius, and Kel, to a renewed commit­ a non-Christian, had barely heard of ment to ordained ministry; for Julie, to Christianity before he met Deng. Three Chinese language study. Ceila w ill years later, he attends church regularly, teach the 1996-97 China study at a participates in catechism classes, and is school of Christian Mission, while considering baptism. How wonderful Joanne devises new ways to share that both young love and God's love China with her tenth grade World know no boundaries. 0 Cultures classes. Vernon has returned from teaching English in China, and Diane J. Allen is a World Division mission­ Hmong is even more committed to ary ass igned to Th e United Methodist sharing the traditions of her culture, the China Program. She coordinates Summer of Hmong [from northern Laos]. Sharing on behalf of the NCCC USA China And what abQut Deng and Huang in Program . For fur ther informa tion, con tact China, who met each other as YWCA Diane at 475 Riverside Drive, Room 1533, participants in 1993? They fell in love. New Yo rk, NY 10115.

NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 33 the Que s ti~ (1984), wh1 Ko ng to Ch But Hong K' by the Chine involved in Basic Law oJ Law, a "min put into eff National Pe the PRC. It vi de the fi SAR's gove1 After that, tl fully integra The Basic third of Cou ncil-I making bo The British Crown Colony of Hong Kong, with 6.3 million people, resume sovereignty over the elected. Hm is one of the most densely populated areas of the world. Half a mil­ entire area. Thus, as of July 1, the PRC d lion Christians-Protestants and Catholics-live there, but they 1997, the area will be known as Hong Kon make up only 8 percent of the population. Even so, in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Special China; the Christianity's influence is greater than the small number of Administrative Region (SAR) of last fall wm Christians might suggest. the People's Republic of China. replaced by The United Methodist Church has partnerships with a number of lature" cho: different religious organizations in Hong Kong. Methodism was One Country, Two Systems mechanica first planted there by British missionaries, who were followed by The Chinese leader Deng democra tic the United Brethren in Christ, the Evangelical Church, and US­ Xiaoping [DUNG SHAOW-PING] foreig n mi related Methodists from China. Later church unions formed The developed a principle for Hong [CHEEIN CH Methodist Church, Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Council of the Kong's return to China: "one Church of Christ in China. country, two systems." In accor­ dance with this principle, the Great Britain and Hong Kong SAR was promised a high Hong Kong is a territory of about 240 islands within about 412 degree of autonomy except in square miles. Hong Kong island, the Kowloon peninsula, and the matters of foreign affairs and New Territories and outlying islands were taken by Great Britain defense. between 1842 and 1898 in three separate treaties. The Rev. Kwok Nai-wang, For Britain, Hong Kong turned out to be a very valuable acquisi­ director of the Hong Kong tion. It provided the only deep, sheltered harbor between Shanghai Christian Institute, believes that and Indochina. Located on the main trade route to China, Hong for the majority of Hong Kong Kong became a Pacific trading center with its own banking and Chinese, the "one country" insurance industries. aspect of Deng's formula does In 1898, to strengthen its defenses, Britain forced China to agree to not pose a problem. What they a 99-year lease of the New Territories, including 233 islands. That are insistent about, he says, is lease expires on June 30, 1997. Since Hong Kong island and the the idea of "two systems." Kowloon peninsula are dependent upon the vast New Territories Hong Kong citizens had no for their airport, electricity, water, and manufacturing, Britain and input into the creation of the the People's Republic of China (PRC) negotiated for China to Sino-British Joint Declaration on

34 NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 the Question of Hong Kong accord with Hong Kong's actual conditions or accommodate the (1984), which restored Hong interests of all social strata." Such words and actions have led to Kong to China's sovereignty. increasing distrust and anxiety among many Hong Kong people, But Hong Kong citizens picked who fear that the PRC may breach the Basic Law's protections. by the Chinese government were The Basic Law does guarantee religious freedom in the SAR. It involved in the drafting of the also affirms "nonsubordination, noninterference, and mutual Basic Law of the SAR. The Basic respect" in religious affairs. This is the framework that has allowed Law, a "mini-constitution," was denominations to continue in the SAR while the church in China put into effect in 1990 by the remains postdenomina tional. National People's Congress of the PRC. It is supposed to pro­ Methodist Church, Hong Kong vide the framework for the The Methodist Church, Hong Kong was created in 1975 by the SAR's government for 50 years. union of two Methodist communions-both with roots in China­ After that, the SAR is to become with one (Cantonese-speaking) related to British Methodism and fully integrated with the PRC. the other (Mandarin-speaking), to Methodism in the United States. The Basic Law allows for one­ Methodism was first introduced into Hong Kong in 1843 by lay third of the Legislative Methodists serving in the British army. Soon thereafter, in 1850, a Council-Hong Kong's law­ self-supported British lay pastor, George Piercy, came to Hong making body-to be direct! y Kong with the purpose of preaching the Gospel in China. In 1853, elected. However, in late March, he presided over the first annual conference of the Canton Synod, the PRC decided that, once which later developed into the South China Synod of the Chinese Hong Kong was returned to Methodist Church. This church was called Tsun To Kung Wooi China; the legislature elected (Follow the Way Church). last fall would be abolished and For many years, the Cantonese-speaking Methodist ministry in replaced by a "provisional legis­ Hong Kong was part of the South China Synod, related to British lature" chosen by the PRC. "To Methodism. In 1893, an English-speaking congregation was also mechanically ape the Western established in Hong Kong. democratic model," said PRC In the early 1950s, after the founding of the People's Republic of foreign minister Qian Qichen China, many Chinese fled as refugees to Hong Kong. They brought [ CHEEIN CHEE-CHUN], "does not with them Chinese pastors and missionaries from the China Central Conference of the US-related Methodist Church. They start­ ed Mandarin-speaking ministries in Hong Kong that continued the church name used in China: Wei Li Kung Hui (Defend the Truth Church). The Wei Li Kung Hui was under the direction of the Methodist Board of Missions-later the General Board of Global Ministries-and the region was presided over by US bishops. In the 1960s, the two branches of Methodism in Hong Kong-the Cantonese-speaking Tsun To Kung Wooi and the Mandarin-speak­ ing Wei Li Kung Hui-increased their cooperative efforts. They united in 1975 as the autonomous Methodist Church, Hong Kong (MCHK). In 1988, the English-speaking Methodist Church joined the union. Individual MCHK churches are members of the Hong Kong Chinese Christian Churches Union. Established in 1915, this union now includes 300 of Hong Kong's Protestant churches. Among the largest are the Southern Baptist, Lutheran, Alliance, and Anglican churches and the Church of Christ in China. As a denomination, Hong Kong from afar (opposite) and up The Methodist Church, Hong Kong, is an active member of the close (above). Hong Kong Christian Council.

NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 35

. . ' • • • • ' ' • • • • .. ' '~ • • ._ ' ' ' ' '• - \ •'' r c:: fl ' • ' ,. ' • ' ' • • • • 1.- Hong Kong Council, Church of Christ in China The Evangelical Church and the Church of the United Brethren in Christ began missionary work in China in 1889. Thirty years later, in 1919, there was a strong student movement in China. Young people were speaking out against the many divisions in the churches. Always strongly committed to ecumenism, the Church of the United Brethren joined with 15 other denominations, missions, churches, and women's groups in 1927 to form the Church of Christ in China (CCC). The CCC was organized into 10 synods throughout China, with the Hong Kong Council being part of the sixth synod. After the civil war in China ended in 1949 with a Communist vic­ tory over the Nationalists, missionaries eventually were forced to leave the newly formed People's Republic. Protestant churches in China became postdenominational, guided by a three-self principle (self-administration, self-support, and self-propagation). Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Council of the CCC, in a colony of Great Britain, found itself cut off from the rest of China. Dr. Peter Wong, one of the CCC' s strong leaders in China, came to help lead the church in Hong Kong. In 1954, the Hong Kong Council, Church of Christ in China (HKCCCC) was officially registered with the Hong Kong government. The HKCCCC tried to be faithful to the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement in China. Some congregations were self-sup­ CHURCH LEADERS OF porting and all sought to be self-propagating. Most pastors were HONGKONG Chinese, and missionaries were involved in the churches as assis­ tants, not directors. The Rev. Leung Lam-hoi In the 1960s and 1970s, during the Cultural Revolution, more The Rev. Leung Lam-hoi (Lin­ schools were needed to meet the needs of refugees pouring in from coln Leung) is president of The China. So, 20 years ago, the Hong Kong government gave an 80 Methodist Church, Hong Kong. Anira/ area in percent subsidy to church groups that would build and operate Born in Shanghai, he came to schools. The HKCCCC raised HK $1 million (US $130,000) for this Hong Kong as a young refugee conference purpose. During this period, local churches that were members of and later studied in Singapore of an auto1 the HKCCCC gained autonomy. The structure of the HKCCCC and the United States. Formerly istration, ai was reorganized into special departments, with emphases on work a pastor in the US-related MCHKf for women and youth, social service, and health care. Methodist Church (Wei Li many pro1 Kung Hui), Leung was one of mer Saldi( Hong Kong Christian Council three young ministers ordained Wesley, a ~ The Hong Kong Christian Council (HKCC) was established in 1954 by Methodist Bishop Ralph A. provides n to strengthen the ecumenical spirit of churches in Hong Kong. Both Ward. Ward's parting words to In 1995 the MCHK and the HKCCCC are active members. The Council him were: "Go-go preach." Mission in coordinates joint programming among 19 denominations and orga­ During an interview, Leung the need~ nizations in Hong Kong, representing about one-third of the reflected on the journey the Portugues

Protestant population. In recent years, anticipating the 1997 transi­ Methodist Church had taken so Chinese s1 tion, the HKCC and the China Christian Council have developed a far and on its future prospects launched i better understanding of one another in the spirit of mutual nonin­ in Hong Kong. The US-related through "I terference. Projects involving mutual exchange-such as group and Methodist Church was first a The M< individual visits-and rural development work have been coordi­ mission, then a missionary con­ it elf for nated by the HKCC. ference, a provisional annual Young pai

36 NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996

~ j • • , ~ • , • oi• • ,, • > , ,. ~ • ' 1 • • I church in the future. Church growth has been steady. The church serves more than 16,000 students in its seven primary schools, seven secondary schools, and nine kinder­ gartens. Eight social-service agencies, four nurseries, two dental clinics, four camp sites, and a bookroorn are also min­ istries of the church.

The Rev. Lee Ching-chee Associate general secretary of the Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China (HKCCCC), the Rev. Lee Ching­ chee was born and educated in Hong Kong. In 1977, she was invited to England, where she served as education secretary for the Council for World Mission until her return to Hong Kong in 1981. Lee would like to see an increase in younger ministers and more congregational con­ cern about events taking place in Hong Kong, China, and the A rural area in Hong Kong rest of the world. She envisions that the HKCCCC will encour­ conference, and an annual conference. After union, it became part age local congregations to reach of an autonomous church responsible for its uwn finances, admin­ outward in mission and avoid istration, and evangelism. divisive elements after the 1997 MCHK finances are good. The British Methodists left the church transition. She hopes to see many property assets, which the MCHK has developed. The for­ more youth and congregational mer Soldiers' and Sailors' Horne has been redeveloped into The exchange programs between Wesley, a social-service center and hostel. Income from the hostel Hong Kong and the churches in provides funds for church development and new projects. China. In 1995, the MCHK incorporated the Hong Kong Methodist Although some Hong Kong Mission in Macao. Begun in 1989, this mission aims to minister to families with homes abroad are the needs of immigrants from mainland China. Macao is a leaving, others are moving back Portuguese colony, 50 miles from Hong Kong, that will return to to Hong Kong with new pass­ Chinese sovereignty in 1999. Missionary projects have also been ports or returning because they launched in Hong Kong's industrial areas to reach factory workers were unable to secure residency through "Blue-Collar Evangelism." or citizenship in other coun­ The MCHJ<, with about 12,000 members, has been preparing tries. At the same time, 1997 is itself for Hong Kong's 1997 transition to Chinese sovereignty. expected to see an influx of Young pastors native to Hong Kong have been trained to lead the immigration to Hong Kong

N EW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 37

' ' • ' • > •• • _ ... '~ ·~ .... ' I >•••-)".'I~· fl • -! .. ,., < ,\ • ~ •' \.~ The Rev Tso Man-king Tso sees a real need for ush, con Dr. Tso Man-king is the general strengthening ministerial lead­ secretary of the Hong Kong ership in Hong Kong. Many The las Christian Council (HKCC). He senior pastors in vanous ishop in was born in China, moved with denominations are retiring or as one o his family to Hong Kong before are leaving Hong Kong, while e Prot 1949, and received his theologi­ younger, less experienced pas­ \ lected t1 cal education in Hong Kong tors remain. In 1993, the HKCC I 941, Bish1 and the United States. Tso and the Lutheran Theological rences c believes it is natural for Hong Seminary developed a Doctor of e Japan Kong to rejoin with China. Ministry program to train lead­ our ye Trus ting in the Basic Law's ership for the future. The ommuru guarantee of religious freedom Theology Division of Chung ·es. Then in Hong Kong, he looks on the Chi College, Chinese University urviving transition as an opportunity for of Hong Kong, is developing ight yea Hong Kong's people to help similar programs. 958, givil with China's modernization hip in a efforts. The Rev. Lo Lung-kwong ange. Strengthening the ecumenical As head of the Theology The spirit in Hong Kong will be the Division at Chung Chi College, key role of the Hong Kong Chinese University of Hong Christian Council, Tso says. The Kong, the Rev. Dr. Lo Lung­ HKCC works closely with vari­ kwong is one of the younger as a ur from China. Looking toward ous China-related groups to second-career ministers of The espected 1997 and beyond, Lee says: "The further develop encounters Methodist Church, Hong Kong. ions. Fo Hong Kong Council of the between Hong Kong churches Lo is committed to exchanges ould be Church of Christ in China needs and churches in China. Since between China and Hong Kong erly Me to be in ministry with the new­ the HKCC operates on democ­ m the area of seminaries and of d by in comers from China, especially the ratic principles, all member theological students and facul­ aptist ch children arriving in Hong Kong. churches are consulted on mat­ ties. He believes Hong Kong We will see new people in the ters at issue, votes are taken, can play an important role for eChur schools, and we need to know and the majority decides the students from China who wish how to minister to the needs of policy. To keep its members to study theology in their own their families. We must open the informed, the HKCC publishes language both within and out­ eries of church doors and give practical News and Views in English and side the church in China. 0 e peopl1 help in finding job opportunities The Message in Chinese. the early in Hong Kong for all . In the early 1990s, the HKCC "Thr ee-Ai "There are a great number of began the "Nehemiah Project" corruptioi single, widowed, older adults in to assist the China Christian cracy. n Hong Kong," she continues. Council with repairing and The Rev. Dr. Kenneth B. Mcintosh paign alsc "They need the church to reach building churches in poorer and his wife Iweeta are serving a business, out with ways to help them in rural areas of China. Thus far, spec ial appointment with Th e Many their loneliness and isolation in funds have been raised to build Methodist Chu rch, Ho ng Kong, lowed, i the community. The year 1997 nine churches. The HKCC con­ through the No rth Texas Annual Proletaria can be an opportunity-rather sults with the China Christian Conference. Ken served as a mis­ (GPCR) 0 than an end-and that's where Council to determine where the sionary in Hong Kong for 10 years follow en the church must enter into the need s are and what kinds of and on the staff of the GBGM fo r people w process." programs are necessary. over 20 years until his retirement. rnitrnent ~ this radicc

38 NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996

I ' • ,. • • •• , " • , .. • ~ - ' , , ~ • ~ - • \' , • • ' (Bush, continued from p. 7.) With Deng Xiaoping [ou ince 1979, churche in China SHA W-PI c ] and a cad r of hav been newly opened and Th la t Chin Methodi t reform r h a com a m ore r op ned at a rate of thre very Bi h p in China, Z. T. Kaung, m ark t-oriented econom y, an two days. More than 13 million a on of th major leader in "op ning" to the out ide world, Bible have been print d and the Prote tant mo ment. and much better world commu­ d i tribute d in China b y th e El cted to th epi copacy in nica tion . The ch an ge for the Ch ina Ch ristian Council. It i 1941, Bi hop Kaung led his con­ church has b en astounding. w ith the Ch ristian church in ferenc during four years of Wh n my wife Mary and I fir t Ch in a tha t ou r h op n ow the Japane occupation and vi ited China in August 1979, re t -and grow . 0 four year of renewed we knew of only one Protestant Communist-Nationalist hostili­ church open in China. Today tie . Then he wa a leader in the there a re m ore than 9000 ur iving TSPM tructure for church e with 12 m illion The Rev. Dr. Richard C. Bush and eight years until hi death in Prote tant Chri tians. In addi­ Mary Bu sh worked with the 195 , gi ing thoughtful leader­ tion, there are 13 sem in aries, General Board of Global Ministries hip in a tim of tumultuous The Amity Foundation, Bible for 17 years, with ass ignments in change. and hymnal publication , and a Hong Kon g, Tai wan , and the The TSPM moved the rapidly growin g body of Philippines. Before retirement, Dr. Prote tant church in China in Christian literature. Bush was Dean and Profes sor new directions as it became There are problems the church Emeritus of the Wimberly School of po tdenomina tional. While it in China must face as it witness­ Religion at Oklahoma City wa a uniting movement, it e to the society: the need for University. He and Mary ha ve re pected denominational tradi­ more trained leadership, owing returned to China several times tion . For e ample, bapti m to th suspen ion of education and have taught in Nanjing and would be by prinkling in a for­ during the Cultural Revolution; Lanzhou. merly Methodist congregation the need for unity amid increa - and by immer ion in a former ing diversity; a need for spiritual Bapti t church. m a turity, esp ecially among Chri tians in rural areas; and a The Church in China Today need for a spiritual witness amid Life in China ince the mid­ dizzying economic change. twentieth century has been a M ission as w e knew it up erie of campaigns calling on until World War II is no more, at the people to de elop China. In lea tin China; but the church in the early 1950 , there was the China has tood up. The Amity "Three-Anti" campaign against Foundation brings foreigner to corruption, waste, and bureau­ China, as do educational cracy. The " Fiv e-Anti" cam­ exchanges, businesse , and paign al o struck out at evils in other agencies; but Chinese bu iness and government. make the deci ions. China still Many more campaigns fol­ remembers rebel religious lowed, including the Great group like the Taiping and Proletarian Cultural Revolution want to be sure that religious (GPCR) of 1966-1976. Christians, activity does not threaten follower of other faiths, and national stability. So mis ionar­ people with no religious com­ ies have had to "let go and let mitment in:lply tried to survive God," and a Chinese church The spire of Shamia n Christian Church in Guangzhou, near G11 a11 gdo11g Union this radical period together. ha , in fact, emerged. Theological Sem inary.

EW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 39

• ' •• - r ' • '• •' ( l r • • ~ • - ..._. • I lj; - • " ,. • • • • • • ~- towns, whi n at the re ial stagn unemploy itseli as "tl country," F many prof at or near t Plattsburg! cial and sh minutes' d Though h<

closure of 1 in Plattsb1 an excelle1 tern and k nesses at busy and ~ Around main-stree Parker ha~ se rved . th Church. I 1938 in a and Presb1 With mon the churc cious par co mplex There, m by Robert A. Harsh His skill was honed on tropi­ After consulting with Smith area churc cal fruits at home and is well on the next day's picking a Friday 1 Ashley Smith is more than a respected by younger Jamaican schedule, he joins his wife, to give th; thousand miles and an ocean workers. They honor and Roberta, back at their 1884 vest that away from his family's farm humor Smith as the "Banana Victorian farmhouse. It stands them tog outside Montego Bay in rural Man" and their crew leader. out above the fruited plains sing than Jamaica. Forty-eight years old At the beginning of three fall nestled between the Adiron­ hip, the~ and working his way through a cycles of apple picking-across dack foothills to the west and effort to 1 thirteenth season of migrant 300 acres and hundreds of rows the shore of Lake Champlain amid etlu apple picking in the of semi-dwarf Mcintosh trees­ barely two miles farther east. differencE Adirondacks, he deftly twists a third-generation apple grower leave Bia ripe fruit from the tree, being David Sullivan lifts a fruit from Across Cultural Differences and Whit careful to keep the stem con­ the bin. H e checks its col­ Several orchards like the allel isolai nected to the apple. Then he oration, looking closely for any Sullivans' flow out from Peru, This COJ gently deposits his chest-basket lingering signs of disease, insect New York, giving the town a earned te of fruit in the large wooden bin damage, or weather injury that prosperous, almost suburban depresse that will take it to storage and his scientific crop management feel. This atmosphere i rarely ow, th to market. might have failed to counteract. found in Adirondack mall lamaicar largely to

40 NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JU E 1996

. . . ' • • ' • , •• , # • , < • • • • 1 , 1 ~ • ~ , \ • • I towns, which more often hang laborers, whose apple-picking w ill b e several bicycles and on at the ragged edge of finan­ wages in the past provided other item s p urchased at bar­ cial stagnation and chronic insulation for long winters of gain prices at the church rum­ unemployment. Promoting welfare and unemployment. mage sale. (Workers have in the itself as "the heart of Mcintosh (By contrast, the roughly $1000 past stopped in Florida to pick country," Peru is also home for earned in a harvest season can the sugarcan e crop now har­ many professionals who work provide up to half a year ' s vested by machine.) at or near the state university in income for the Jamaicans.) Plattsburgh, the area's commer­ Moreover-as Ashley Smith Youth Ministry cial and shopping center, a few explains over a traditional While the annual ecumenical minutes' drive up Interstate 87. Jamaican dinner of curried goat worship service attracts mostly Though hard-hit by the recent in the workers' cinder-block adults, the accompanying rum­ closure of a major air force base dormitory-the folkways of mage sale is the work of the in Plattsburgh, Peru supports migrants and residents can vary Peru church's teen youth group: an excellent district school sys­ greatly. For instance, Jamaicans the Peru Church High School tem and keeps the small busi­ are puzzled at the difficulty of Christian League. (The group's nesses at the center of town hitching a ride to town with name reflects the joint heritage busy and well maintained. h esitant local residents. of the Presbyterian Christian Around the comer from these Meanwhile, native Adiron­ Endeavor and the Method ist main-street shops, the Rev. Ken dackers are b emused to see Epworth League.) Frustrated by Parker has for the past 25 years workers sm elling meat pack­ traditional approaches to youth servec;l the Peru Community ages in local supermarkets to ministries centered around Church. It was established in check freshness or routinely recreational alternatives for rest­ 1938 in a union of Methodist including a beer with a working less adolescents, Parker instead and Presbyterian congregations. lunch . And while both the challenged the grou p to find With more than 400 members, Jamaican and local economies their own ways to live out their the church has added a spa­ suffer yawning inequities in the faith. The r u mmage sale cious parish hall and chapel incomes of wealthy and poor emerged from this process, complex across the street. families, Smith note the gener­ along with annual trips to work There, migrant workers and ally more luxurious lifestyles of in a Washington, DC, soup area church members gather on most local residents. Likewise, kitchen and in similar service a Friday evening each October bicycles that serve as increas­ projects in flood- or wind-rav­ to give thanks for the apple har­ ingly high-tech recreation for aged communities farther from vest that has again brought local residents are everyday them together. More a h ymn workhorses in the more temper­ sing than a formal order of wor­ ate, less m otorized Jamaican ship, the service is a community countryside. effort to find common ground As if to dramatize Smith's amid ethnic, class, and cultural observations, in the middle of differences that could as easily our conversation the local Avon leave Black Jamaican workers saleswoman arrives at the dor­ and White parishioners in par­ mitory to distribute gifts that allel isolation. the men have ordered for their This common ground is hard­ wives, sisters, and girlfriends eamed territory in a chronically back in Jamaica. Also, in the depressed regional economy. luggage compartments of the buses tha t will take the Opposite, p. 40: Ashley Smith of jamaicn harvests Now, the more exp erien ced New York apples. Above: A 111 e111 ber of Peru Jamaican workers h ave come migrants back to Miami for Com1111111ity Churc/1 talks with a 111igm11 t worker largely to replace part-time local their return flight to Jamaica from ja111aicn.

EW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JU E 1996 41 home. Bargaining with the common ground within their little disappointed w hen his I migrants over b icycles and differing cultures. favorite brought just $10 from a small appliances, the Peru worker who would take it teenagers learn the delicate art What the Spirit Requires home to a harder working life of multicultural negotiation and In our current cultural fascina­ in the Jamaican countryside. the price in service that their tion with the liberating spirit of A Peru parishioner, afflicted faith demands. multiculturalism, it is often eas­ with a stroke and no longer able ier to talk about moving beyond to play, has donated his banjo to 1 our differences than it is to a migrant worker. Each spring devise concrete strategies to cre­ Roberta and David Sullivan ate a common ground of shared invite their Episcopal priest to experiences. As the nightly reconsecrate their land and the news from Bosnia, the Middle apple harvest it will nurture-a East, and Northern Ireland so persistent reminder of the frequently reminds us, religion "pagan" roots of our common can often be more divisive than faith. And in our walk around orthern unifying and reconciling. the Sullivans' orchard, I w as I sensed this reality several surprised to discover that a few times in m y interviews with trees of a different variety must migrant workers, orchard own­ be planted among the Mcintosh ers, the Rev. Parker, and mem­ to ensure pollination and bers of the Peru Community engender the fall harvest-a les­ Church congregation. In fact, at son in multiculturalism appar­ the joint w orship service, the ently not lost on nature. color line persisted in the ten­ In late October here in the dency for migrant workers and Adirondacks, the roadside mar­ David and Roberta Sullivan. David is a third-generation apple grower. Peru parishioners to sit apart kets ov erflow with apples, and sing in different v oices. cider, pies, and pumpkins. Halfway through the worship Class and cultural differences Commuting to work past the service, bicycles again appear as among local residents and apple orchards, I recollect that the coin of cultural exchange. migrant workers did not always the migrant workers who bring Following several op ening quietly disappear even as they in this amazing harvest are now hymns, Parker JO m s an worked together to bring in the enjoying a warmer day on their impromptu Jamaican choir cur­ crop. Likewise, in my interview farms in Jamaica. I imagine rently sharing the p arish-hall with Ashley Smith, I often Ashley Smith has been w el­ stage with several bikes. After strained to understand through comed back to distribute gifts raffling off the first of the bicy­ a shared language that sounded and share stories. Snow w ill cles to migrant ticket holders, so different in our American soon cover the ground around Parker steps down to rejoin the and Jamaican dialects. the dormant trees in the congregation. Meanwhile, the But in the midst of these dif­ Sullivans' orchard. And in Peru, Jamaican chorus moves off the ferences, Ken Parker and the Ken Parker and his congrega­ stage and down the aisle in step Peru Community Church have tion have buckled down for the with a joyful cross-cultural learned well that the spirit long w inter, a little richer fo r refrain, more Pentecostal than requires a climate of love and what they have given away. 0 mainline Methodist. Following that nothing is learned when lit­ the hymn service, several local tle is sh ared . A sh y teen age Robert A. Harsh is a counselor residents and migrant workers p arishioner apparently sp ent with the Educational Opportunity share refreshments and conver­ hours locating bicycles for the Program of the State University of sation, further cultivating the rummage sale. He was only a New York (S UNY), Plattsburgh.

42 NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JU E 1996

I • ' _. • . , • . , . • ~ - • ~ • ' •· ~ • ' l ' • ' ffiinistering in a llifferent (ultural World

by Donna Lee Martin

The cultural setting from which society. Most people think of accepted my first official invita­ I write is the Blackfeet United "Indian time" as being "late" tion to a community event. The Methodist Parish. It is a three­ by other standards. However, Naming Ceremony for the new poin t, 150-mile circuit on the during my first week in the in-patient treatment center in Blackfeet Indian Reservation in parish, I was reminded of a Browning, Montana, was to northern Montana, bordering sociology professor's explana­ begin at 11:00 A.M. A member of Canada on the north and tion that "Indian time is present the Browning church graciously Glacier National Park on the time. Whatever you are doing offered to take me, show me west. I was appointed pastor of now is what is most important. around, and introduce me to the parish in July 1990. I am Finish that and then go on to people. He suggested we arrive non-Indian. But even if I were a the next thing." Priorities are at about 10:30. It was a good Native American of another based on relationships rather thing we did, because the Nam­ tribe, I would be serving in a than on the clock. So a basic ing Ceremony was over at 10:45! cross-cultural appointment characteristic of "Indian time" Remnants of the traditional since each tribe has its own is that things begin when the Blackfeet culture survive both in unique culture and traditions. time is right and when every­ everyday life and in special cere­ The concept and use of time is one who needs to be there is monies. For example, a family one of the most obvious cultur­ present. that had su ffered a tragedy al distinctions between Indian I saw this "Indian time" phi­ called to ask if I would bless Country and the dominant losophy in practice when I their home. I had not a clue about what they were asking me to do. Fortunately, the Rev. Tweedy Sombrero, a United Methodist pastor and consultant for Native American Ministries, was in the parish at the time. I asked if it would be OK for her to come along. Although not Blackfeet, she knew what was expected. She used corn pollen

from the Navajo tradition but 11 advised me, in future, simply to use water that had been blessed. Another time we were having a special event at the Heart Butte church. Since most of the families don't have adequate transportation, the church van Pastor Donna Lee Martin celebrates Christmas with children of the Blackfeet United picks people up. This time, the Methodist Parish.

NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 43 van was full and one elder still an UMCOR Hunger and needed a ride. I asked her son­ Poverty grant initially. There are in-law, who had a car, if he an increased number of summer would see that she got there. workcamps that emphasize He said, "Sure." But when he building cross-cultural under­ and his children arrived, his standing and relationships. And mother-in-law wasn't with more parish youth and adults them. When I asked why, are participating in the life of another church member The United Methodist Church at explained: "Donna, she's his the conference and general­ mother-in-law!" I had known, church levels. but forgotten, that in families that follow traditional ways, Restoring Wholeness there are some restrictions on But there is so much more the in-law relationships. So I drove church could be doing, espe­ the elder to the church. cially in the areas of h ealing, wholeness (salvation), and rec­ Building Understanding onciliation. There is so much In seminary, I felt a strong call unresolved grief and pain in to cross-cultural ministry. I these communities, w h ere immersed myself in cross-cul­ unemployment can range from Even with Christ­ The Endurh tural experiences, taking every 60 to 95 percent. But there is a Kong (#253 '. possible class with visiting pro­ growing "wellness" communi­ centered eyes, we see Herlinger an fessors from the Third World ty within the larger reservation. Offers glimp and attending a number of M embers of the "wellness" through culturally Chine e Chr international conferences and community often refer to them­ tinted lenses. Kong's reuni seminars. I was the guest of selves as the "seventh genera­ Leader's Gt friends on the Navajo Reser­ tion." It took seven generations Camille S. A vation and took a summer to get them into their present Ministering in a different cul­ A varietyof workshop on the Rosebud situation, and they figure it will tural world while always trying worship resc Reservation. All this eventually take seven generations more to to envision and embody a truly mgre ource led me to a Master of Divinity restore wholeness to Indian inclusive church-one tha t group . degree and a M aster of Arts peoples and cultures. addresses issues of racial and and Religion with a specializa­ Summer workcamps have economic justice-is hard, often tion in Cross-Cultural Ministry. become a major focus of the painful, but always rewarding. Did my experience and train­ parish ministry. This is not just It takes time, energy, money, Balancing A. ing prepare me to live in the because of the energy and love and a deep commitment on the (#2534) by J cultural world of the Blackfeet that the workcampers bring to part of the whole church family. Ay outh ma1 vey family Reservation? When I arrived, I their projects but because of I give God thanks for the priv­ guage, hi to1 still knew precious little. what the people of the parish ilege of serving here. However, I did realize that not have to share with them. everyone looks at the world the Sometimes I envy the groups way I do. Even with Christ-cen­ as they listen to the stories and Donna Lee Martin has pastored tered eyes, we all see through songs of the local people while the Blackfeet United Methodist Faith Amid culturally tinted lenses. I am busy about the business of Parish for six years. She is also on Kong·Vide~ I love this ministry. There is the parish. More than once I've the Iliff School of Theology plan­ ' TheChri tic the food-buying co-op that received an urgent call just as a ning committee for the Rural RedGuard s helps people stretch their limit­ story new to me was beginning Ministries Grant to interconnect inH ong ~o ed budgets. It was funded by to unfold. people in rural areas. tiny colony

44 EW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996

I , • • , , ,. • , ~ • _ - , , , , , . • • , \ • • 1 ESSENTIALS

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NEW WORLD OUTLOOK MAY-JUNE 1996 47

; o ' • " • ' '• • - • <' • ' - < \ • ' >. lo I ' • • t - \ "• t to' ~ ~ • • • ~· • '\ I _. .: .:_ J , ' ri• Aerial view of UMCOR Depot, Baldwin, Louisiana

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