Recently, members of CCC&TSPM conducted visits to various churches and Christian groups in Hong Kong and Macau.
The delegation, consisting of 24 members, including five scholars from Mainland China, was invited by the Hong Kong Christian Council, the Hong Kong Chinese Christian Churches Union (HKCCCU), and the Macau Sheun Tao Church, where they carried out their visits from May 17th to 24th.
During their visit, CCC&TSPM and the Hong Kong Christian Council jointly organized the first seminar on the sinicization of Christianity on May 18th and 19th. Apart from the seminar, the delegation also visited 14 church groups and seminaries in Hong Kong, including the HKCCCU and the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, as well as Christian Shuen Tao Church Hong Kong & Macau District Union Association, Sheng Kung Hui Choi Kou School, and St. Paul's Church. In addition, they conducted several discussions and exchanged ideas with pastors in different parts of Macau, according to CCC&TSPM.
Rev. Xu Xiaohong, chairman of TSPM, stated that for a considerable period, CCC&TSPM has shown great concern towards churches and other Christian organizations located in the two SARs of Hong Kong and Macau. After every election, they make these two destinations their priority visits. However, due to various factors, such as COVID-19, they could not visit the areas after the recent re-election. This is the first official group visit since the epidemic outbreak.
During their meeting together, Rev. Xu and Rev. Wu Wei, president of CCC, had various discussions regarding the localization of Christianity, societal and church development in China Mainland, religious freedom policies, and the unjustifiable persecution and defamation of our religious issues by the United States. The participants were able to gain clear insights, from a constructive perspective, into the genuine essence of developing Christianity in the Chinese context.
As they combined their experiences of working with CCC&TSPM and the Amity Foundation on poverty alleviation activities in the Yimeng mountainous region since the 1980s, leaders of several organizations in Hong Kong hoped to further enhance their cooperation in the future and carry out their responsibilities as Chinese Christians.
Some staff workers responsible for groups in Macau highlighted that since their return, the church underwent numerous alterations, and the most crucial factor was their identity after emerging back into their country's embrace.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
