The executive committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has concluded a six-day meeting in Hangzhou, marking the second time the governing body has convened in China.
Held from 20 to 25 November 2025, the event combined a formal business agenda with a pilgrimage encounter, exploring the theme "Christ, culture, and context," according to WCC. The meeting was hosted by the China Christian Council (CCC) and the National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM), nine years after the committee's first visit to Shanghai and Nanjing in 2016.
High-level Engagement and Opening Remarks
The proceedings began on November 20 with an opening ceremony attended by senior religious and government figures. Duan Yijun, vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, and director general of the National Religious Affairs Administration, welcomed the delegation, describing the WCC's presence as a sign of strong, healthy, and steadfast relations.
In a separate meeting that same day, WCC leaders, including Moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, Vice Moderator Rev. Merlyn Hyde Riley, and General Secretary Rev Prof Dr Jerry Pillay, accompanied by WCC President from Asia Rev. Dr Henriette Hutabarat-Lebangmet, met with Vice Minister Duan.
Bishop Bedford-Strohm commended the accessibility of scripture in the country. "China is a centre of global Bible printing," he noted. "The contributions Christians in China make in spiritual and social life are to be celebrated."
Women in Ministry
Also on 20 November, during the opening prayer, Rev. Dr Manhong Lin, general secretary of CCC, delivered a keynote address on the theme "Women Bearing Witness to Hope."
Dr Lin, a professor of Christian Ethics at Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, presented statistics regarding gender parity within the church and wider society. "Of all ordained pastors, 42% are women, and numerous women serve as elders, deacons, and volunteers," she said.
She noted that across China, women now account for 43% of the employed population and 45.8% of scientific and technological professionals. Dr Lin added that the average life expectancy for women in China has risen to 80.9 years in 2025, reflecting historic progress in poverty alleviation and healthcare.
A Pilgrimage of "Contextualization"
Throughout the week, the committee's itinerary was designed to offer deep engagement with local believers. To understand the local context, members were hosted by a different parish each morning for prayer. These daily sessions facilitated discussions on specific themes, including interfaith relations, theological education, and the contextualisation of Christianity—integrating the faith with Chinese culture.
Imam Yang Faming, president of the China Islamic Association, also addressed the opening ceremony, underscoring the inter-religious cooperation present in the region.
On Sunday, 23 November, the delegation joined local congregants for worship at the Chongyi Church in Hangzhou. The itinerary also included visits to the Sicheng Church, Gulou Church, Tianshui Church, and Zhejiang Theological Seminary.
Delegates received introductions about these churches and were welcomed by choir performances and bands incorporating Chinese musical characteristics. They had conversations with church leaders and lay representatives and exchanged gifts. In the seminary, they viewed an exhibition of student art which included traditional calligraphy and paper-cutting.
WCC Reflections: Post-Denominational Faith and Green Energy
Following the conclusion of the meetings, the WCC released a "Pilgrimage Encounter Message," a retrospective document detailing their observations. The message praised CCC&TSPM for their "post-denominational history," describing it as an "invigoratingly radical expression of the ecumenical calling."
The committee expressed impressiveness for the contextualisation of the faith, noting how Chinese churches have bridged Christianity with values and concepts such as dao (the Word), ren (compassion and benevolence), yi (righteousness and justice), li (reverence, propriety, and right relationships), zhi (wisdom to protect land, sea and life), and he (harmony and peace among one another) in their architecture, liturgy, music, preaching, and theology.
Notably, the message highlighted China's global leadership in the green transition. "We have been especially impressed during this visit by China's evolving leadership in driving the renewable energy transition," the statement read.
It cited that by the end of 2024, China had installed 887 gigawatts of solar power capacity—nearly double the combined total of Europe and the United States. "The relative quiet of the traffic in Shanghai due to the preponderance of electric vehicles sends a loud message of hope," the WCC leadership observed.
Strengthening Ties
In his report to the committee, General Secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay noted that Chinese official 2018 government figures place the Christian population at 44 million (38 million Protestants and six million Catholics), but as the message read, the reality is likely "wider and more diverse."
The WCC concluded that the visit allowed a new generation of leadership to build upon longstanding relationships with the church in China, acknowledging the government's stated commitment to religious freedom and looking forward to further engagement on its implementation.
The business agenda also includes approval of 2026 plans and budgets, follow-up on central committee outcomes from June 2025, and monitoring implementation of WCC strategies.
