Members of official Chinese church join persecution of Shouwang Church, following a three-month standoff with authorities over their decision to worship outdoors.
New tactics against Shouwang Church
The Chinese authorities are using new tactics in an effort to convince an independent Beijing church to make a U-turn on its decision to worship outdoors. Church leaders from the state-approved Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) came to police stations to persuade members of Shouwang Church to back down on their decision. Reports also said that leaders were pressured to abandon Shouwang Church and join the official churches and that they were questioned about the theological basis for their decision. CSW's sources suggest this represents a subtler form of persecution – turning one part of the church against another.
Shouwang's tenancy termination
CSW previously reported that the 1,000-strong independent church had been refused entry to their meeting place (a restaurant) because of pressure on their landlord to discontinue the tenancy. They have previously been forced to leave venues in similar circumstances. The church was forced to consider alternative arrangements and has consistently believed that the difficulties are a clear sign that the authorities are set against allowing them to worship together. They chose to worship outdoors – an unpopular move with the Chinese authorities who interpret public gatherings suspiciously.
Relations between official and underground churches
TSPM churches have come under criticism in the past for allowing official intervention in doctrine, financial affairs and the distribution of Bibles However, they are allowed to worship in relative freedom inside church buildings, albeit under the regulation of the state's Religious Affairs Bureau, unlike some house churches. CSW has seen relations between underground and official churches showing signs of improvement in recent years.
Shouwang continue to deny anti-government motive
Shouwang Church's leadership maintain that their ongoing decision to meet outside is not a political act. In a statement made earlier in the year via Facebook they said, "Meeting outdoors is not an attempt to quarrel with the government". For several years the church has conducted its activities openly, including posting details of services on its website. An application they made in 2006 to become government-registered was rejected, and they do not want to join the officially-recognised TSPM church. Like many other house churches in China, Shouwang Church operates in a legal grey area. The law only protects 'normal' religious activities, and those who choose to practise their religion outside the officially-sanctioned state bodies are vulnerable to accusations of illegal activity.
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In recent years the situation for Christians in China has improved, but problems still remain. For example, government officials sometimes see church groups as a threat because of the large groups of people gathered without authorisation. In addition, house church leaders have been arrested for their Christian work, and bogus charges brought against them. Most of them can't afford a lawyer, so once they get to court their chance of a fair trial is very small. This gift funds their legal aid, helping to ensure that justice is done!
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