Government Run Chinese Church Removes Pastor for Opposing Cross Removals
January 25, 2016
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Asia
January 25, 2016
ICC NOTE: Zhejiang province has been the epicenter of China’s new crackdown on the rise of Christianity. Known to many as the Jerusalem of the east for the thousands of churches and crosses which riddle the landscape, the communist government has taken it upon themselves to suppress its growth. Thousands of crosses and hundreds of churches have been demolished in the province in the attempt to bring Christianity under government control but to also slow its conversion numbers. Recent numbers from other Christian NGOs place the reported Christian population to be over 100 million whereas listed members of the Communist Party of China are around 80 million. Recently two government controlled Christian organizations the local Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) and the China Christian Council (CCC) have forcefully removed a pastor from his position at China’s largest government-approved church. Both organizations stated it was to bring the government controlled churches closer toward proper management. Gu Yuese was likely forced to step down for his public displeasure towards the demolition of crosses and church buildings.
1/25/2016 Zhejiang, China
(China Aid) – The local Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) and the China Christian Council (CCC) in China’s coastal Zhejiang province released an official notice detailing the forced removal of a pastor from his position at China’s largest government-approved church.
The TSPM and CCC stated in the notice that their reasons for dismissing Gu Yuese, the senior pastor of Chongyi Church in Hangzhou and chairman of the Hangzhou Municipal CCC, were: “So as to move one step closer towards the proper self-construction and management of church locations by the two Christian organizations in Hangzhou [Editor’s Note: “two Christian organizations” refers to the TSPM and CCC], promote the normal circulation of the principal Christians in charge of churches and sort out the interpersonal relationship between the province and [the local TSPM and CCC]….”
However, Gu’s public opposal of the forced demolition of church crosses raised suspicion among many concerning a correlation between his advocacy and dismissal.
The notice also stated the authorities’ intent to instate Zhang Zhongcheng, the vice-president and temporary secretary-general of the TSPM, as Chongyi Church’s new senior pastor.
The notice can be read in full below, along with a personal statement from Gu and his wife, Zhou Lianmei, who teaches Bible-based classes at Chongyi Church.
China Aid exposes religious freedom abuses, such as those experienced by Gu Yuese, in order to promote religious freedom and rule of law in China.
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