World

WEA leaders meet Chinese church officials

A delegation of 24 leaders from the World Evangelical Alliance met leaders of China’s official church bodies on Monday.

The meetings build upon relationships formed during the first visit by the alliance’s head, Dr Geoff Tunnicliffe, in 2008.

The delegation, which arrived in Shanghai on Sunday, includes Dr Tunnicliffe, European Evangelical Alliance General Secretary Gordon Showell-Rogers, from the UK, National Association of Evangelicals President Leith Anderson of the United States, and members of the WEA’s governing body – the International Council.

On the first official day of their visit, the delegation was welcomed by local Chinese officials and leaders of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, the only state-sanctioned Christian organisation in China, and the China Christian Council, the umbrella organisation for all registered Protestant churches. Among those present were CCC General Secretary Kan Baoping, CCC Associate General Secretary Bao Jiayuan, and CCC President Gao Feng.

In a speech, TSPM chairman Fu Xianwei said he was happy about the WEA’s visit, which he said will enable the development of mutual relations and further promote mutual ties and interaction.

Dr Tunnicliffe, who was has served as WEA international director since 2005, expressed the organisation’s willingness to strengthen its relationship with the Chinese Church, which to date has mostly collaborated with the ecumenical World Council of Churches.

During Dr Tunnicliffe’s first visit to China in April 2008, the WEA head expressed his desire to have a delegation visit CCC/TSPM leaders and churches to develop deeper communications.

As a network of churches in 128 nations and over 100 international organisations, the WEA ties together more than 420 million evangelical Christians through its membership. The alliance’s mission is to foster Christian unity and provide a worldwide identity, voice and platform to Evangelical Christians.

Prior to China, the WEA delegation was in South Korea, where meetings of the alliance’s International Council and International Leadership Team were held last week.

The delegation is expected to conclude its visit to China this coming Sunday

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