NationStates

Founded: 1947

Leader: Head of the Church of China, Archbishop Chang Te-shun (elected by the College of Bishops, ceremonially appointed by the Ministry of the Interior)

Structure: Split into 25 archdioceses, each governed by an archbishop, and then 484 dioceses, each governed by a bishop; 1 archdiocese represents all overseas communities, which is divided into 21 dioceses.

Governance: Matters of doctrine and significant issues are dealt with by the College of Bishops, which is the assembly of all archbishops and bishops in China; this body meets every six years, and extraordinary sessions are convened at the behest of the Head of the Church or the petition of over 10% of all bishops.

Members: 172 million (2016)

Doctrine:

• Trinitarian
• Chalcadonian
• Protestant
• Apostolic succession

Social issues:

• Church affirms legitimacy of the government and its decisions
• Peace and disarmament
• Abolition of capital punishment and slavery
• Social legislation
• Members encouraged to donate to the Church but not required to do so
• Corporate social responsibility
• Dialogue with other faiths and denominations within Christianity to consolidate all efforts to promote peace and human rights
• No-strings-attached social programmes in less developed nations

History: the Church of China was established in 1947 after the merger of the United Church of China and the Anglican Church of China. This reformation was encouraged by the government, since the Anglican Church was regarded with some suspicion due to its affiliation with Britain. The United Church was the junior partner in the merger, since its following was less than 1/10 of that of the Anglican Church, but similarity in doctrinal issues made it the ideal partner in this marriage. Even though the Church of China no longer recognizes the British monarch as the Head of the Church, a "special relationship" with the Anglican Church is still recognized, even though it is not defined precisely.

Status: currently the largest organized religious group in China. Due to informal government favours, can be considered the "official" denomination of Christianity in China, though it is not an established church. Currently also one of the largest land-holding public groups in China.

Nice!

Chu Lin-guo, the Director of External Affairs and Protocol, will be happy to entertain questions about all matters relating to the Church of China.

Looks like Asians are taking over Christianity on NS. First was Kogyokist Christianity, now we are looking at the Church in China...

Perhaps we should create a new label, "Oriental Christianity" or "Oriental Protestantism"?

New Aeyariss wrote:Looks like Asians are taking over Christianity on NS. First was Kogyokist Christianity, now we are looking at the Church in China...

Perhaps we should create a new label, "Oriental Christianity" or "Oriental Protestantism"?

Meh, the Church of China largely follows the western rite.

Meh, the Church of China largely follows the western rite.

Technically there were some bold claims to adopt Christianity to the Chinese culture. I do not think it is good for legacy of Matheo Ricci, Xu Guantqi, Yang Tingyun or Li Zhizhao to be lost, especially since most Anglican missionaries I know used Ricci's strategy of accommodation.

Their work also inspired Kogyokism, and what follows, Nemawashist movement, which introduced Tanzist ( Confucian ) philosophy into Christianity, and created "Confucian Scholasticism" - Tenrigaku.

New Aeyariss wrote:

Meh, the Church of China largely follows the western rite.

Technically there were some bold claims to adopt Christianity to the Chinese culture. I do not think it is good for legacy of Matheo Ricci, Xu Guantqi, Yang Tingyun or Li Zhizhao to be lost, especially since most Anglican missionaries I know used Ricci's strategy of accommodation.

Their work also inspired Kogyokism, and what follows, Nemawashist movement, which introduced Tanzist ( Confucian ) philosophy into Christianity, and created "Confucian Scholasticism" - Tenrigaku.

/
Japanese Confucianism is rather different from the Chinese original, which is different from how it was interpreted from the Song dynasty and later (neo-Confucianism).

為人臣之禮：不顯諫。三諫而不聽，則逃之。It is not proper for a subject to admonish his superior publicly. If after three admonitions your superior does not accept your advice, leave him.

大夫見於國君，國君拜其辱。士見於大夫，大夫拜其辱。同國始相見，主人拜其辱。君於士，不答拜也；非其臣，則答拜之。大夫於其臣，雖賤，必答拜之。男女相答拜也。 When a nobleman visits his ruler, the ruler bows for his visit; when a gentleman visits a nobleman, the nobleman bows for his visit. When two people of the same state are introduced to each other, the host bows to his guest. A ruler of a state does not bow to a gentleman; yet if the gentleman is not his subject, he bows to the gentleman. A nobleman always bows to his subject, even if he is mean (low in status). Men and women bow to each other.

The Most Reverend Archbishop of Wessex sends pastoral and ecumenical greetings to The Most Reverend Archbishop Chang Te-shun. He extends a cordial hand to all in the Church of China and we pray that the light of Christ continues to guide The Most Reverend Archbishop and all peoples of good will, towards a better future for all of God's children.

The Church of Wessex wrote:The Most Reverend Archbishop of Wessex sends pastoral and ecumenical greetings to The Most Reverend Archbishop Chang Te-shun. He extends a cordial hand to all in the Church of China and we pray that the light of Christ continues to guide The Most Reverend Archbishop and all peoples of good will, towards a better future for all of God's children.

Chang Te-shun, Archbishop of Peking and Head of the Church of China to the Most Reverend Archbishop of Wessex, sendeth greeting!

Having received your message on Saturday, the 20th day of May, of 2017 anno domini and the 106th year of the republic, the Archbishop of Peking respectfully and on behalf of the College of Bishops, priests, and members of the Church of China, accepts your Excellency's salutation and well wishes, and furthermore hope and pray the same for your Excellency's see.

Deign, your Excellency, to accept the expression of my most sincere consideration.

Chang Te-shun, Archbishop of Peking and Head of the Church of China.

To His Excellency the Most Reverend Archbishop of Wessex.