(Liaoning) The Civil Affairs Bureau of Lishan District in Anshan City, Liaoning Province, closed Great Grace Church under the pretext of being an “illegal social organization.” Any unregistered house church not included in the “legally registered social organization information inquiry system,” is susceptible to being listed as an illegal social organization by the Chinese government.
So-called Illegal social organization
On August 9, 2023, the Civil Affairs Bureau of Lishan District in Anshan City, Liaoning Province, announced the crackdown on illegal social organizations. The statement states that Great Grace Church operated “without proper registration”. According to the authorities, the house church engaged in activities “under the guise of a social group, thereby violating the provisions of the Regulations on the Registration and Management of Social Organizations.”
“Protecting” national security
The decision to shut down the church aimed to “effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the people, ensuring national security and social stability.” Finally, the announcement reminded the public to verify the legal identity of social organizations when participating in relevant activities to avoid being “deceived”.
Confirming “legal” organizations
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) established a nationwide “legally” registered social organization information inquiry system. Within the system is a section called Social Organization Updates in China. Any church not included in this inquiry system could be reported and categorized as an illegal social organization.
Reporting churches
Relevant organizations and individuals should actively provide evidence of illegal social organization activities, like house churches. Those reporting should request information such as the name of the social organization, organizer, participants, time of the activities, location of the activities, website, and telephone number. All of this information should then be provided to the Government Service Center.
~Gao Zhensai, Special Correspondent of ChinaAid
