(Beijing – January 26, 2024) Under the on-site supervision of officials from the United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party, the “Two organizations (Lianghui)” (The National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China and The China Christian Council) once again officially included the topic of “Sinicization of Christianity” in their agenda during a meeting in December last year. The official Christian organizations approved a new version of the “Outline of a Five-Year Work Plan To Further Advance the Sinicization of Christianity (2023-2027).”
On December 19, 2023, the Tenth session of the Standing Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China was held in Beijing. The members attending introduced the “Outline” for the Sinicization of Christianity project, with an implementation period of four years. This document is a continuation of the version released in 2018. During this session, initiatives were also announced concerning the “Implementation of the Outline of the Work Plan” and a proposal outlining the initiative for “Comprehensive and Strict Governance of Religious Affairs.”
The session approved a new “Outline (2023-2027)” consisting of five sections. It puts forward the overall requirements, target principles, main tasks, annual themes, and focal point of work, as well as organizational implementation for the further advancement of the Sinicization of Christianity over the next five years.
The implementation of this “Outline” aims to further promote awareness and understanding of the Sinicization of Christianity in churches across China. The goal is to further develop the Sinicization of Christianity so that Christianity can be used as a tool to serve the socialist society. The objective is to find common ground between Christianity, Chinese traditional culture, and the socialist society, transforming Christianity into a force for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Since 2018, the implementation of the Sinicization of Christianity has progressed gradually. According to the report from the official “Two Organizations” website, there has been “progress from the surface level to the core, achieving progressive results in both theory and practice.” The report assessed that over the past five years, there have been new developments in the construction of theological thought in Christianity, advancements in classical interpretations, and new dynamics in the life of the church. The report did not provide specific explanations.
The session took place under a highly politicized atmosphere, and the remarks of the newly elected president of the China Christian Council, Pastor Wu Wei, were filled with overwhelming political tones and language. “To continue pushing forward the Sinicization of Christianity, and to run Chinese churches in ways so that they are compatible with socialist society, it is necessary to further elevate political positions and strengthen ideological awareness,” he stated.
Wu Wei mentioned that it is necessary to “unify ideology and thought with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and to maintain a high degree of conformity with the Party and the country in terms of ideology, politics, and actions.”
Wu Wei’s speech places Christianity and its development under the power of the regime; he openly praised the party’s leadership over Christianity. “We firmly believe that with the great socialist motherland as our backing, and the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core steering the course, the future of Christianity in China is bright,” the “red” pastor stated.
The entire discourse of the session and the newly introduced “Outline” is based on the premise that Christianity must conform itself with the Communist Party, serving the regime and the socialist society it controls. The fundamental direction is to thoroughly transform Christianity, causing it to lose its uniqueness as the body of Christ.
