A Chinese Christian reflects on clergy forced to choose between faith and state policy. Some betray the Scripture, others try to create a narrow space for survival.
by Vivian Ren
In the Christian tradition, pastors are regarded as shepherds whose responsibilities include managing church affairs, presiding over religious rites, preaching the Bible, and guiding the spiritual lives of believers. Under China’s current regulatory framework for religious affairs, pastors in the government-controlled Three‑Self Patriotic Church must carry out these duties while complying with a detailed set of administrative rules. These rules govern qualification procedures, sermon content, evangelistic activity, personnel decisions, and foreign‑related exchanges, all designed to ensure that religious life unfolds in an orderly manner within the boundaries of state law.
Clergy are required to meet legal standards and obtain their credentials through state‑approved training and certification. Anyone who is not certified or registered is barred from conducting religious activities as a clergy member. This system provides institutional oversight of religious practice while setting clear entry requirements for those seeking to enter pastoral ministry.
Regulations on preaching and religious education encourage pastors to incorporate core socialist values and elements of traditional Chinese culture into their sermons. In some regions, sermon themes are guided by official recommendations, sensitive topics may be restricted, and collective religious activities are generally required to take place in legally registered venues. These expectations aim to support “social harmony” and call pastors to navigate the relationship between their faith tradition and contemporary administrative demands.
Evangelistic work is also regulated. A pastor’s ministry is usually limited to the congregation or administrative district to which they belong. Conducting religious education across regions or online requires approval and registration. Activities involving minors are subject to particularly strict limitations. These measures are intended to maintain order in religious life.
Personnel decisions in religious venues must follow democratic procedures and be filed with local religious affairs authorities, a system meant to support standardized church governance. In matters involving foreign contacts, religious groups and clergy are required to uphold the principle of independence and self‑management, and may not engage in related activities without authorization. This reflects the state’s emphasis on autonomous administration of religious affairs.
The practical effects of these rules can be seen in specific cases. On November 19, 2023, the Three‑Self Patriotic Movement Committee and the Christian Council of Liaozhong District in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, held an event at a local church titled “Practicing the Sinicization of Religion and Bringing Excellent Traditional Culture into the Church.” The gathering replaced part of the traditional religious service with a cultural performance program. The program included “Ode to the Motherland,” written by the church’s pastor, and a dance titled “Children of the Liao River Follow the Party.” A calligraphy and painting exhibition was held inside the church, along with a presentation on the Red Army’s Long March. The event aimed to strengthen patriotic education and introduce elements of traditional culture into the religious setting.
From a Christian theological perspective, the Bible teaches that Christ is the sole head of the Church and that the Church is his body. The pastor’s central mission is to shepherd believers in accordance with biblical truth, helping them grow in faith and receive spiritual nourishment.
Under the many layers of control imposed by the Measures for Administration, pastors have become like dancers bound in ropes, forced to choose between their faith and state policy. We believe that most pastors truly love the Lord. Some, for the sake of a pure and unadulterated faith, choose to relinquish their positions within the Three‑Self Church. Others, pressed by the need for a stable income and the pressures of personal safety, struggle to survive in the narrow space left to them. Still others—those who benefit from the system—move with practiced ease, invoking the name of Christ while betraying Scripture, misleading believers, aligning themselves with the so‑called “mainstream” policies, and even singing their praises. Such realities are heartbreaking.
Religious freedom is a fundamental right that allows individuals and communities to worship, teach, and practice according to their own beliefs. One can easily imagine that a shepherd so tightly bound cannot possibly carry out spiritual duties with peace of mind, nor faithfully tend to the flock entrusted to him. We sincerely call upon all people of goodwill in the international community to continue paying close attention to the state of religious freedom in China, to speak for the devout believers, and to speak for the shepherds who hold fast to a pure faith, so that the Cross of Christ may shine with the light of truth and freedom.
Uses a pseudonym for security reasons.
