Ministries in the Midst of Hate and Violence

Lois Dauway, assistant general secretary, Christian Social Relations, Women's Division, and manager of the Team on Ministries in the Midst of Hate and Violence (MMHV), recalled the creation of the team in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing. She said the 474 active hate groups in the U.S. provide great justification for the team's work.

MMHV focused first on church burnings. Some 520 churches have been burned because of hate activities. Besides African-American churches, burnings include Native American, Hispanic, and white churches and churches pastored by women.

The team is one of the supporters of the National Church Burning Status Conference to be held in Atlanta December 2-5. (For information see www.ncfbc.org). MMHV works with the Center for Democratic Renewal and the National Coalition of Burned Churches, the latter created by the pastors of burned churches.

Through the Advance, GBGM has provided resources to 25 churches, mostly rural, some non-United Methodist, in the amount of $600,000. The team has informed UM bishops about churches in their area that were burned, since many were not UM churches.

The team is expanding its focus to include bias crimes against the gay and lesbian community. In answer to a question, Ms. Dauway indicated the team might consider also crimes against doctors who perform abortions.

The team has supported a conference for the children of burned churches. One of the team goals is to work on the healing process.

The team is seeking ways to support local churches which are already involved in these ministries and encouraging others to become involved.

MMHV has material on two web sites:

• http://gbgm-umc.org/advance/church-burnings/
• http://gbgm-umc.org/programs/antihate/

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Eighth Assembly of the World Council of Churches

The Rev. Dr. Bruce Robbins, general secretary of the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, reviewed the background and agenda of the approaching assembly to be held in Harare, Zimbabwe, December 3-14.

The meeting is called "A Jubilee Assembly" because it marks 50 years since the first assembly, held in Amsterdam in 1948. This one is also notable because it culminates the "Ecumenical Decade--Churches in Solidarity with Women," a ten-year program.

A study during the last eight years will also be brought to a close at the assembly-"Common Understanding and Vision: a commitment of the churches together facing a new millennium."

Dr. Robbins said the African context is important. There will be a major plenary on Africa. The issue of the debt crisis and its impact on African countries will be considered.

Recently there has been a shift away from conciliar ecumenism. Dr. Robbins said that the assembly should provide a glimpse of how the worldwide body of Christ will work in the twenty-first century. The council now has more than 330 member churches from more than 100 countries.

Two large challenges face the council: (1) Orthodoxy--the Orthodox churches represent a large part of the Christian community, having joined the council in 1961. The council is made up of member churches, in many cases splinter groups from the same traditions as other older members. The Orthodox are asking how it serves Christian unity to include ever more members from these small churches.

(2) Homosexuality--The Orthodox have difficulty with this issue, as do the host Zimbabwe national leaders. Some members don't want to discuss this issue. Others say it is dividing their churches and is essential to discuss. Adding to the pressure are the gays and lesbians of Zimbabwe. Although participants at the assembly will have the opportunity to set up their own presentations in a "Padare" (a Shona word for marketplace), the gays and lesbians may not be permitted to participate and will object.

More information about the Assembly is available on the WCC web site at http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/assembly/index-e.html

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NCCC Visit to the People's Republic of China

Sharon Maeda, deputy general secretary of Mission Contexts and Relations, was one of the members of a National Council of Churches of Christ (NCCC) delegation that visited mainland China October 8-15. Included in the delegation were Ambassador Andrew Young, the president-elect of the NCCC for 2000-01, and the Rev. Dr. Joan B. Campbell, general secretary of the council.

Ms. Maeda said the small delegation was treated like a full diplomatic mission because of Young's presence. One of the questions they sought to answer was whether there is religious persecution in China. The Religious Freedom Bill passed in the recent U.S. Congress focused on China.

Christianity is alive and growing rapidly in China. There are 10 million Christians, 12,000 registered churches, and 25,000 sites of religious activity. The Chinese government is very receptive to religious expression and has a Bureau of Religious Affairs. The current director, who was partially educated in the U.S., is at a subcabinet level.

The famous Three-Self program was borne of an indigenous Chinese church no longer under the control of outside missionaries. Churches in China do not accept funds from outside the country. The Three-Self program consists of:

• self-governance
• self-propagation
• self-support.

The delegation did not see any evidence of religious persecution in China. Government officials acknowledge that there was not always proper implementation of their new policies, and some hard-line Communist party officials in the countryside deliberately maintain the old policies.

Last week the New York Times reported that 40 worshipers in Wugang and 100 in Nanyang were arrested and detained. Some were allegedly beaten and tortured. All were "Protestants" from house churches, although the Chinese church does not use the term "Protestant."

In answer to a question, Ms. Maeda said the purpose of the church as the Chinese conceive it is spiritual and that of guiding personal behavior. The purpose does not have a social dimension.

Responding to another question, she said the age of most Chinese Christians is very old. The seminaries have young people in them, however, including women. Their training emphasizes their role as pastors to neighborhoods.