Chinese Christian leaders to visit UBS

READING, England — The leaders of the China Christian Council (CCC) and the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China (TSPM) are to make their first visit to the United Bible Societies (UBS) in the UK in early May. The invitation was issued in December by UBS General Secretary Neil Crosbie during an official visit to China.

The CCC/TSPM, which publishes and distributes the Scriptures produced at the Amity Printing Company (APC), is a key partner of UBS in China. New leaders were elected last May.

“One of the main reasons for our visit to China was to meet the new leaders of the CCC and TSPM,” Mr Crosbie said. “It is very important for UBS to establish a good relationship with the new leadership. The Church, like everything else in China, is changing and these new leaders are part of that process.

“In order to move forward together and continue to meet the Scripture needs of the Chinese Church, UBS and CCC/TSPM need to continue to understand and respect each other. The CCC/TSPM’s reciprocal visit to us in May will further strengthen the bonds between our organisations.”

The CCC and TSPM, now headed by Rev Cao Shengjie and Elder Ji Jianhong respectively, see the strengthening of international relationships as key to the future of the Church in China; in fact, this was one of the resolutions taken by the conference last year at which the new leaders were elected.

Their visit to UBS in the week of May 5 will form part of a wider visit to the UK to meet with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland – a body set up to co-ordinate the work of churches of different denominations in those countries. (WR 375/4 - 3.03)