China reaches out to churches as raids continue

BEIJING — In recent months Chinese officials have attempted to build bridges with the Protestant house church movement even as police raided more unregistered congregations, arrested Christian leaders and forced at least 400 college students to swear they would stop attending such worship services.

Two research institutes — one from the government — organized an unprecedented symposium Nov. 21–22 that concluded with an agreement for house church leaders to begin a dialogue with government officials. A month earlier, the chairman of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement told a gathering of 200 Hong Kong church leaders of his desire to assist Chinese house churches and provide them with Bibles, according to Ecumenical News International.

Rights groups pointed to recent raids and arrests, however, as confirmation that Chinese authorities still restrict freedom of worship for local house church Christians. Police raided a house church gathering in Tai Kang county, Henan province, Dec. 3 and arrested all 50 Christians, the China Aid Association reported Dec. 4. Public Security Bureau officers also raided another gathering of 50 house church believers in Xiji town, Zaozhuang city, Shandong province, Dec. 2, arresting 20 Christian leaders.