The Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM; ) is the official government supervisory organ for Protestantism in the People's Republic of China. It is colloquially known as the Three-Self Church ().

The National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China () and the China Christian Council (CCC) are known in China as the lianghui (two organizations). Together, they form the state-sanctioned Protestant church in mainland China. They are overseen by the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) following the State Administration for Religious Affairs' absorption into the UFWD in 2018.

History

At the time of the founding of the PRC, Chinese Protestants were a diverse group, including indigenous Protestant groups and liberal Protestants who were critical of the work of foreign missionaries. Substantial portions of China's Protestant communities favored cooperation with the PRC.

The purpose of publishing this document was: The declaration had the unexpected effect of swelling the membership of congregations that identified themselves as “self-run.”

Most Protestant groups in China joined the movement. Other Protestant leaders included Jia Yuming, Marcus Cheng, and Yang Shaotang.

When "The Christian Manifesto" was published in the People's Daily in 1954, it pledged the support of Christians for anti-imperialism, anti-feudalism, and anti-bureaucratic capitalism efforts. The movement, in the eyes of critics, allowed the government to infiltrate, subvert, and control much of organized Christianity.

The work towards establishing the Protestant TSPM was seen to have potential also for Chinese Catholics to create a "three-self" (or, in English sources, often translated "three-autonomies") patriotic organization, even though this language was never used in earlier Catholic missiological discourse like it was by Protestant missionaries. Those who resisted were arrested or killed.<!--Those who who resisted what? Arrested or killed by whom?--> But by 1957, some Chinese Catholics eventually established the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.

After the Cultural Revolution

From 1966 to 1976 during the Cultural Revolution, the expression of religious life in China was effectively banned, including the TSPM. The growth of the Chinese house church movement during this period was a result of all Chinese Christian worship being driven underground for fear of persecution. In 1979 the government officially restored the TSPM after thirteen years of non-existence,

In 1980, the CCP Central Committee approved a request by the United Front Work Department to create a national conference for religious groups. The TSPM was one of five such religious groups, which also included the Islamic Association of China, the Chinese Taoist Association, the Catholic Patriotic Association, and the Buddhist Association of China. The primary role of the TSPM was then delegated to liaison with the Government whereas the CCC serves as an ecclesial organization focusing on the internal management and affairs of the Church.

Oversight of religion flows from recognition by the Chinese Communist Party of five religions: Buddhism, Catholicism, Taoism, Islam, and Protestantism, although the CCP's nearly 100 million members are required to be atheist. Authorities tightly monitor registered and unregistered religious groups, and the TSPM is often charged with being an instrument for the secular Chinese government, which persecutes Christians outside of it. Independent congregations are known as house churches. The attempt to bring house church Christians into the fold of "registered" meeting places has met with mixed results.

In 2018, the TSPM's parent organization, the State Administration for Religious Affairs, was absorbed into the CCP's United Front Work Department. He also called for continued state action against independent Christians stating "For individual black sheep who, under the banner of Christianity, participate in subverting national security, we firmly support the country to bring them to justice".

The Canaan Hymns hymnal associated with the house churches is also used in TSPM churches. Through its official channels, TSPM has criticized the hymn for supposedly questioning the Movement's view of Christianity in service of Chinese socialism. TSPM church services also feature non-Christian Communist Party songs.

Statement of faith

The following confession of faith was adopted by the TSPM on 8 January 2008:

See also

  • List of the largest Protestant denominations
  • Christianity in China
  • Protestantism in China
  • Catholic Patriotic Association
  • Henry Venn
  • Chinese Independent Churches
  • Positive Christianity
  • Christian communism

References

Further reading

  • Daniel H. Bays. A New History of Christianity in China. (Chichester, West Sussex; Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, Blackwell Guides to Global Christianity, 2012). ), esp. Ch. 7, "Christianity and the New China, 1950–1966.
  • Philip L. Wickeri. Seeking the Common Ground : Protestant Christianity, the Three-Self Movement, and China's United Front. (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1988). .
  • Wallace C. Merwin and Francis P. Jones, ed., Documents of the Three-Self Movement: Source Materials for the Study of the Protestant Church in Communist China. (New York, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Division of Foreign Missions. Far Eastern Office, 1963). .