Dokument #1191459
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
A representative of the Amity Foundation in
Hong Kong, a Chinese non-governmental organization that sponsors
western teachers in China as well as a number of development
projects, and that supports religious work within the parameters of
the Chinese system, sent to the IRB the following short list of
main churches in Fujian Province:
In Fuzhou City: Flower Lane Church and
Heavenly Peace Church; also in Fuzhou there is the Fujian
Theological Seminary and the Fujian Christian Council. In other
parts of the province: Nanping Gospel Church, Putian Christian
Church, South Church (Quanzhou), Trinity Church (Xiamen), Bamboo
Tree Church (Xiamen), and Dongfanhou Church (Zhangzhou) (Amity 2
Apr. 1996).
The Amity representative estimated that
there were "several thousand" churches in total in Fujian,
"including what they call 'meeting points'—these are not
'house churches,' but small, purpose-built halls for worship in a
village" (ibid.). The representative also estimated that "there are
between 400,000 and 900,000 Christians in Fujian Province," and
explained that more accurate figures are not available because the
churches are not well-organized (ibid.). The churches and
organizations named above are all connected with the Fujian
Christian Council (ibid. 1 Apr. 1996). According to the Amity
representative, many other churches in Fujian are not connected
with the Fujian Christian Council, including many belonging to a
network called "the True Jesus Church" (ibid.).
The Director of the United Methodist Church
China Program in New York visited several churches in Fuzhou and
surrounding areas in November 1995 and confirms that the main
church in downtown Fuzhou is called the Flower Lane Church (27 Mar.
1996). The Director attended several services at this church and
found there was often standing room only with several hundred
people attending (ibid.). The Flower Lane Church also operates a
private kindergarten during the week and has its own printing press
(ibid.). The Director estimated that the Fujian Theological
Seminary in Fuzhou had 50-60 students, and stated that the seminary
provides training for lay members from surrounding areas (ibid.).
He indicated that clergy are in short supply in Fujian, with only
one pastor for every 6,000 members or so (ibid.). The Director also
visited a new church in Nanping, three hours north of Fuzhou on the
Min River (ibid.). This church seats 1000 people, although 1200
came to one service the Director attended (ibid.). According to the
Director, this church has connections with about a dozen churches
in the countryside and mountains (ibid.). The Director also visited
the Nanping Gospel Church, and according to the Director, the
pastor and his assistant at this church also regularly travel to
the countryside to village churches to preach and serve communion
(ibid.).
For further information, please see the
attached pages from a December 1995 Human Rights Watch/Asia
document which discuss changes in government regulations of
churches in China.
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
The Amity Foundation, Hong Kong. 2 April
1996. Fax received from a representative.
_____. 1 April 1996. Fax received from a
representative.
United Methodist Church China Program,
New York. 27 March 1996. Telephone interview with the Director.
Attachment
Human Rights Watch/Asia. December 1995.
Vol. 7, No. 16. China: Religious Persecution Persists. New York:
Human Rights Watch, pp. 6-10.
e1996/04/00