The China Aid Association, a U.S.-based civil religious rights organization, has cited the official website of Chinese Christianity as disclosing that the officially-controlled Huizhou City Christian Council in Guangdong Province held a ceremony last week to issue the new version of the “Christian Clergy Card” to its staff, while the Guangdong Christian Association has brought together official Christian staff from 21 prefectures in January this year to attend a special training session. staff to attend a special training for the work unit of the certificate renewal.
“According to the China Aid Association, the Chinese authorities have been stepping up their efforts to regulate various religious beliefs this year and have tightened their control over Christianity and Catholicism in general. The authorities have also adopted a variety of regulations tailored to religious groups to facilitate their control goals through administrative means. The current more aggressive distribution of Christian clergy licenses than in previous years is a typical example of church control actions.
According to reports, China’s nationwide move to issue clergy licenses has generated controversy and confusion within the church, with the hope that officially approved clergy will be required to meet political conditions such as support for the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the socialist system. The church fears that the qualifications of Chinese pastors to preach will be completely manipulated by officials.
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