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Mennonite Study Group Visits China

Participants in a consultation held Oct. 13 at the Institute of World Religions, Division of Christianity (Beijing). Standing (l to r): Elmer S. Miller, Philadephia; Myrrl Byler, Harrisonburg; Xiyi Yao (Kevin), Hong Kong (with MMN); third from right, Marlin Jeschke, Goshen. Seated: Theron Schlabach, Goshen; Robert Lee, Harrisonburg; Cal Redekop, Harrisonburg; John A. Lapp, Akron, Pa.; Al Keim, Harrisonburg; Ray Gingerich, Harrisonburg. All others pictured are faculty members and students at the Institute of World Religions.
Photo by Ray Gingerich

Learning and new experiences don't end with retirement, at least not for one group of seniors who spent most of October traveling in China.

The combined group had extensive overseas experience and represented decades of college classroom teaching, but few had ever been to China. As retired Temple University professor Elmer Miller stated, "China was never on my radar screen."

Mennonite Partners in China (formerly China Educational Exchange) arranged the visit at the request of the Anabaptist Center for Religion and Society (ACRS). ACRS is a group of retired professors, primarily from Eastern Mennonite University, who seek to connect faith and life in contemporary academia and the church. ACRS members and long-time Mennonite Mission Network workers Robert and Nancy Lee sparked the interest in the tour.

The 17 participants visited major historical sights like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City in Beijing, the canals of Suzhou, skyscrapers in Shanghai and the ancient terracotta army in Xian. A visit to the 7th century site of the first Christian church and monastery in China was a highlight for many. An ancient pagoda marks the site of this Nestorian mission.

Listen and Learn

According to John A. Lapp, former executive secretary of Mennonite Central Committee, a primary objective for the group was "to listen and learn what the Spirit is saying to the churches in China." Following a worship service in Beijing, the senior pastor shared the history of her congregation of 7,000 and fielded questions from the ACRS group.

Visits to seminaries in two different cities highlighted the progress that the church has made in training pastors. However, leaders admitted that most churches and meeting points still rely on lay leadership.

An unusual privilege was the visit to a meeting point in the remote countryside of Sichuan province. The Christian faith came to this area of China less than 20 years ago, but already more than 300 believers attend. Park View Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Va., contributed funds for the completion of the building where the believers meet. Albert Keim and others from the Park View congregation continued the ties between the two congregations by bringing greetings. Members who gathered at the meeting point shared several songs, and the pastor explained how the church had been helped by other churches in the province in their battle against false teachings.

After numerous conversations with Chinese pastors, seminary teachers and North American Mennonites working in China, the ACRS group admitted that the situation of the church in China is highly complex. In a signed letter to Mennonite mission agencies and MCC, the group stated: "We are sure that to work in China without a profound respect for differences and divergences from conventional western assumptions about authentic Christianity would be a serious mistake.: The group commended Mennonite Partners in China for their work in :interpreting the faith and practice of the church in China, serving as helpers and facilitators of its vision."

Looking at Christianity for Answers

Calvin Redekop, retired from years of teaching at several Mennonite colleges, was impressed with the incredible interest in the study of religion at China’s top universities. He noted that "although Chinese culture is more than 7,000 years old, many seem to be looking to religion and specifically Christianity for answers."

John A. Lapp addresses group of 125 at celebration of China Educational Exchange's 25th anniversary in Chengdu.
Photo by Ray Gingerich

This interest was evident during day-long consultations that the group held with religion scholars from the Institute of World Religions in Beijing and at Shanghai University. While not necessarily Christian, these scholars are knowledgeable and sympathetic to Christian faith and the work of the church in China. One Beijing researcher shared that prior to President Bush's visit to China, his institute was asked to prepare a briefing on the president’s religious beliefs for the central government.

ACRS member Robert Lee and Mennonite Mission Network associate Kevin Yao arranged the consultations. The ACRS group presented a synopsis of Anabaptist history, theology and praxis while the Chinese academics shared research on church and society in their own culture.

At a consultation arranged by the Nanjing Counseling Center, Marlin Jeschke, retired from Goshen College, gave background on the restorative justice movement. John A. Lapp explained how Mennonites became involved in mental health issues.

The visiting group was among the approximately 100 persons who attended the 25th anniversary celebration for CEE in Chengdu. Lapp reviewed how the program began through the vision of former Goshen College President J. Lawrence Burkholder and other church leaders. The group strongly affirmed the work of Mennonite Partners in China and called for more support through funding and training of personnel.

The ACRS group expressed its conviction that the guiding principles of integrity, transparency, collegiality and reciprocity are essential to the success of the Mennonite Partners in China program. Lapp and others mentioned that this type of cooperative program could serve as a model for Mennonite work and witness in other locations.

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Ray C. Gingerich is professor emeritus of theology and ethics at Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Va., and gives leadership to the Anabaptist Center for Religion and Society.

— article by: Ray Gingerich; posted December 4, 2006