The National Administration for Religious Affairs has unveiled the "Administrative Measures for Religious Activity Venues" ("Regulations" hereinafter), which are set to take effect on September 1. In addition to CCC&TSPM, churches within Guangdong, Hubei, and Jiangsu provinces have orchestrated dedicated study sessions to delve into the Regulations.
CCC&TSPM convened a gathering of its members for an extensive comprehension of the Regulations on August 2, as reported by CCC&TSPM.
Following a thorough perusal of the document, Rev. Xu Xiaohong, chairman of TSPM, underscored that the Regulations establish a legal foundation and provide directives for the systematic management, service provision, and guidance concerning religious activity sites. These directives encompass the domains of approval and registration, personnel administration, norms governing religious activities, oversight, and safety management.
According to Guangdong CC&TSPM, Dongguan CC&TSPM organized a study session that included staff, supervisors, and members of the leadership team. The purpose of this initiative by Dongguan CC&TSPM was to guide local churches in elevating their religious activity site management protocols, instituting a robust personnel management framework, and standardizing communication endeavors related to religious, social, and external spheres. All these measures are grounded in the contextual realities of the church in Dongguan.
In the Guancheng area of Dongguan, Guangdong, the Gospel Church facilitated learning sessions for teaching staff, church council members, and theological interns on August 1 and 3, sequentially. The church relayed this information.
Senior Pastor Wang Hao directed all pastoral personnel to intensify daily inspections pertaining to fire safety, food safety, accommodation security, and the financial administration of the church in strict accordance with the relevant stipulations.
At the Zhongxin (Loyalty) Church in Ezhou, Hubei, Ezhou CC&TSPM orchestrated an educational session for an assembly exceeding one hundred participants, including members of its standing committee, full-time pastoral personnel, and council members hailing from churches in the Echeng District and the Linkong Economic Zone. This data was sourced from Hubei CC&TSPM.
Ezhou CC&TSPM is committed to facilitating the establishment of supervisory roles within religious activity sites, devising and enhancing personnel management systems, and bolstering safety management across domains such as fire safety, food safety, hygiene, and architectural considerations.
In Nantong, Jiangsu, the Chongchuan District TSPM and the First City Christian Church also convened a study session on August 7, according to the church's report.
During the session, Rev. Shi Chengzhong, Chairman of Nantong TSPM, initiated an analysis between the new Regulations and the pre-existing Measures for the Establishment, Approval, and Registration of Religious Activity Sites. He emphasized that the new Regulations offer a more nuanced articulation of the requisites for comprehensive and standardized management of religious activity sites. This enhancement serves to further the cause of standardization and institutionalized management of these sites while simultaneously safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of both the sites and their congregants.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
