For background on Orthodox Christianity in China, see here.
For previous ChristianPersecution.com coverage of the persecution of Christians in China, see here.
“Multiple Churches Banned Across China,” by Yu Bing, China Aid, October 20, 2022:
(China—October 20, 2022) The Chinese government continues to close down Christian house churches and other places of worship all across China. Religious freedom in China is getting worse by the day.
On September 26, 2022, the Civil Affairs Bureau of Putian, Fujian Province issued an announcement to ban “Berea Church”:
Upon investigation, “Berea Church” never registered and has been gathering as an unregistered social group, breaking Article 32 of the “Regulations on the Registration and Management of Social Organizations” and Article 2 of the “Interim Measures for Banning Illegal Non-Governmental Organizations.” According to the provisions of Articles 2 and 9 of the “Interim Measures for Banning Illegal Non-Governmental Organizations,” “Berea Church” was banned in accordance with the law.
Likewise, Wenzhou Canaan Theological Seminary was dismantled and all the church facilities were destroyed on September 20, 2022. Senior Pastor Huang Jianle, Teacher Liu Shitao, Teacher Shi and Teacher Sun were taken away by the police. All the seminary students were advised to return home.
Ealier [sic] in the month on September 7, 2022, the “Yangguangzhijia” Reformed Church in Changchun City, Jilin Province, was banned by the Changchun Civil Affairs Bureau. According to official information, the church was banned due to its “unregistered” status and because it was illegal to operate as a social group.
On August 19, 2022, the Xi’an Civil Affairs Bureau issued an announcement on the dismantling of “Fengsheng” Church, stating:
Upon investigation, “China Gospel Association” (Zhonghuafuyin zonghui),” “China Gospel Association” Xi’an District Federation (Zhonghuafuyin zonghui xi’anqu lianhui), and “Fengsheng” were not registered. They carried out activities in the name of social groups without authorization, and are identified as illegal social organizations. In accordance with Article 32 of the “Regulations on the Registration and Management of Social Organizations” of the State Council and the provisions of Article 2(2) and Article 9 of the “Interim Measures for Banning Illegal Non-Governmental Organizations” of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Xi’an Civil Affairs Bureau has issued a decision to ban this illegal social group. The dismantle decision number is: Xi Min Qu Zi [2022] No. 2.
On August 5, 2022, the Civil Affairs Bureau of Lucheng District, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province issued an announcement on the shutting down of “Wenzhou Bowen Bible Seminary” and “Wenzhou Bible Seminary.” The contents of the announcement are as follows:
Upon investigation, “Wenzhou Bowen Bible Seminary” and “Wenzhou Bible Seminary” were not registered. They conducted activities in the name of social groups, or private non-enterprise units without authorization, and are identified as illegal social organizations. According to Article 32 of the “Regulations on the Registration and Management of Social Organizations,” Article 27 of the “Interim Regulations on the Registration and Administration of Private Non-Enterprise Units”, and provisions 2 and 9 of the “Interim Measures for Banning Illegal Non-Governmental Organizations” of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, this agency hereby banned “Wenzhou Bowen Bible Seminary” and “Wenzhou Bible Seminary.”
On July 11, 2022, the Civil Affairs Bureau of Tongguan District, Tongling City issued an announcement stating:
Upon a joint investigation, “Aideyuan Fellowship”, “Gongzuozu Fellowship” and “Mu’enge” were carried out in the name of social groups without registration. According to Article 32 of the “Regulations on the Registration and Management of Social Organizations” and provisions 2 and 9 of the “Interim Measures for Banning Illegal Non-Governmental Organizations,” this agency decided to ban these groups.
On May 30, 2022, the Civil Affairs Bureau of Hukou County, Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province issued an announcement to ban the “Hukou County Jiaxiang Church” The announcement stated:
Upon investigation, the “Hukou County Jiaxiang Church” was not registered and carried out activities in the name of a social organization without authorization, and was identified as an illegal social organization. According to the provisions of Articles 2 and 9 of the “Interim Measures for Banning Illegal Non-Governmental Organizations,” this agency decided to ban it in accordance with the law on May 30, 2022….
