Mapping the Disadvantaged Protestant House Church in Modern China

The paper exams the historical hardships of the Chinese Protestant house churches from 1949 to the present in an effort to demonstrate their poverty of religious rights. During the period from 1949 to 1976, there was a prevailing lack of consciousness concerning religious freedom in the Chinese public. Consequently, many house churches were dissolved under heavy political pressure and forceful government suppression, which also fostered a strong sense of moral resentment among a significant number of determined believers, thus paving the way for the revival of the house churches down the road.

The two decades from 1978 to 1998 constituted the phase of the poverty of capability concerning religious freedom. The public consciousness about seeking and protecting their rights began to emerge and strengthen, but their ability to do so was still restricted. The restoration and strengthening of relations between the house churches and their overseas connections also raised the consciousness about the need to protect their rights. In 1998, house church members delivered their announcement --“The Chinese House Churches’ Attitude toward the Government, Religious Policies and the TSC” [the Three-Self Patriotic Churches" （三自教会）], stating the five major reasons for their refusal to register with the government while pronouncing their five principles against joining official churches and boldly outlining three major points in calling for the government to protect their rights.

During the period of continued poverty of religious rights (1999-2012), the ability of Protestants to preserve their rights has been on the rise, owing to the increasing social diversity and openness, economic development and prosperity, and the improvement of education. The number of the young, educated, and urban residents has seen dramatic increase. However, house church members still find their rights seriously deprived, seen in the “five no” policies implemented by the government.

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