More than 200 Christian worshippers from China have been banned from attending a huge international evangelical conference being held in South Africa on October 16. Attending the Lausanne Congress in Cape Town has been deemed a threat to the nation, according to Chinese government officials.

 

The move could be a signal that Beijing is changing its hands-off policy towards Christianity, which has been thriving in China. There are reportedly tens of millions of Chinese who openly worship, although they tend to congregate in private assemblies or house churches instead of using the official government church known as the Three-Self Patriotic Movement.

 

In 2005, four Chinese bishops invited to Rome by Pope Benedict XVI were denied exit visas because the Chinese government version of the Catholic Church does not recognize the Pope.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Beijing Blocks Travelers to Christian Conference (by Louisa Lim, NPR)

China's House Church Reps Blocked from Attending Lausanne Congress (by Joshua Cheng, Gospel Herald)

Chinese Christians Barred From Conference (by Sharon LaFraniere, New York Times)