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Missionary Presiding Bishop Blasts Primates Visit to China
Special to VOL
By William Millsaps
www.virtueonline.org
11/9/2007
There seems to be some difference between a statement and a communique and I am sure someone will explain it to me.
I just read on the Global South Primates website where the "statement" is printed that a "communique" is being revised and will be posted later. The original statement was signed by ten primates.
I was stunned and shocked by it. These are intelligent men. One is a good friend and I am acquainted with several others. But as an American saying puts it," Friends don't let friends drive while drunk." Damage has been done. No revision can undo it. True repentance could at least set forth a standard which the primates have asked of those whom they believe erred in the Episcopal Church in the United States and in other places as well.
Several of these men have shown courage is addressing issues which they believe are important to the life of the Church, but I know what Richard Wurmbrand would say about the drivel that they signed after a few days in China. Ironically, their visit took place just before the IDOP. Perhaps they could "Google" that and do some serious reading before issuing a new statement. The Voice of the Martyrs will help them get a grip, and sober up from their heady tour.
In their official utterance there is not one question raised about the ongoing persecution of Christians who do not choose to belong to "registered churches". The whole statement could have been written by the Chinese government itself. The primates do not seem to know that according to a widely accepted interpretation of Chinese law it is illegal to teach children under 18 about the Bible.
They may argue that they heard that this law is ignored by some Chinese officials in some cities. These primates seem to be ignorant of the fact that several human rights attorneys have been arrested and beaten even in the last few months and that even international business leaders have been concerned about the crack down on even the families of "house church" pastors.
The 77 year-old mother of one them is dying in her prison cell where she was put because the Security officials said she was supporting her son. I can supply the primates with many names for their prayer lists. I have not even mentioned the forced abortions of which the primates cannot be ignorant and which haunt all thinking Christians.
When I first met Richard Wurmbrand in 1968 I vowed I would speak up for persecuted Christians. I had been speaking up for others such as the victims of the holocaust since seeing, during my childhood, the horrifying pictures of the Nazi death camps.
God allowed me to see these as a child and I was sometimes asked in college if I was Jewish because I was so passionate about the holocaust. I said I wasn't a Baha'i either but I cared about the fact that they had been targeted in Iran where their faith was born. Yes, I learned about the "pink triangle" and I abhor those who down play Hitler's targeting of homosexuals.
Persecution is evil no matter who is doing it to whom.
Lest you think that I think I have done much in the whole area of persecution I will tell you I repent that I have not done more. So you primates can join me in an act of repentance and resolve to do more for persecuted people. I truly have hope that you will.
---Bishop William Millsaps is the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Missionary Church. He resides in Monteagle, Tennessee
