China

China Christian Council (CCC) and the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of Protestant Churches in China (TSPM)

The China Christian Council (CCC) and Three-Self Patriotic Movement of Protestant Churches in China (TSPM) are at the forefront of shaping a distinctly Chinese expression of Protestant Christianity.

Guided by the Three-Self principles—self-governance, self-support, and self-propagation—they work in close partnership to promote theological renewal rooted in Chinese culture and biblical truth.

Together, they oversee over 60,000 churches and meeting points, supporting both rural and urban ministries, and fostering unity through post-denominational worship.

The CCC and TSPM have since worked to unify the church, expand pastoral ministries, and promote theological education. Over 70 million Bibles have been distributed, and 22 seminaries and hundreds of lay training centres have been established, including the nationally administered Nanjing Union Theological Seminary.

Their social service programs include disaster relief, healthcare, education, poverty alleviation, and environmental protection.

Christianity first entered China in 636 AD but struggled to take root.

In the 19th century, Protestant missions arrived under foreign control, leading to widespread perception of Christianity as a foreign religion. In response, Chinese Christians launched the Three-Self Movement in 1950, emphasizing self-governance, self-support, and self-propagation.

The TSPM was formally established in 1954. During the cultural revolution, from 1966 to 1976, churches were closed. However, churches began to re-open in 1979, and in 1980 the China Christian Council (CCC) was established.

This marked the beginning of a post-denominational period. Within the CCC, institutional protestant denominations no longer exist and believers worship together. Differences in theological or liturgical background are dealt with according to the principle of mutual respect.