Liaison Desk East Asia
The relations of the EMS with China are deeply rooted in history.
As early as in 1847, the Basle Mission started to send missionaries to Hong Kong and the surrounding provinces. After initial difficulties, China even became a focal point for the work of the Basle Mission. The German East Asia Mission (DOAM) started their involvement in China immediately after its foundation in Shanghai in 1885, and in Quingdao in the Shandong Province from 1899 onwards. Right from the beginning, the DOAM placed special emphasis on understanding the Chinese culture and religions.
Following the Maoist Revolution and the foundation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the missionaries of all missionary societies were expelled and there were hardly any contacts with the church in China.
Nonetheless, an East Asia Liaison Desk already covering Japan, Korea and China was set up when the EMS was founded in 1972. Contacts were restarted at the end of the 1970s, when relations with China were re-opened, The fact that the church in China has not been represented in the Mission Council is due to the special history of the Mission in China. As a result of the so-called Opium War (1841), China was forced to accept both the sale of opium as well as missionary activities.
In 1974, the Mission Council of the EMS deliberately appointed Dr W Glüer, a proven China expert, to become the second East Asia Liaison Secretary. Dr Glüer worked for the EMS until 1995. With his knowledge of China he made a major contribution to re-establishing relations between Christians in China and the ecumenical movement, which were broken off completely during the Cultural Revolution between 1966-1976. It is mainly due to his efforts that relations with Germany are so highly rated by the China Christian Council.
Current tasks of the liaison desk
Today relations with the church in China, which helped to bring the Basle Mission and the German East Asia Mission into the EMS Community, are again very lively. EMS partners in China include the China Christian Council (CCC) and the Chinese social welfare foundation called “Amity Foundation” which was established by Christians. During the Cultural Revolution, it was not possible to train pastors but now the rapidly growing Chinese church has a great demand for staff members. As a result, the EMS provides special support to theological training. Through mediation of the Amity Foundation, there is a lecturer at the university teaching German and paving the way for young people to study abroad. Finally, the EMS is helping to solve current social issues. The Amity Foundation provides legal aid to the many migrant workers, thus making at least a small contribution to the establishment of a constitutional state and the growth of democratisation in China.
