The Amity Foundation

“The son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

The Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund was established as a joint initiative of the Amity Foundation and the Jiangsu Christian Council in March 2009 with the aim of developing social services offered by the Christian community in Jiangsu Province.

Background

Encouraging Government Policy

As civil society in China keeps developing, the values of social organizations have found greater recognition from the side of society and government. The Protestant church of China with its millions of members is increasingly recognised as a promoter of the development of Chinese civil society. The Chinese government has declared that a policy of encouraging “the Christian church to play a positive role in society” is part of the “construction of a Harmonious Society“. The National Human Rights Declaration issued by China’s State Council in 2009 defines “the positive function of religion” as “promoting social harmony and socioeconomic development” and states that the religious community should be encouraged “to develop public welfare and charity, and to explore ways and methods of social service.”

The United Front and the Religious Affairs Bureau of Jiangsu Province have devised that the church should serve the people and promote social development through social service according to the development situation of the church in the province. The establishment of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund has received powerful support from the United Front and the Religious Affairs Bureau of Jiangsu Province.

Increasing Social Needs

In Christianity, social service is interpreted in terms of witnessing God on Earth. The church has a long tradition of providing social services. As the Chinese church has developed, more and more churches have become involved in social service. The church in Jiangsu has a strong foundation in this area, for example a home for the elderly and church-run clinics. There are currently over 4000 churches and meeting points for more than 1.6 million believers in Jiangsu, so there is a large potential for the development of social services in Jiangsu churches.

Social development has caused several new social problems in China, such as demographic problems (an ageing society) and problems of the community service systems. These have grown into important issues which need adequate solutions. The churches can use their own resources when taking part in social services and working towards a solution of these problems.

The Fruits of Theological Reconstruction

The process of “theological reconstruction” was adopted as an official church policy in 1998. The main problem that it seeks to address is the localization of Protestant Christianity in the historical and cultural context of China. According to “theological reconstruction”, China’s culture and history have instilled in its people a particular appreciation for the power of action. Chinese Christians being Chinese, they believe in a close connection between strong beliefs and honest practices. Christians making their faith visible through their behaviour is essential so Chinese people can better understand Christianity. The promotion of social service thus becomes an important part of theological reconstruction. Along with the deepening of “theological reconstruction”, more and more churches have become involved in social service in order to glorify God and provide benefits to the people. This is one of the fruits of “theological reconstruction” and will remarkably improve the mutual understanding and integration of the Chinese Protestant church and society.

The Relationship Between Amity and the Chinese Protestant Church

Amity was initiated in 1985 by Chinese Christians, so it was born with a strong connection to the Protestant church. In the 25 years of its history, Amity has gathered rich experiences in social service in various fields, including community development, medical care, rural education, and social welfare, but especially in the promotion of church involvement in social service. For over 20 years, Amity has supported churches in 13 provinces with social service related to health programs, education, agricultural development and drinking water projects, which have delivered many social benefits. To promote church involvement in social service has always been part of Amity’s mission, and Amity has been, and will keep on, trying to support such endeavours.

Mission

The mission of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund is to promote the development of the church’s social service; to enhance the positive role of the Protestant church in the socioeconomic development of the country; and to achieve the harmonious development of the church in society.

Service Areas

The service of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund covers the following areas:

1. Helping Protestant churches in Jiangsu to provide and manage social services in compliance with Amity’s mission.

2. Supporting Protestant churches in Jiangsu with cooperative social services in compliance with Amity’s mission.

3. Supporting other work as devised by the management committee of the Fund and according to the mission of the Fund.

Achievements

Since its establishment in March 2009, the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund has accomplished the following:

Two meetings of the management committee of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund

Two meetings of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Funds management committee were held in April and June, respectively. The meetings decided on the name list of the management committee members and its director, approved the articles of association and bylaws of the Fund, set up the management office, and defined the project scope of the Fund according to the approved articles of association. The management committee meetings accelerated the development of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund.

Establishment of the management committee and management office of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund

After discussions between the CCC/TSPM of Jiangsu Province and the Amity Foundation, the management committee was established jointly by the CCC/TSPM of Jiangsu Province and Amity. Rev. An Xinyi, the chairman of the CCC/TSPM of Jiangsu Province, and Qiu Zhonghui, the general secretary of the Amity Foundation, head the Fund as directors. Members of the management committee are An Xinyi, Qiu Zhonghui, Zhang Keyun, Liang Huaping, He Jiemiao, Kan Renping, Chu Chaoyu, She Hongyu and He Wen.

As approved by the management committee, the management office of the Fund will be the executive body of the committee. Shi Li from the CCC/TSPM of Jiangsu Province and Tian Meimei from Amity share responsibility in the office.

Passage of the articles of association and bylaws

The management committee meeting passed the Articles of Association of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund, the Financial Approval Management Regulation of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund, the Project Proposal and Approval Management Regulations of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund, the Project Management Regulations of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund, and affirmed the applicability of Amity Archives and Filing Management Regulations and Amity Financial Management Regulations on the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund.

Defined project scope and the 2009 annual plan for the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund

In accordance with the applicable areas of the funds defined in the articles of association, the management committee specified the types of projects that the Fund supports, and clarified the scope of that support. The supported projects include the following:

1) church capacity building of social service

2) cultivation of volunteers’ resources for churches’ social service

3) traditional church projects such as homes for the elderly, clinics, etc.

4) orphans and education assistance

5) care for left-behind children

6) public health work, such as free medical consultations in rural areas, prevention of infectious diseases etc.

7) urban community environmental protection

8 ) development projects closely related to issues of high social concern

The management committee also agreed on the 2009 annual plan:

1) make brochures and starting promotion

2) emphasis on church capacity building through social service, starting with three city churches

3) sponsoring church building projects in poorer areas, including the earthquake area of Sichuan

4) putting emphasis on services for the elderly

Training class for the management of a church-run home for the elderly, for the development of church social services for elderly people in Jiangsu

As decided by the management committee and according to the annual plan, a training class for the management of a church-run home for the elderly was held in Nanjing in August 2009. This class was the first since the establishment of the Fund. Participants were 43 people working in the management of church-run organisations for elderly people. The class provided professional training regarding basic concepts, methods and crisis management, particularly addressing problems typically encountered in a geriatric social service program. The training class received positive feedback from the participants and laid a good foundation for promoting social service concepts in churches in Jiangsu.

Challenges and Difficulties

The Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund has been established recently and is facing a lot of challenges and problems in the process of development

The Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund is young and lacks project funding. Since the establishment of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund, it has raised only CNY 50,000 from churches. Amity is going to contribute about CNY 1 million for capacity building. However, this is just a drop in the bucket compared with the huge demand for social service in Jiangsu churches. More churches are waiting for investments to develop their social service programs.

Social service in Jiangsu churches has just started and needs further promotion

Social service in Jiangsu churches has not flourished for various reasons. In many churches social service has only just started, while what exists is not of high quality. The capacity of social service workers needs improvement as well. Promoting projects in both quantity and quality is one of the most important issues in front of the Fund. All these need our commitment and devotion in the future so as to ensure the effective operation of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund.

Future Plan

Promotion of the Fund

In order to promote the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund for better and more social services in churches, the following details were worked out:

1) Printing of brochures

A brochure has been produced for distribution in churches, containing information on supported projects as well as donation methods, so as to help the churches understand it and provide necessary support.

2) Distribution of brochures

The brochures will be used in promotional events, including training classes or lectures, as well as being placed in big churches through the help of the management committee members.

3) Internet information

The Amity website has added a special column for the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund, systematically presenting the mission, scope and application procedure of the Fund. Local churches can learn about the Fund easily and hand in their proposals at their convenience. As regards donations, details will be finalised soon. There will be a window for feedback to enable donors to track the use of funds.

4) Presentation in churches

The Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund will be introduced at three or four churches in the near future. We will discuss with the church leaders about choosing one day for presentation and arranging preaching about social service on the chosen day. The management office of the Fund will introduce the mission, supported projects and fundraising approaches of the Fund. There will be charity sales and exhibitions to guarantee immediate recognition of the Fund.

Fundraising

In order to promote the project development and raise funds for social service in more churches, we have worked out a fundraising plan. In the coming months we will start public fundraising through multiple channels, both domestic and foreign:

1) printing brochures to distribute in churches and provide easy channels for donating, such as donation boxes

2) The CCC/TSMP of Jiangsu Province will draw up a plan for church donations, or choose one day for Fund contributions, or launch irregular donation collection activities.

3) The management office, supported by staff from Amity and the CCC/TSMP of Jiangsu Province, will present the Fund and ongoing projects in churches in the province.

4) Regarding church needs in the province and issues of high social concern, the workers will prepare proposals for fundraising from overseas donor organizations.

Putting emphasis on support for capacity building

In the present phase, the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund, with the support of Amity, puts emphasis on helping churches with capacity building for their workers involved in social service. According to the different needs of social service in different churches, there will be more training focusing on particular professions to improve the capacity of church workers in social service, to improve the quality of church-run projects, and to improve the work of social service. There will be capacity building activities about social service in two or three more city churches in the coming year.

Making a systematic plan for existing social service projects in churches

Many churches have started social service projects; some have proposed their plans to the Fund. We are going to make project development plans according to the situation in the target places, in order to assist the projects in reaching sustainable outcomes.

Building a team of volunteers

The Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund is set to promote and improve social service in churches of Jiangsu Province. This is why it needs the wide participation of local churches and congress. We plan to build a team of volunteers to motivate voluntary resources in churches, in order to promote the development of projects with joint associations. We are going to recruit volunteers in churches. One or two volunteers from each church will work to give information about the Fund to the congregation. The volunteers will be the liaison to the management office, and the office will provide necessary material and support. There will be an assembly at the end of each year with all the volunteers to summarize the work, strengthen the network, and improve the development of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund through networking.

The establishment of the Jiangsu Christian Charity Fund is a fruit of the intention to enhance the cooperation and connection between Jiangsu churches and Amity, to promote social service in the Jiangsu Protestant community, to practice belief through the witness of Christ, and to encourage Christian churches to contribute to the development of civil society. We believe God loves people. Through the work on our hands, we are able to show God’s love on Earth.

We serve to express our love to God. This is the only way. For those who need our help, we have to pour out our love, because through them, we can express God’s love. (Mother Teresa)