2018年5月12日（礼拜六），是“四川大地震”十周年纪念日。成都市有关部门组织了数千警力和公务人员，针对本教会当天预备在会堂举行的晨祷会和特别聚会，对本教会预备前来参加聚会的数百基督徒，采取了大规模地侵害公民宗教信仰自由的非法行政行为，包括非法扣押、非法限制人身自由、非法闯入会堂、非法暂扣会堂及教会图书馆大量圣经及属灵书籍和印刷品、非法殴打被扣押信徒等行为。

据不完全统计，从头一天晚上开始，到当天晚上结束，本教会及其布道所，共有王怡牧师和李英强传道2人被传唤24小时，有不少于228位弟兄姊妹，其中包括孩童、婴儿和老人，在没有涉嫌任何违法犯罪行为的情况下被警察在教会楼下强行带走，非法扣留。另有33位弟兄姊妹被警方及社区、网格员等软禁在家，不能外出。另有来自其他教会的19位弟兄姊妹，也在现场被警方强行带走或被限制在家。当天被警察非法扣留及非法限制在家的基督徒（含少数教会慕道友）总数，不低于262人。

这大概是近年来，成都发生过规模最大的一次非法扣押公民和限制公民人身自由的恶性事件。

第一，这一大规模的非法行政行为，乃是针对一间教会在自己会堂内举行的宗教聚会，并不涉及任何有可能涉嫌扰乱公共秩序、妨碍治安管理的行为。

第二，这一大规模的非法羁押和限制人身自由的行政行为，乃是发生在本教会的当天聚会尚未举行之前，所有被羁押和被限制人身自由的基督徒公民，都是在他们尚未进入会堂、聚会并未开始之前被非法扣押或限制的。

第三，整个针对教会信众的非法羁押行为，及针对教会会堂的非法检查行为，整个过程中，教会没有一位主要同工，收到过任何部门出具的任何书面的行政处罚决定，既没有来自民宗局的譬如取缔非法宗教活动、取缔非法宗教场所或非法宗教团体的行政决定，也没有来自警方或其他联合执法部门的任何行政决定。

本教会认为，这是针对基督的教会和信教公民的一次公开和赤裸裸的迫害。名为“联合执法"，却无法可执。此次行动的决策者和直接负责人，已经涉嫌违反

《中华人民共和国刑法》第251条第1款所规定的“非法剥夺公民宗教信仰自由罪”，即国家机关工作人员非法剥夺公民的正当的宗教信仰自由，情节严重的行为。构成此罪的，应处二年以下有期徒刑或者拘役。

教会认为，成都5.12教案在剥夺公民宗教信仰自由的规模、手段和影响上，都十分恶劣、广泛和严重。并且在5.12教案中，还存在大量的程序违法和其他违法行为，少数信徒甚至受到执法人员极其严重的侮辱和殴打。

同时，在5.12之后，这一非法限制人身自由和侵犯公民宗教信仰自由的行为，还在有恃无恐地继续。5.13的主日崇拜，仍有20多位弟兄姊妹被政府人员软禁在家，或仅仅因为去教会聚会，而在路上被扣押至派出所。本周以来，也有超过10位在学校、公务部门或事业单位工作的弟兄姊妹继续受到约谈，被单位和社区要求和威胁不准参加教会聚会，甚至被单位要求辞职等。

本教会决定， 为着福音和良心的缘故，我们将针对5.12教案，采取一系列检举、举报、控告和直接提起行政诉讼和刑事自诉等法律手段，也陆续发布相关法律行动的简讯。来向社会、政府和一切有着上帝形象和尊贵的人类，公开指出这迫害教会、侵犯和剥夺公民宗教信仰自由的罪恶，不但是违背法治的，更加是上帝所憎恶的。也藉此向涉案的成都市数千公务人员及全社会提出对这一邪恶罪行的、来自上帝和圣经的警告。因为经上宣告说，“现在你们君王应当省悟。你们世上的审判官该受管教”（诗2:10）。悔改吧，因为人的灵魂如此宝贵，也因为上帝用自己的独生爱子、基督耶稣的宝血，为一切愿意向祂悔改的人，提供了白白赦免的恩典和永生的救赎。

教会的职责和使命，就是以一切和平的方式，向全社会传扬这恩惠的福音。这其中，包括了法律手段的使用。就如耶稣及保罗，都曾使用罗马的法律，在被迫害和被审判中提出抗辩。然而，我们并不怨恨任何执法人员，包括涉嫌犯罪的决策者和负责人。我们期待他们中间有人悔改信主，远胜过我们期待他们得到法律的制裁。在任何时候，教会都愿意就我们的信仰，而与政府部门有和平的对话。在任何时候，教会都愿意为着福音的缘故和和睦的可能，而放弃一切在法律上的合法诉求。然而，若我们因此而在将来可能遭受更大规模和程度的打压和迫害时，愿基督帮助我们，使我们靠着祂的十字架，在反教会的强权面前，能够绝不妥协我们的良心和信仰。

因为信仰是无罪的，而福音如此珍贵。让天使和世人都因我们而看见圣洁的救主和福音的荣耀，这是教会存在的唯一的根基和理由，也是基督徒活在世上的最高目标。“因为万有都是本于他，倚靠他，归于他。愿荣耀归给他，直到永远。阿们”（罗11:36）。

成都秋雨圣约归正长老教会

主后2018年5月15日

Early Rain Covenant Church’s Announcement about the May 12 Christianity Case Happening in Chengdu

Saturday, May 12, 2018, is the tenth anniversary of SiChuan Earthquake. Chengdu government sent hundreds of policemen and civil servants to crack down on the morning prayer meeting and special service scheduled for that day but also illegally violate citizens’ right of religious freedom, such as detaining Christians, breaking into the church without consent, confiscating Bibles and other Christianity books and materials, and beating detained Christians etc.

Lead Pastor Wang Yi and Minister Li Yingqiang were summoned on Friday evening and taken into custody for 24 hours. It is estimated that more than 228 Christians including children, babies, and seniors were taken away by police and detained although they did not commit any crimes. In addition, 33 Christians were placed under house arrest by police and neighborhood officers. Other than these Christians attending Early Rain Covenant Church, 19 Christians from other churches were either taken away or put under house arrest. With this said, over 262 people (including several catechumen) were detained and placed under house arrest by police.

This may be the most notorious event of detaining citizens and limiting their freedom that occurred in Chengdu recently.

First, it is outrageous illegal to ban a service which will be held in a church and is unlikely to disturb public order and obstruct the administration of public security.

Second, government’s illegal behavior of detaining and limiting freedom took place before the service happened in the church. That is, those Christians were detained or placed under house arrest before they entered the church or attended the service.

Third, government did not notify any one of the church ministers about the administrative punishment, religion bureau’s administrative decision about banning unlawful religious events, groups and premises, or the administrative decision by police and other departments involved in the event before the illegal detention and confiscation targeting at the church happened. 

We think that our church and Christians have been persecuted blatantly. This so called “joint law enforcement” is not based on any laws. The decision makers and supervisors of the event have violated Crimial Law of the People’s Republic of China, No. 251 Item 1, illegally depriving citizens of freedom of religion. Put in other words, officials and civil servants should be sentenced to 2 years in prison or criminal detention if they commit the crime.

We think that Chengdu May 12 case has a bad, wide-spread and sever effect because of government’s approaches and the large number of people involved. Furthermore, officials and policemen broke laws as they carried out their plan and a few Christians were insulted and beaten by policemen.

This illegal behavior of limiting citizens’ freedom and violating their freedom of religion has been continuing shamelessly since May 12. On Sunday, May 13th over 20 Christians were placed under house arrest or detained in police station because of their attempt of attending church. This week over 10 Christians working for schools, government or state-owned units have been investigated, threatened not to worship at church by employers and neighborhoods, and even required to resign by employers.

For the sake of the gospel and conscience, our church has determined that we will resort to legal approaches including reporting, accusing, and suing. In the meantime, we will send the newsletters to keep people updated. The purpose is two fold: a) to let society, government and all humans in the image of God know that persecution on church and deprivation of citizens’ freedom of religion are not only illegal but also abhorred by God; b) to warn hundreds of officers involved in the event and society that “Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth” (Psalm 2:10). Repent because humans’ soul is very precious and Jesus Christ, God’s beloved son, has provided the free redeeming grace and eternal salvation to all who are willing to confess and repent.

Church’s mission and obligation is to proclaim the good news in all peaceful ways, including legal approaches. Jesus and Paul defended themselves by referring to Roman laws while being harassed and judged. Meanwhile, we do not hate the officers, policemen, decision makers and supervisors involved in the event. Rather, we hope that some of them will confess, repent and follow the Lord, which is much stronger than the hope that they will be punished. Our church is willing to conduct peaceful dialogues about our faith with government at any time. Our church is willing to give up the legal resort for the sake of gospel and in the hope of harmony. However, we will never compromise our conscience and faith by leaning on the cross when confronting the anti-church authorities and being repressed more severely.

It is not guilty to have a faith and the gospel is priceless. The primary goal of Christians is to be the witness of the holy Savior and the glory of the gospel to angels and the world, which a church is rooted in. “For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:36).

Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu

May 15, 2018 A.D.

(Note: English version is translated by ChinaAid)