I observed and asked a couple of people about this and we concur that in the traditional Chinese churches there are this mentality that the pastor (in the older days there were often only one ordainted pastor per church which in today’s term would be the senior pastor) has authority over church decisions. I believe this is truth in the pastor’s authority (i.e. ordanied and therefore divinely granted) but there are differences in understanding what authority means. In a more traditional Chinese family, the head of the house can make decision without explanations and the other members have to accept. In a more western oriented family, the decision maker will explain and at the very least prefer an agreement before the decision is final even though the agreement may be made grudgingly. This can explain why the deacons and pastors felt they only need to inform the congregation on their decisions but we felt offended. Also a pastor with traditional thinking can feel he is being challenged in every turn when the more western apporach simply think they are making suggestions. This difference in understanding authority needs to be respected and understood.
Simon
I agree Chinese and western views of authority and navigating the difference can be very complicated and error prone in specific situations. I claim no real understanding of the Chinese view of authority and yes we need an open and transparent discussion if only to avoid pitfalls in this area.
My bigger concern is the difference between Chinese and western views of the role of leaders. Out English pastor’s public wish was for the senior pastor to be the pastor’s pastor. I have that same wish for my leaders to be the leader’s leader. The Chinese view is that senior leaders decide and “young leaders” execute. The western view is that all leaders make new leaders. As a western parent, I wish to raise independent children. Objective is an independent adult. My children’s choices will almost certainly not be my choices but I celebrate that. (My son has chosen drums as his musical instrument; not any of the traditional Chinese choices.) Chinese parents expect obedience.
This is not just a matter of differences in culture and style. The western approach is superior. A society that demands obedience stagnants and will collapse in the face of a competing society that builds up new leaders at every opportunity. Likewise a church that builds leadership in every believer will accomplish far more than a church that expects obedience to centrally planned programs.
Sam
