The Bidirectional Construction of Institution-Identification and the Formation of Local Christian Churches in China

Abstract

The organizational history of Zhabei Church over its one hundred years is a tale of universal Christianity evolving its local form through the bidirectional construction of institution-identification in Chinese society. In this process, its core Biblical theological principles and basic modes of worship have maintained a high degree of stability, but its affiliation, organizational structure, and operational mode have undergone significant changes. Study of the sociology of the evolution of Zhabei Church reveals a bidirectional construction process of institution-identification, which is different from simple transplantation of the Western Christian model and not directly affected by conflict-adaptation logic. This kind of bidirectional construction has become the driving force for the development of Zhabei Church and has thus produced a new form of local church, which roots Chinese Christianity deeply in China’s local socio-cultural network and has transformed her “Christian capital” into a resource for social and cultural identification.