Affirming Partnership of the Amity Foundation and the Asia Pacific Forum


The representatives of the Amity Foundation and the Asia Pacific Forum participated in a joint meeting at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania on December 12, 2007. The joint meeting was organized for continuing dialogues between the Amity Foundation and the Forum after the World Council of Churches-sponsored Amity Round Table meeting in Nanjing in May 2007.

In the joint meeting, the representatives of all parties engaged in open and fruitful conversations over issues related to social service within changing situations in China and in North America. The representatives also had meaningful and constructive exchange of thoughts about the work of Amity, and about areas of cooperation between Amity Foundation and the Asia Pacific Forum. .

The undersigned representatives affirm

• the work and contribution of Amity Foundation towards the transformation of the lives of Chinese people, the promotion of harmonious relationship within Chinese society and the fostering of understanding and respect among of the people of China and of other countries around the world;
• the work and achievement of the Amity Printing Press on the printing and provision of Bibles for China and other countries. We particularly celebrate the completion of the printing of 50 million Bibles this year;
• the leadership of Amity Foundation as they face changing situations within its organization and within the Chinese society;
• the continuing cooperation, mutual support and contributions of the Amity Foundation and of the churches represented by the Forum members.

The undersigned representatives commit to

• identify resources and constructive means to promote social service in China;
• promote the Amity and its programs in North America.

The Amity Foundation is a voluntary organization initiated by Christians in China to promote social service and life transformation of Chinese people. The undersigned members of the Asia/ Pacific Forum are mission directors/ secretaries of Asia of mainline denominations in North America.

Undersigned

Jhonny Alicea-Baez of Reformed Church in America
Diane Allen of United Methodist Church
Rebecca C. Asedillo of United Methodist Church
Jun Atienza of Church World Service
Liberato Bautista of United Methodist Church
Benjamin Chan of American Baptist Churches, USA
Diane Gehman of Mennonite Central Committee
Bern Jagunos of United Church of Canada
Insik Kim of Presbyterian Church, USA
Andrea Mann of Anglican Church of Canada
Stanley Murray of American Baptists Churches, USA
Peter Ng of Episcopal Church USA
Zhonghui Qiu of Amity Foundation
James Vijaykumar of United Church of Christ and Christian Church
Xiaoling Zhu of United Church of Christ and and Christian Church