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Dreams for Missionaries, Realities for Diplomats: Why the United Church of Canada’s Chinese Missionaries were involved in Politics during the 1940s and 1950s

This paper addresses the church-state problem in Canada after World War Two. It will focus specifically on the involvement of the United Church of Canada (UCC) in Canadian foreign policy in the context of Pearson’s diplomatic efforts in recognizing Communist China. On a personal level, this topic holds importance for several reasons. First, I was born and raised in a Christian family in rural Japan, and my church in Tokyo was established by Canadian Methodists. I am interested in researching my church heritage in the context of Canadian Church history. Second, I realized that many Asian Christian leaders participate in politics regardless of their official, political allegiances or theological opinions. These leaders often have a political agenda when they teach from the pulpit. It seems that Christianity has had limited influence on Asian society, with the exceptions of South Korea and the Philippines, even though Christian leaders often act as political leaders of the nation. Third, I have witnessed the same problem in North America as denominations often compete with one another. Denominations exert their power over each other and on political issues. Thus, church and state are strongly connected in today’s secular world. The specific situation that will be explored pertains to post-World War Two Communist China and her relationship to the government of Canada through Lester Pearson and the UCC. Lester Pearson and his friends James Garth Endicott, Chester Ronning and Herbert Norman were ministers’ sons.