Between Party and Pulpit: Conflicts in Church and State Relations in China Today

Event details Date: Monday, September 14, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM Location: Reitz Union Grand Ballroom Type: Exhibits / Arts Tags: Academics, For Faculty, For Staff, Lectures, Open to the Public, Prospective Students About this event Join the Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education for a conversation with Ezra Jin, founder and pastor of Zion Church, exploring the complex relationship between church and state in contemporary China and the challenges facing religious communities under Chinese Communist Party rule. Jin founded Zion Church, which became one of China's largest unregistered Christian congregations. In October 2025, he was detained alongside other Zion Church leaders during a major government crackdown and spent 266 days in detention before being released in July 2026 following an appeal by President Donald Trump to Chinese President Xi Jinping. He recently spoke with PBS NewsHour about his detention and the pressures facing religious communities in China. The event is co-sponsored by the UF Levin College of Law and the Christian Study Center of Gainesville. Official event details: https://calendar.ufl.edu/Hamilton/event/57609-between-party-and-pulpit-conflicts-in-church-and