Events Calendar
Faith and the Party: Freedom and State Power in China Today
- Date:
- November 11, 2026
- Start:
- 12:00pm
- End:
- 1:15pm
- Save to your calendar:
- iCalendar (.ics)
- Location:
- Bass Lecture Hall
- Event type:
- Panel Discussion / Speaker Series
Pastor Ezra Jin, founding pastor of Zion Church, joins us for a discussion on how religious communities in China are navigating severe pressure from the Chinese Communist Party, and its meaning for the United States. Under Jin’s leadership, Zion Church grew into one of the largest and most influential unregistered Protestant congregations in China. In October 2025, Chinese authorities detained Jin and nearly 30 leaders of his church in a series of coordinated nationwide raids. He was held for 266 days and released in July 2026 after President Donald Trump raised his case directly with President Xi Jinping. His story has been covered widely across the Wall Street Journal, Free Press, Washington Post, and New York Times, as well as PBS NewsHour, Fox News, CNN, and beyond.
Lunch will be served. Please register at the link. Garage parking is available for a fee at the Manor Garage, the Brazos Garage, and the San Jacinto Garage. Parking will not be validated.
Cosponsors: the Asia Policy Program, the Clements Center for National Security, and the Strauss Center for International Security and Law.
- Specific audiences:
- Texas Law students
- Prospective students
- Texas Law alumni
- Faculty
- Staff
- General public
- Sponsored by:
- Bech-Loughlin First Amendment Center
If you need an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the sponsor listed above or the Texas Law Special Events Office at specialevents@law.utexas.edu no later than seven business days prior to the event.