Taiwan Church News
3303 Edition
June 15 – 21, 2015
Church Ministry
I Believe What I Sing – A Seminar On PCT New Hymnal
Reported by Lee Hsin-ren
From June 15 to 16, organized by Rev. Shoki Coe’s Memorial Theological Lecture, a seminar entitled ” I Believe What I Sing – A Theological Reflection On PCT New Hymnal” was held in Tainan Theological College and Seminary(TTCS).
“The contextual PCT New Hymnal is an extraordinary treasure belonging to Taiwan and ecumenical churches, as there are immeasurable resources in it!”, emphasized Rev. Loh I-to, who was an editor and one of the original composers of many Taiwan hymnals in this PCT New Hymnal. Taiwan church is expected to sing, understand and appreciate this newly edited hymnal book, for these hymnals were our best ways to express, confess and witness our faith, said Rev. Loh.
Rev. Wong Chong-gyiau, President of TTCS, remarked that Taiwan church had been praised as a “singing church” in the past decades, yet her vitality seemed in the wane after the recent wave of “worship and praise” from other denominations. Through this PCT New Hymnal, we should think again our faith tradition, Taiwan history and the relationship between God and our future.
Rev. Loh pointed out that the editorial basis of PCT New Hymnal was the Confession of PCT(1985). Through the hymnals collected from different times, areas and ethnics, God’s love is tried to be expressed in these ecumenical and diverse sounds and voices. PCT New Hymnal also tried to interpret and reflect different dimensions of our faith, including human rights, economics, technology, gender justice, environmental concerns and ecological deterioration, said Rev. Loh.
To let the audience to appreciate the ecumenical diversity of PCT New Hymnal, a TTCS student choir performed those hymnals collected from areas of Taiwan, Asia, Africa, the Pacific, Israel, Russia and Latin America; Rev. Chen Chhong-fat shared how the Hakka hymnals was translated and composed; Rev. Hayu Yudau interpreted the hymnals in the aboriginal musical instruments: xylophone, uklele and Jew’s harp.
PCT New Hymnal collected 650 hymnals from 74 countries among 5 continents and 2 oceans. Traditional hymnals inherited from Europe and Northern America accounts for 1/2 of the PCT New Hymnal, the third world hymnals and Taiwan hymnals accounts for 1/4 respectively. It means there is still a very large space for the third world and Taiwan hymnals to grow.
Translated by Peter Wolfe
Interpreting the past history and future development of Taiwan psalmody, Rev. Loh I-to lead the student choir and the audience to sing and appreciate the ecumenical diversity of PCT New Hymnal in a seminar at TTCS on June 15 to 16, 2015.
Photo by Lee Hsin-ren
