[3077] Ecumenical movement in Taiwan gets a boost and some fresh perspectives

Ecumenical movement in Taiwan gets a boost and some fresh perspectives

Reported by Sam Lee, Chen Yi-hsuan

Written by Lydia Ma

What were Taiwanese youths’ New Year resolutions during the past Lunar New Year holidays? To help them along, Tainan Presbytery’s North Gate Church organized an “ecumenical orientation meeting” called “3 Things I must do before 2012”.

Spearheaded by PCT Youth Ministry Committee, the event attracted 75 youths from various churches in Taiwan. PCT leaders hoped youths would imagine and follow the footsteps of church heroes, learn about ecumenism, and experience different cultures.

To help youths to get to know Taiwan and the rest of the world, organizers planned small group discussions, information booths, and short presentations, and youths learned about ecumenical values and different cultures. Booths featuring information on major destinations for missions, such as Europe, East-Asia, South-Asia, Taiwan, and Canada, were also set up throughout the premise.

A few youths who’d previously participated in PCT-sponsored missions or exchanges were invited to share their experiences on ministering alongside foreign youths in a foreign country and what they learned about ecumenical ministries and organizations.

This orientation also highlighted two annual missions spearheaded by PCT Youth Ministry Committee, namely “I Love Taiwan Missions” (ILT) and “Ecumenical Youth Exchange Program” (EYEP). The two missions are collaborative efforts from the General Assembly, Youth Committee, local churches, and partner churches in other countries.

Of the 75 youths that attended this event, Aborigine youths from Paiwan Presbytery and Central Bunun Presbytery made up the majority of those at the event. It resulted in a great occasion for youths from city churches to meet and mingle with Aborigine youths.

PCT General Assembly hold forum on ecumenical relations

In related news, PCT General Assembly held a forum on ecumenical relations recently that emphasized on the direction of the church’s international relations, ecumenical training for staff, fostering dialogue between Aborigine peoples from various nations, PCT vision to help the marginalized, and its calling to be a pioneer.

The forum was held between February 10~11, 2011, at Presbyterian Bible College in Hsinchu and the common themes in every meeting were to discover how PCT could best contribute to the current ecumenical movement and PCT’s role in church organizations worldwide.

According to a the South Korean government’s policy advisor on East Asian issues and former WCC staff, Professor Hsu Wang-chih, churches around the world remember PCT mostly for its activism in the 1970s and how vocal it has been since then on threats to Taiwan’s autonomy posed by China’s rise to power. PCT’s emphasis on Taiwan’s autonomy has given other churches the false impression that PCT is a “one-issue church”. That is why it’s imperative for PCT leaders to find other ways to present the story and plight of Taiwan to churches abroad and create a brand-new and unique “Taiwan Brand”.  

Hsu underscored that current international trends and national changes have greatly affected Taiwan and urged church leaders to speak out on Taiwan’s behalf during ecumenical meetings where both Chinese and Taiwanese churches are represented. But he also underscored the importance of boldly living out PCT’s convictions, namely to “do justice, love mercy, and walking humbly with God.”

“In terms of ministries that everybody else is doing a great job in, PCT could do less. Instead, it should direct more energy and resources to ministries that no other sector in society is willing or daring enough to take on,” Hsu said. “PCT must continue to be a pioneer and a teacher of the people. It’s up to PCT to teach people how to love their motherland.”