April 4-10, 2011
General Assembly News
PCT and URC find common ground in core values and ministry
Reported by Sam Lee
Written by Lydia Ma
PCT Associate General Secretary Lyim Hong-tiong and Ecumenical Relations Secretary Hu Hong-chih travelled to the UK on March 15-27, 2011, to take part in a press conference with other churches concerned about the upcoming elections in Scotland scheduled on May 5.
The second purpose of this foreign visit is to establish closer ties with Church of Scotland and United Reformed Church – especially in youth missions and youth foreign exchange programs.
Lyim noted during this trip that churches in UK share an important similarity with PCT churches in the sense that both are very politically and socially active churches. Though a parliamentary election in Scotland is still one month away, leaders from many Christian churches, including Church of Scotland Moderator Rev. John Christie, United Reformed Church’s Scotland Synod Moderator Rev. John Humphreys, Catholic Cardinal Keith O’Brien, have already issued a joint statement on March 22, 2011, underscoring the important role of elections in securing human rights and justice.
They also urged Christians dissatisfied with the status quo to use this election as an opportunity to change their country and reminded them that participation in the political process is also rooted in their church’s statement of faith.
To help people make an informed decision, churches in Scotland have set up a website where information about each candidate, each political party and its platform can be found. For more information, visit: www.churchesvote.com