Taiwan Church News
3341 Edition
March 7 – 13, 2016
Church Ministry
A PCT Southern Synod Launched In Disputes
Reported by Chen Yi-fan
Some pastors, from four PCT presbyteries including Chiayi, Tainan, Soshan and Pingtung, officially launched a “Southern Synod” of PCT at Fongshan church in the morning on March 3. Moderated by Rev. Pan Ching-chan, pastor of Dong-men church of Chiayi presbytery, the participated pastors and elders from these four presbyteries passed a draft bill entitled as « PCT Southern Synod Act » with 125 approving votes. Thus, a PCT Southern Synod was officially established.
Concerning the question, why there should be a PCT Southern Synod, Rev. Shih Lien-chen, pastor of Wang-dan church of Pingtung presbytery explained that it was due to an united ministry cooperated in recent years among these southern presbyteries and a more and more strong demand felt to establish a permanent organization.
The staff of the Southern Synod were elected as the followings: Rev. Pan Ching-chan(Chiayi presbytery), Moderator; Rev. Lo Ren-quei(Tainan Presbytery), Vice Moderator; Rev. Yeh Ya-nah(Soshan Presbytery), General Secretary; Rev. Su Song-rong(Pingtung presbytery), Associate General Secretary; Elder Chao Ming-chon(Chiayi presbytery), Accountant. But, Rev. Lo Ren-quei submitted his resignation on March 8, declaring his appointment as Vice Moderator still required a legitimacy from PCT constitution and extant church laws.
Rev. Lee Kao-ming, secretary of PCT’s Church Law Committee, remarked that it was possible to establish a southern synod under current PCT codes. But, the only condition required was that such new synod should be compliant to extant PCT church laws, said Rev. Lee. In other words, the set up of a synod should be discussed and approved by the General Assembly. Apparently, this is what the Southern Synod is short of!
Translated by Peter Wolfe
The staff of the Southern Synod were elected from left to right as the followings: Rev. Pan Ching-chan(Chiayi presbytery), Moderator; Rev. Lo Ren-quei(Tainan Presbytery), Vice Moderator; Rev. Yeh Ya-nah(Soshan Presbytery), General Secretary; Rev. Su Song-rong(Pingtung presbytery), Associate General Secretary; Elder Chao Ming-chon(Chiayi presbytery), Accountant.
Photo by Chen Yi-fan
