December 5-11, 2011
General Assembly News
PCT issues official statement on national predicament and upcoming election
Reported by Sam Lee
Written by Lydia Ma
With another legislative and presidential election taking place in a few weeks, PCT General Assembly issued a public statement on December 2, 2011. The statement underscored PCT stance and concern on various national issues and offered suggestions for the upcoming presidential elections. As 2011 coincides with the 40th anniversary of PCT “Statement of our National Fate”, the statement also offered a reflection of some national and church trends in the past 40 years.
This PCT statement consists of three parts. The first part contains an overview of the past 40 years of Taiwanese history and explains the new political situation facing Taiwan in face of what has taken place in recent years. The second part offers suggestions on how to respond to this new political situation. The third part consists of PCT expectations and suggestions for the upcoming presidential elections.
With regards to the upcoming elections, this statement underscored that PCT would support candidates that “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly” and candidates that “recognize Taiwan’s sovereignty, reject unification with China, and protect Taiwan’s interests.” It emphasized the importance of ensuring that elections are conducted peacefully and remain free of bribery, and reiterated that PCT would remain a church rooted in the land, supporting democracy and freedom in Taiwan.
Signed by PCT General Secretary Andrew Chang and Moderator Chiohh Lyiam-syian, this statement points out that the church’s stance on faith and politics has changed and weakened over the years. Forty years ago, the PCT was very concerned about the state of the country and social justice; now, though it continues to emphasize on holistic missions, its concern for national politics and involvement in social issues has decreased significantly because members have either been misled into assuming that democratic reforms have concluded or they’ve become complacent and turned to pursuing material success. Hence, the statement seeks to awaken churches from their inaction.
With regards to the upcoming elections, the statement suggests that Taiwanese people continue supporting pro-Taiwan and anti-bribery election campaigns. It also calls for all political parties and citizens to respect the results of the upcoming elections so that transfer of power can be conducted smoothly.
PCT General Secretary Andrew Chang said that PCT issued this statement in hopes that Christians would not only pray for Taiwan, but also take action for Taiwan. He urged that election campaigns should be more than mere cheap talk, but actually give rise to clear policies furthering justice and peace in Taiwan.
On December 8, 2011, PCT General Assembly Office will hold an international press conference on “The new and current political situation in Taiwan” where this official statement will be made public. This press conference will be followed by “Prayer for Taiwan” the day after just outside of the Presidential Palace on Ketagalan Boulevard.
