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Taiwan Church News 2603  January 20th 2002

Reported by Tainan Bureau,  Written By David Alexander

    Future graduates of Tainan Theological College's department
of social work will soon find themselves excluded from the
marketplace. This year's entering class for the four year program
is the final group which will be allowed, on the basis of their
college degree, to take the government sponsored licensing
exam for social workers.  The department is now forced to
consider it's future purpose and direction.
    Late last year the school held a seminar to hear different
opinions.  Scholars and officers of church bodies were invited
to make presentations about options and lines of inquiry.
The chairpersons of Presbytery "Church and Society"
committees from Southern Taiwan were invited, as well as
the directors of the Social Work departments at Taiwan and
Yu-shan Theological Colleges and Hsin-chu Bible College.
    First on the agenda was to speculate on the basic purpose
of a social work department in the framework of the theological
college.  If Tainan Theological College is a mission training
institute, then what is the mission foreseen for its social work
graduates.  Following the 1999 earthquake, students and
graduates of the department were highly effective in church and
society.  Nevertheless, they will be excluded from future
licensing, and thereby from jobs in agencies that receive
government funding.
    The panel of experts suggested four lines of inquiry and
possibility.
    1) The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in
Taiwan (PCT) could create a new office in the church, that of
Social Minister.  This would give an identity to the graduates
and a clear avenue for future service.
   2) The social work departments of the PCT's four schools
could together form the critical mass for accreditation as a
college level school of social work, with a special focus on
how that is church related.  By this means the service of
the Kingdom of God and professional standards could both
be covered.
    3) A Taiwan Christian Social Workers Association could
be established within the structures of the PCT which would
certify social workers on its own for service in church related
agencies.
   4) A Community Mission Service Research Center could
be established within the framework of the Tainan Theological
College Foundation to specifically prepare graduates for
church based community ministry.
    In the end, there will need to be a transformation in church
based social and community ministries, and this will effect course
design, educational preparation and faculty resources.
For more information: Tainan Theological College
                                   www.ttcs.org.tw