wfn.org | A Call for Partnership: Taiwan Aboriginal Mission

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Taiwan Church News 2606, February 10, 2002
Reported by Uidy Kao,  Written by David Alexander

    The third Sunday of every month has a special mission
signifigance in the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT). In
February the spotlight is thrown on Aboriginal Mission.  More
than one third of the PCT's members are drawn from the 10
aboriginal tribes resident on Taiwan for thousands of years.
    General Assembly Aboriginal Mission Secretary, the Rev.
Mr. Sing Olam, a member of the Amis tribe, says, "Our
work this year continues to focus on: Social Development,
Participation in the 'Reading the Bible with New Eyes'
movement; Continuing Education, Women's Empowerment,
Tribal Language Bible Translation, Mother Tongue
Education and Spiritual Renewal.  Late this month we will
host a retreat for Aboriginal mission workers to strengthen
their spirits for mission and duty."
   A general plan to create partnerships between Aboriginal
churches in the highlands and islands and ethnic Han churches
on the plains has not taken hold, even though it received
approval and support from the General Assembly's Executive
Committee.  "Aboriginal believers are poor and their churches
are weak," Rev. Sing Olam commented, "urban flight has
produced a lack of resources in isolated parishes to pay the
full salary of a pastor.  Many clergy seek part time employment
in some other occupation, and their divided attention affects
church stability and growth.  Support from churches of  Han
people ideally should go beyond salary supplements to real
partnership"
    In the absence of formal partnership agreements, aboriginal
churches have made informal contacts internationally and in
Taiwan to support specific projects.  Following an earthquake
in 1999 that destroyed many church buildings and homes, aid
came from Central and South Pacific churches to enable
congregations of the Tsou people to reconstruct.  An individual
elder in South Taiwan promoted direct giving to churches in
the quake reconstruction zone for clergy salary support.  Chang
Hwa Christian Hospital, the Seven Stars Presbytery and
a Taiwanese church in California all undertook separate
projects.
   The evidence of concern for Aboriginal mission is strong. This
gives hope for the establishment of more formal partnership
arrangements in the coming year.

For More Information: www.pct.org.tw
     Sing Olam:  sing@mail.pct.org.tw

The Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Chinese
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