wfn.org | Taiwan Church News Briefs March 3 2002

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

Taiwan Church News 2609, March 3, 2002
Selected and Translated by David Alexander

Women's Ministries' Sunday
   March 3rd was Women's Ministries' Sunday throughout the
Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. This year is the 80th since
women's ministry work became a special field here.  The
work has historical precedent and a future orientation.
PCT General Assembly Women's Ministry Program Secretary
Lin Ni-ling says "Organized mission work in this church owes
much to the activity of women.  People appreciate this, but
still leave too few positions where decisions are made open
to women."
   This year's theme for women's ministries in the PCT is, "Tell
the Good News."  Bible studies will center on the person of
Mary Magdalene as she met Jesus at the tomb.  Rev. Lin
calls on women and men in the churches to bear two fruits
of this good news telling: 1) to bravely step out following
where Christ leads, and 2) to devote life to mission.
    Women's ministries in Taiwan have two sides: empowerment
and training.  This year focus will be put on transformation of
traditional women's fellowship groups through inviting and
including younger women to become part.
    From August 13 to 15 Taiwan will host an international
meeting to celebrate the decade of women under the theme
of "May your kingdom come".

For more information: niling@mail.pct.org.tw

Ecumenical Cooperation
The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and the New Life Christian
Church Mission, an independent church body in Taiwan, have
signed a mission cooperation agreement which will enable the
two groups to share theological resources, personnel exchange
and mission power in a systematic way.  The New Life Mission
and the PCT share a rootedness in this land, both having grown
here.  New Life was established in Taipei in 1962 and is
comprised
of several congregations.  Two clergy in the mission are
"on loan" from the PCT.
    Rev. Lin Hu-thai, convener of the mission, says, "Christians
cannot wall themselves off in their own denominational
houses.  We must be ecumenical.  One commonality between
our church and the PCT is our use of the Taiwanese language
for most of our worship and administrative life.

For more information:  evangel@mail.pct.org.tw

Resolution Committee Holds First Meeting
The dispute between Chang Hwa Christian Hospital board
and the executive committee of the General Assembly of
the PCT came a first step towards resolution at a meeting held
on February 25th.  Participants gathered at the General
Assembly Mission Center for five and a half hours.  No
complete solution was reached, but all topics were aired in
a low key manner.  General Assembly General Secretary
William J. K. Lo said, "This is the turning point between
crisis and solution."  The group adjourned with a plan to
meet again, this time in Taichung, on March 1st (after this
issue went to press).
For more information:  execute@mail.pct.org.tw

Foundation Trains Community Welfare Caregivers
    The Peng Wan-ju Foundation's Kaohsiung office is offering
training to improve the level of care given to the youngest
and oldest members of communities.  The system advocated
by the foundation is based on a daycare model, but this year
has added an "in home" component.  One aim is to enable
"second career" women to get out of their own homes and
into the larger society through sharpening skills they have
developed over many years as homemakers.
    The foundation has been offering training in most of Taiwan's
regions.  The number of trainees still falls short of the number
of requests for help that have been received.

For more information: Peng Wan-ju Foundation,
TEL: +886 7 343 8805

Church Women United World Day of Prayer
    The first Friday in March every year is the World Day of
Prayer.  This year the focus of the prayers and worship is
the people of Romania.  Offerings received in Taiwan this
year will go for support of the award winning "Women's
Fellowship Magazine", for human resource education and
the Media Foundation of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan.
    PCT General Assembly Women's' Ministries Secretary
Lin Niling says, "Women's ministries in the long term faces
resource limitations.  To focus on human resource education
is a long term need.  The harvest of this investment will not
be seen soon, but we cannot ignore the need.  We want to
train more women to participate in international and ecumenical
meetings and events, to break through mission frontiers."

For more information: niling@mail.pct.org.tw

Ecumenical Sports Festival Planned
    The Taiwan Church Cooperation Council will hold a sports
meet on June 1st as a demonstration of united witness.  The
meeting will be run by the Episcopal church at a school which
it runs in Tam-sui, in Northern Taiwan.  Events will include
basketball, swimming, table tennis and many other contests.
    Methodist, Roman Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian
churches will participate, along with the cross/denominational
YWCA and YMCA.
For more information: wmlo@mail.pct.org.tw

Social Worker Position Open
Location; Kang Shan, Kaohsiung County
Shepherd House, an agency of the Presbyterian Church in
Taiwan, is seeking a trained Social Worker for a center in
ministry with disabled persons.
Applications may be sent to: coaching@ms24.hinet.net

Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Chinese
Visit our web site at  www.pctpress.com.tw