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Marking 80 years of Women's Ministries in The Presbyterian Church
in Taiwan
Taiwan Church News 2634, August 25, 2002
Reported by Li Shin-ren. Translated and rewritten by David
Alexander

    Under the general theme of "Your Kingdom Come" the women of
the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan celebrated 80 years of targeted
ministry with a convention from August 13 to 15 in Kaohsiung
City.  700 women from Taiwan and overseas gathered for the
meeting.  With thankful hearts they shared the devotion to
participation in the church and in society.  All sisters were
included, and many spoke their own special words of blessing to
the assembly.
    The commissioned theme song began with the words, "Women's
Mission, Eighty years, For the Lord sweat, blood and tears."
Though the voices of the congregation were pitched high, the
desire for the coming of God's kingdom was expressed from the
bottom of many hearts.  Overseas representatives from Europe,
Asia and the Americas joined as testimony to the international
and ecumenical flavor of the PCT's women's work these 8 decades.
    Rev. Lin Niling, the PCT General Assembly's Secretary for
Women's Ministries, said, "Women must stand up straight, and
bravely step forth."  She added that individual women all are
precious in the eyes of God, so all should recognize their value.
"Jesus brought the good news of liberation and freedom in the
Kingdom of God, sisters should be the mouthpieces of blessing,
following in the footsteps of the Lord, and serving in the
Kingdom of God."  In this manner, she said, all voices will be
heard, and equality of men and women will surely come about.
    At the PCT's 48th General Assembly last April a motion passed
to reserve one fifth of the places in all voting assemblies to
women.  This is the first step of the church towards true gender
equality.  Rev. Lin said that women are capable of making all
manner of decisions, because sisterhood is powerful, and the
church can be reformed.
    Rev. William J. K. Lo, though male, was invited to address the
assembly.  His topic was the same as the main theme, "May Your
Kingdom Come."  He called for respect and true mutuality between
women and men.  "When we work together with one heart, the coming
of the Kingdom of God is hastened. Women also must bravely
express themselves in the Kingdom of God."
    The convention had many facets, including worship times,
drama, history and reflection on current social situations.  A
women's culture night included demonstrations of women's strength
by groups representing the multicultural makeup of the PCT.
    At one evening time of worship two ceremonies were held.  In
one, each woman exchanged a traditional Taiwanese necklace made
of red seeds and an embrace with a woman seated at her side.  The
other ritual was the celebration of the Lord's Supper, at which
old fashioned Taiwan rice cake was substituted for the bread.
    Elder Chia Hu-ki (Hsieh Fu-chi), head of the church's Women's
Ministry Committee, exhorted the sisters to express the Kingdom
of God in their lives. "All of us, by true hearts, respond to the
love of the Lord in active compliance with God's will.  God is in
our midst, no matter whether we have been active in women's
ministry in the past or not.  But from this day forth, sisters
can join hands in strength, under the leading of the Holy Spirit,
that God's Kingdom might come!"

For More Information:  Women@ms2.pct.org.tw

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