wfn.org | Taiwan's Time to Reflect on Economic Ethics has Come

[Taiwan Church News <pctpress@ms1.hinet.net>]

Taiwan Church News 2639, September 29, 2002
Reported by Lin Yi-ying and Li Shin-ren. Translated and rewritten
by David Alexander

   Recent reports from Taiwan's Central Government Executive
branch show that the disparity of wealth between rich and poor in
this nation has increased by over 6 %.	In August of 2002 the
nation's unemployment rate stood at 5.35% (536,000 workers).  As
traditional heavy industries have relocated into China and the
world economy is seized in a frenzy of globalization, Taiwan's
wealth gap grows and unemployment rises.
   Professor Lee Ting-chan, from the graduate school of sociology
at Tsing Hwa University in Hsin-chu, recently published an
editorial in the mass circulation China Times in which he pointed
out that in recent decades, Taiwan's production has moved from
labor to technology and capital intensive.  When this transition
is added to the transfer of heavy industrial production out of
Taiwan and into China, the unemployment of large numbers of
industrial and agricultural workers, loss of earnings and
increasing disparities in wealth are a foregone conclusion.
Professor Lee suggests that the government must strengthen social
welfare provisions to cover all sectors of society.  It can
proceed by strengthening cooperative, localized and cultural
economic models.  Then it will have a foundation from which to
work on the earnings gap and unemployment.
   The Rev. Dr. Hwang Po-ho, Moderator of the Council for World
Mission and Principal of Tainan Theological College, addressed
some of these questions in his recent book, Globalization and
Christian Mission.  He calls attention to the church's own
defense of "globalized economics" influence thereon.
"Globalization is the contemporary manifestation of the
capitalist system. Capital rich nations use political, military
and technological power to promote global resource and finance
market unification to press the world economy into a single
structure.  The effects of worldwide environmental destruction
and advocacy of competitive attitudes are harmful to humanity."
Dr. Hwang sadly points out, globalization's effect on mission is
a comprehensive challenge.  Christians must face the effects of
globalization in many areas, and offer effective policies for
mission.
   In the face of the widening gap between the rich and poor
locally, the Rev. Chen Nan-chou (Tan Lam-chiu), vice principal of
Yu-shan Theological College in Hualien, Taiwan, says, "The gospel
of Jesus Christ is good news to the poor!  Jesus came to declare
good news to the poor, proclaiming it in a way that they would
hear it joyfully!"  He points out that current church based
social concern action often stops at the level of relief.  It
transfers resources to aid people, but does not penetrate to the
level of social transformation.  "This is a most regrettable
situation." He urges the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan to look at
the isolationism that comes from its Calvinist roots, and to
replace this with a theology wherein the Kingdom of God is
central, and operate by honoring God.
   To study these matters, the department of Religion and Society
at Tainan Theological College will host seminars on each Saturday
throughout October focusing on unemployment and globalization.
Speakers from prominent universities around the nation have been
invited to address the topic from different angles.
   China Evangelical Theological Seminary, in Taipei, has
scheduled a seminar on economic downturn and "God and Mammon" for
September 28th.  The political, faith, technological,
occupational and financial aspects of the problem will be
discussed. Church and family resource management techniques will
be presented.  Speakers from universities, government and the
corporate world will make the presentations and lead the
discussions.

For more information: Hwang Po-ho    ttcs@bbs.ttcs.org.tw
		      Chen Nan-chou  lamchiu34@yahoo.com.tw
		      China Evangelical Theological Seminary
www.ces.org.tw

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