wfn.org | Voting As an Act of Faith in Taiwan

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

Taiwan Church News 2648, December 1, 2002
Reported by Li Hsin-ren. Translated and Rewritten by David
Alexander

   In the upcoming week of campaigning before the December 7th
municipal elections in Taipei City and Kaohsiung City, we enter
into the final sprint to the finish line. How should Christians
view the current campaign?  How should we make our choices before
we mark our ballots?  The Taiwan Church News interviewed some
clergy in both cities.
   The Rev. Tony Lo, pastor of Ta-an Presbyterian Church in
Taipei, said, "A Christian citizen has the responsibility to
vote!"	Selecting leaders by vote is in full accord with the
principles of the confession of faith of the Presbyterian Church
in Taiwan (PCT). He asks church members to cast their ballots for
candidates who respect democracy, love Taiwan and pursue the road
of independence and self determination.
   Rev. Lo has watched the municipal government in Taipei in
recent years and says, "Former mayor Chen Shui-bian (now Taiwan's
President) brought progress and new ways of doing things. These
benefitted current mayor Ma Ying-chiou and his supporters, even
though they are from a different political party.  Mr. Chen's
civic administration had many brilliant achievements, but Mr. Ma,
in the four years he has been mayor, though he has had no big
failure, neither has he done anything noteworthy.
   Many Presbyterians have good relationships with Li Ying-yuan,
the man running against Mayor Ma.  Mr Li's stand on the future
direction of the nation is parallel to that officially taken by
the PCT.  When he returned from exile (he had been on the
blacklist during Taiwan's martial law era that ended in 1988), he
received support from many PCT members.  The Rev. Lin Yu-seng
from Central Presbyterian Church, himself a civil engineer, said,
"Mr. Li's idea to convert the municipal airport into a central
park is progress. It shows he is creative."
   In Kaohsiung City, the Rev. Wang Kuen-yi, who heads the Church
and Society Committee of the Presbytery of Longevity Mountain,
said, "In Kaohsiung City the current Mayor, Frank Hsieh, has done
a lot to improve the infrastructure and environment."  But Rev.
Wang feels that there must be more work to lift the cultural and
artistic live of the city and improve the social environment.
   "Politicians must be partners of citizens," he said.
"Politicians must act according to the highest moral standards,
be models for the citizens.  Citizens should pay attention to the
way the words and actions of politicians match up, and cast our
ballots thoughtfully."	He calls for all Christians not to
forsake their duty to examine candidates carefully before
voting.  He reminded them that Christians stand for the raising
of social standards, and called for concern for the land.
   Besides the mayoral races in Taiwan's two largest cities, the
city councils are up for election, and many Christians are among
the candidates in both cities.

For more information:  Tony Lo	taan4477@ms37.hinet.net
		    Wang Kuen-yi  wangkhunyi@kimo.com.tw

Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Chinese.
Visit our Web Site: www.pctpress.com.tw