wfn.org | Some Taiwan Candidates are for Justice, Righteousness and

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

Peace
Taiwan Church News 2648, December 1, 2002
Reported by Li Ksin-ren. Translated and rewritten by David
Alexander

   The mayors and all city council members in Taiwans two
largest cities, Taipei and Kaohsiung, are competing for votes in
polls scheduled for December 7th.  Several members of the
Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) have thrown their hats into
the ring for council seats.
  In the Ta-an and Wen-shan districts of Taipei Hsu Jia-ching, a
member of Wen-shan Presbyterian Church, is a nominee of the
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). She is currently the
executive secretary of the Taiwan Women's Alliance.  In
university she was active in the Presbyterian Student Fellowship
of National Taiwan University and National Normal University and
the Student Christian Movement (SCM).  She has served on boards
at the local presbytery and General Assembly level.
   She believes that her six-point platform, which focuses on
good governance, social welfare, environmental protection and
educational improvement, is based on Biblical principles.  She
feels that, if elected to the city council, she can be like a
mustard seed, small but potentially very powerful.  She promises
to proceed in the spirit of the Gospel of Christ and the
direction of the faith articulated in the PCT's 1985 Confession
of Faith.
   More Presbyterians are on the ballot in Kaohsiung.  Ms. Chen
Ling-li, a member of Min-tsu Presbyterian Church and graduate of
Tainan Theological College, was a prime mover behind the
establishment of a new cultural and arts venue, "the Urban
Spotlight" in the city's Central Park.	She looks forward to the
transformation of Kaohsiung, once styled as "A Scenic City of
Heavy Industry" into a "Garden City."  She places emphasis on the
promotion of women from second degree occupational ghettos,
protection of public security, and care of the weak and poor. She
is a candidate of the DPP.
   She says, "I want to proceed in politics by the justice,
righteousness and peace of Christ, serving God in this society.
My mission grows from my of the Lord and love for Taiwan."
   Mr. Chen Ying-tsan, host of a radio news program, is running
in a different district  under the banner of the Taiwan
Solidarity Union (TSU).  He returned to Taiwan after 12 years
abroad.  A member since birth of Meng-zhu Presbyterian Church,
while overseas he was ordained a deacon in a Taiwanese
congregation of the Reformed Church in America in New York City.
   His focus, if elected, will be on reform of transportation,
prevention of unemployment, promotion of public security and the
establishment of a special welfare center for the disabled.  His
slogan: "Walk in Justice and by Mercy" stems from his
participation in the movement for democracy.  He sees the
election as a struggle between good and evil, and urges voters to
lift their heads and look at Taiwan, urging all to vote for
people who love this land.
   Dr. Wu Ying-ming is the head of the department of Political
Economy at National Chung Shan University. He is also an elder at
Chian-chin Presbyterian Church. A candidate of the TSU, he has
been an enthusiastic lay evangelist for several years,
introducing many people to faith in Jesus Christ.
   "Politicians need to be emotionally strong, " he says. If
elected, he hopes to  bring clergy into city council facilities
to spread the gospel.  His platform is based on raising the
quality of the council, establishing partnership between the
legislative and executive branches of city government, and
renewing the city's ability to respond to crises.  A special
project is to create an "education zone" in the city.
   Tai Rong-seng, currently a member of Taiwan's National
Assembly and a member of Yen-ching Presbyterian Church, has
entered the city council race in his home district under the TSU.
He wants to reform the city council from its center outwards.  He
notes that the representatives from his district have been in
office for the last eight years, and local development has
stalled there.
   He is the son of a minister, and hopes that more Christians
will enter into political activities. He says that the Bible
contains the basic principles for living truthfully, and that he
will proceed from central principles of love as he moves to
promote justice for the people of Taiwan and the reform of the
city's institutions.

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