wfn.org | Taiwan's Presbyterians Establish Society for "This Land"

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

Theology
Taiwan Church News 2668, April 20, 2003
Reported by Li Hsin-ren. Translated and rewritten by David
Alexander

   Clergy and laypersons have established a "This Land Theology
Society"
led by Dr. Ong Chong-giau of Tainan Theological College and
Seminary in
Tainan City, Taiwan. A formal meeting to recognize the founding
of the
society will be held on April 25th.  It is intended to bring
together
contemporary theological currents with the distinct tone of
Taiwan's social
life and provide churches with resources for facing current
challenges.
   The society initially hopes to focus on two projects.
Archived materials
from the Taiwan Church News (which was published in Romanized
Taiwanese before 1969) will be translated into Chinese
characters.
Theological resources from overseas that reflect thought currents
of the
world church will also be translated into Chinese to make them
available for
use in Taiwan's ecclesiastical circles.
   Dr. Ong says, "The world in general, and Taiwan in particular,
is changing
at a rapid pace.  Questions about globalization, sexuality,
cloning and other
issues confront us.  Taiwan's churches are impacted, but are
unable to
respond."  He emphasizes that through translation of world church

reflections and theological works experience can be gained and
help
obtained.
   The project to translate the old editions of the Taiwan Church
News is
considered important because, over recent decades, the ability a
generation
of Taiwan's believers to read Romanized Taiwanese script has been
lost.
The articles and testimonies contained in the News (published
since 1885),
are records of the faith of Taiwanese believers of past. They
serve as
foundations for expressions of faith in the Taiwanese context
today.
   The "This Land Theological Society" invites any who wish to
join in the
two translation tasks to become members of the society when it is
formed
on April 25th.

For more information: Ong Chong-giau <chongiau@bbs.ttcs.org.tw>

Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local
languages.
Visit our Web Pages: www.pctpress.com.tw