wfn.org | Hakka Christians in Taiwan Discuss Faith and Politics

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Taiwan Church News 2716, 15 through 21 March 2004

Reported by: Yang Shu-hao.  Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

Taiwan's presidential election and national referendum, scheduled for March
20th, were the subject of discussions held in two Hakkanese congregations of
the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan on the 17th and 18th.

The Rev. Chiocar, an Aboriginal Christian who heads up the Hakka Mission
Office of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) said, "Faith and life are
indivisible from social context. Hakka Christians must exemplify the attitude
of Jesus Christ. In the national referendum must bravely stand up and
demonstrate our feelings regarding the nation and the society."

The Rev. Chiou Shan-hsiung, a member of the Hakka Mission committee, said,
"We
Hakka are rather conservative and somewhat cold to political affairs. This is
the first time that we have paid direct attention to political affairs as
Hakka Christians."  He expects that, no matter if political opinions among
church members differ, they

will still hold their social cohesion.

Rev. Chiou asserted, "Love of Taiwan is the duty of all citizens. In this
historical moment the duty of all Taiwan's inhabitants is very great." He
reiterated his call for Hakka people not to neglect their duty.

The Rev. Huang Der-ching from Meinung Presbyterian Church in Southern Taiwan
said that since the time when people in his area joined to oppose the
construction of a reservoir and formed associations and alliances surrounding
environmental issues, a community feeling stretching beyond the doors of the
churches began to develop.

Not only Christians participated, the neighbors came into the group, and they
have together expressed a concern for the future of their homeland.

For More Information: Chiocar  chiocar@mail.pct.org.tw

		      Chiou Shan-hsiung88423@cch.org.tw

		      Huang Der-ching  FAX +886 7681 9459

Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.

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