From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org


Prominent Taiwanese Presbyterians Reflect on the Recent Election


From "pctpress" <pctpress@ms1.hinet.net>
Date Wed, 24 Mar 2004 15:39:40 +0800

Taiwan Church News 2717, 22 through 28 March 2004

Reported by: TCN Staff.  Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

The result of the March 20th presidential election was neither welcomed nor
respected by the losing ticket.  A challenge was put forth, and it has
brought
about strife and injury in Taiwan!&s society.  How should Christians respond?
The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) is offering guidance.

The Taiwan Church News (TCN) convened a forum at Taipei!&s East Gate
Presbyterian Church on March 21st and invited several church leaders.  The
forum was moderated by TCN General Editor Yeh Chi-hsiung. It included PCT
Associate General Secretary Lim Chong-cheng, Rev. Ang Siu-kiong (pastor to
former president Lee), Kho Sin-tao (Pastor of Gi-kong Presbyterian Church),
Lo
Chun-gi (Pastor of East Gate Church), Sun It-hsin (Executive Secretary of the
Chinese Association for the Mentally Retarded) and Tiu* Li-hu (President of
the Taiwan Church Press)

Rev. Kho led off stating that each church must be a place of sanctuary and
refuge for the spiritual lives of Taiwan!&s people.  He pointed to the
shooting of President Chen and Vice President Lu as an example of something
that caused fear and distress. His congregation immediately posted banners
carrying prayers for the safety and health of the shooting victims.  That
evening they held a prayer meeting.  The result was that seven non-believers
from the church!&s neighborhood entered the open atmosphere of care of that
congregation.

Mr. Kho added, !'The doors of many churches that have long been tightly shut
need to be opened to provide a peaceful and quiet place for their neighbors.
Just think about it. If the doors of a thousand Presbyterian churches in this
nation were thrown open for conversation with the social milieu of Taiwan,
how
much positive influence could we have?!(

Church responses to the dirty campaign tactics must be creative. Both
politics
and social factors must be considered and discussed.  Churches can do more
than just stand to the side in campaigns.  The PCT supported the candidates
of
the Democratic Progressive Party this time, and has been recognized as a part
of the !'green!( alliance.  !'But,!( he says, !'if this impression is allowed
to stand unchallenged, how will the PCT avoid entanglement?!(

!'Churches!( he believes, !'must stand with the lower classes of the society,
showing positive concern for the weak and grassroots population as ministries
are developed. Churches must avoid the impression that they are exclusively
allied with any political organization. We must be companions of people of
all
classes.!(

The Rev. Lim Chong-cheng said that the divisions between citizens!& are based
on the positions on national identity taken by political parties and result
in
conflicting ideas. One side emphasizes a new !'Taiwan!( identity, and the
other the existing  !'Republic of China!( identity. This is the source of
factionalism. !'The disciples of Jesus Christ,!( he said, !'the people of
God,
must strive for a path that resolves the split.!( In fact, the PCT Confession
of Faith adopted in 1985 testifies to the early identification of this church
with the affairs of this land, and the church has in the past suffered for
this stance.

Mr. Lim pointed to Taiwan!&s current pitiable condition of wholesale
criticism. He believes the churches must see the urgent need to become
positive social resources.  The churches of the past Ching Dynasty, Japanese
Imperial and Nationalist Dictatorship eras were built up through discussion
and reflection on faith. If we can stand up for equality based on principles
from the Bible we can help people become clear about Taiwan!&s current and
future path.

Sun It-hsin, a !'Son of the Pan Blue Alliance!( (supporters of the
Nationalist
and People First Parties) said, !'The blues early on prepared for a tight
election, and both sides used negative campaign tactics. So the supporters of
each side had wildly divergent expectations.  These got in the way of common
discourse.

Mr. Sun also said that though the blue alliance used tactics of division,
neither side educated its people on how to act beyond of the voting booth or
after the results would be announced.	The blues have forfeited their
supervisory power and may have lost their future strength and purpose.

Rev. Ang Siu-kiong called for better education for democracy and strengthened
political understanding to stand against chaos and prevent partisan
manipulation of campaign fervor. He suggested that the church had a duty to
serve as a place of dialogue and understanding.

Rev. Lo Chun-gi declared, !'The PCT really has no power to discuss how to
repair these divisions.!( He believes that the church in times like these is
limited in what it can do because social understanding of the nature of the
church is shallow.  He suggests that the PCT General Assembly send a letter
to
all congregations asking them to open their doors to neighborhoods and invite
all to learn to pray.

He also questions past PCT identification with the weak sectors of society,
wondering why these seemed to generally help only the DPP and oppose the
Nationalists. Now that the DPP is the ruling party, will the PCT continue to
stand with the weak? He called on the PCT to engage in reflection and
consider
how to be in better touch with people outside of the churches while it keeps
its distance from the DPP. Only in this fashion can it claim to be a voice
for
justice.

 For More Information: Kho Sin-tao  gikong@netown.org.tw

		       Lim Chong-cheng	leonard@mail.pct.org.tw

		       Ang Siu-kiong TEL +886 2 28725301

		       Lo Chun-gi eastgate@cm1.hinet.net

		       Yeh Chi-hsiung hsiangye@ms23.hinet.net

		       Chang Li-fu  pctpress@ms1.hinet.net

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

Visit our web site: www.pctpress.com.tw


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