wfn.org | Taiwan's Seminary Graduates Enter a Changing World

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Taiwan Church News 2725, 17 through 23 May 2004
Reported by: Yang Shu-hao.  Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

The coming of summer brings on graduation ceremonies at Bible and theological
schools all around Taiwan.  Students on the cusp of graduation think about
their future paths.  The Evangelism Committee at the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) urges graduates representing Taiwan's
many
ethnic groups to give special attention to deficiencies they may have in
understanding local identities so as to "patch up" what is missing before
going into parish work.  No matter where a new graduate goes next, all will
need to learn how to deal with the challenge of different demands.

In recent years group those who graduate from the PCT's three theological
colleges and one Bible college have fallen into two general and polarized
classifications. Many come from the general society, having finished college
years ago but now feel called to ministry, so come to the theological
colleges
for training. The other group is composed of those directly out of high
school, without employment experience. They sometimes lack the "drive" that
characterizes their more experienced classmates.

Trends in student intake and ministerial career progress are monitored at the
Research and Development Center of the PCT's General Assembly. Records show
that the less experience with life in society a theological student has, the
more trouble there is in eventual adjustment to parish work. In recent years
as many as 10% of new graduates have demitted their ministerial credentials
because of the stresses they have met after graduation.

Dr Huang Po-ho, President of Tainan Theological College and Seminary, says,
"In recent years this school has seen increasing numbers of people with
social
experience among our applicants. Not few of them already have graduate
degrees
or high level educational background. Last year one third of our applicants
already had graduate degrees and one fifth came the society at large." He
went
on to say, "These people have a wealth of experiences and strong management
skills. If upon graduation they are sent to shepherd little congregations,
they will be frustrated.  I suggest that the policies by which the PCT's
General Assembly appoints new graduates to local churches take these people's
strengths and experiences into consideration. Such people are the future
trend
in graduating classes."

Professor Tzeng Tsong-sheng, head of the Graduate School of Theology at
Taiwan
Theological College and Seminary in Taipei, said, "This school has also seen
people with every sort or expertise come to study. Their proportion in our
entering classes is very high. We've even had a national university
professor!"  But he added that there are graduates who decide not to enter
the
ministry, but to return to their former work situations and use what they
learned at theological college as a beautiful testimony there.

Prof Tzeng says, "There are students level of dedication varies with their
circumstances. Many who choose to study and stay through graduation find that
their lack of social experience results in an inability to bear ministerial
work. They come to see ministry as a job, not an identity. This kind of
attitude influences their future development."

General Assembly Evangelism Secretary Hsu Hsin-te says, "The church reflects
society, so more and more experts enter the ministry. Some have very good
personal experience, resources and zeal. But faith is an unending challenge,
a
course of unceasing development."  He hopes that the new graduates will grow
into openness and acceptance of all sorts of possibilities and challenges.

He suggests that new graduates take a close look at their abilities and
deficiencies, and study to make up for what they lack. They should
ceaselessly
clarify the nature of God's call to them and unfailingly rely on God to help
them meet and overcome obstacles.  He urged them to take part in the meetings
held during early years of ministry when experience and training are
discussed
so as to better re-design the programs by which the colleges prepare God's
servants to shepherd God's flock.

For More Information:  Huang Po-ho  pekho@bbs.ttcs.org.tw
		       Taiwan Theological College  FAX + 882 2 2881 0413
		       Hsu Hsin-te  hsinte@mail.pct.org.tw
Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.
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