wfn.org | Taipei Presbytery Requests General Assembly Guidance on Homosexuality

["pctpress" <pctpress@ms1.hinet.net>]

Taiwan Church News 2730, 21-27 June 2004
Reported by Li Hsin-ren. Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

The executive committee of Taipei Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in
Taiwan (PCT) recently sent a letter to the Executive and Faith & Order
Committees of the PCT's General Assembly requesting a clear statement on
homosexuality. The presbytery's leaders also clearly stated their position
regarding member clergy who attended and approved of a meeting of the
independent "Tongkwang Presbyterian Church" (a homosexual-friendly
congregation) at which a Mr. Tzeng, that church's pastor, was ordained.

Presbytery Executive Secretary Cheng Hong-huei said, "Last month some clergy
who are members of this presbytery attended the ordination and installation
ceremony for the pastor of Tongkwang Church. Some even participated in the
laying on of hands and ordination prayers. Their actions imply that there is
no problem about homosexuality and that PCT clergy are free to ordain
ministers from other churches.	But church law prohibits PCT participation in
such ordinations."

Rev. Cheng says, "The Tongkwang Church ordination affair already has caused
opposition in ecclesiastical circles." Taipei Presbytery's executive
committee
issued a 3-point statement on homosexuality: 1) We request the General
Assembly to issue and adopt a clear statement on homosexuality so that the
church can have a firm foundation; 2) We call on the General Assembly
Committee on Faith and Order to consider the issues of homosexuality and
faith
and to invite concerned people into the dialogue; 3) We call those member
clergy of this presbytery who participated in the ordination of the pastor of
Tongkwang Church into sincere and open dialogue.

Speaking of his own position, Rev. Cheng says that the church must face the
issue of homosexuality on several different levels. Church concern for
homosexual people must be genuine. The question of whether or not a
homosexual
can be a pastor must be addressed.  (He notes that even the Presbyterian
Church in the USA is still debating this one.) As for PCT clergy, he says,
they overstep their authority when they lay hands on a homosexual to ordain
him. This is unsuitable behavior.

Going further, he asserts that according to PCT church law only the
presbytery
(the regional association of congregations) has the right to ordain.
Candidates must be examined first by the Presbytery and an official
representative of the Presbytery present at the ordination. He calls on all
PCT clergy to abide by church law and not participate in ANY ordinations
based
on their own decision.

For More Information: Taipei Presbytery tpepct@ms29.hinet.net

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