wfn.org | Taiwan Theological College Installs its 23rd President

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Taiwan Church News 2745, 4 to 10 October 2004
Reported by Li Hsin-ren.  Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

When the Rev. Dr. Lin Hong-hsin was installed as the 23rd president of Taiwan
Theological College on October 2nd he said that the event was not about him
but about an entire community comprised of faculty, students, churches and
college friends.  He urged this community to press forward in the cause of
truth and justice, using their highest values to respond to the call of God.

He cited a student who once had a vision for Christian service without clarity
on where that vision would lead.  Nevertheless, the student undertook
theological study trusting that God's leadership and guidance would clarify
things in the community context.  The college, he said, is not a matter of one
person's vision, it is the vision of the group, God's called people, even
though these may be a minority.

He followed on to comment on the meaning of the occasion.  It was not just an
event designed to confer the office of president upon one person.  The
gathering was rooted in the community of scholars and learners, directors and
supporters.  He called upon God to confer vision upon the entire community,
not just on a minority, so that all might be encouraged and strengthened for
service.

"Never in my life have I borne such a responsibility!" Only after accepting
the position did he come to understand the school's financial deficit
position, budget problems and other practical needs.  The dormitories, for
example, are in need of repair and expansion, but the campus is sited in a "no
build" zone.

He noted that a college president must be responsible for physical plant,
finance, personnel and many other matters. Still relatively young himself, he
has little experience in most of these matters. To manage an institution with
so many needs he asked for support and aid. He hopes that all can be done with
an eye towards truth and righteousness and expects that the needs of the
community for these will conform to the values taught and caught through faith
in God.

 From 1990 to 2002 he served on the college's faculty. He spent the past two
With the addition of another Doctorate to the faculty next year, he hopes the
college to 16 full time teachers, six of whom hold Doctoral level degrees.
transformation in this land had been very rapid. Taiwan plays an important
school will attain to an important center for research in mission.
mission. To that end new faculty have been added this year, bringing the
years abroad, principally in Singapore. Upon his return he saw that social
role both in Asia and the wider world. For that reason he believes that the

Dr Lin is a graduate of National Taiwan University (B.A. Philosophy)
			Taiwan Theological College (M.Div.)
			Tubingen University (D.Th.)
Nottingham University  (Ph.D.)

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		      president@taitheo.org.tw
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