wfn.org | Taiwan Church News Cancels Print Version of its English Newsletter

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

Taiwan Church News  SPECIAL  29 December 2004
Reported by ATu.
In 1984, in response to Taiwan's international isolation and internal human
rights situation the Taiwan Church News, which has been in continuous
publication in local languages since 1885, established an English Language
Occasional Bulletin.  At the end of 2004 the Occasional Bulletin ceases print
publication and distribution.  Electronic distribution by e-mail and posting
through the Worldwide Faith Network (www.wfn.org) and Ecunet (www.ecunet.org)
as well as through the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan
(PCT) (www.pct.org.tw) will continue.
   Publication of the Occasional Bulletin (OB) in English became possible in
1984 when Mr. Gary Hoff, a missionary of the United Church of Christ in the
USA (UCCUSA) arrived in Taiwan and joined the Taiwan Church News staff.  He
and a Taiwanese colleague, Mrs. Helen Kuo, created the publication, at first
using typewriter and photocopier.  The publication grew and matured over the
years.	In 1993 Mr. Hoff left Taiwan and Ms. Vivian Su, also from the UCCUSA,
replaced him.  She further developed the format and content of the OB until
her own departure in 1999.
   Upon Ms. Su's departure in 1999 the OB was produced by guest editors and
local translators for a year, but the results were less than satisfactory. 
In
September of 2000 Mr. David Alexander, supported by the Reformed Church in
America (RCA), took the helm.  After a steep learning curve he was able to
bring the publication back up to the quality that his predecessors had
achieved.  While he was on sabbatical late in 2003 the Mission Services Unit
of the RCA informed the Taiwan Church Press that it would no longer support
his work in publication and communication. A year of transition time, which
has now run out, was allowed.  The RCA sees Mr. Alexander only in the role of
theological educator, and he has been reassigned.  Lacking a foreign editor
for the OB, the president of the Taiwan Church Press has elected to close the
publication.
   The development of electronic distribution by e-mail and the availability
of the Worldwide Faith Network and Ecunet to carry the contents make better
stewardship sense.  Postage and printing expenses of up to US$10,000 per year
will be saved.
   Nonetheless, Ms. Su says, "I can't imagine the PCT without its English
language public face, the Occasional Bulletin.	I will always remember it as
the bridge that provides insight and understanding for Taiwan's people,
society and religion.  Occasional though it was, insignificant it was not."
   After the final print run OB the subscription list will be turned over to
the General Assembly of the PCT, which will decide whether or not to produce
and distribute an English language print newsletter of its own.

For More Information: The General Secretary of the PCT	gs@mail.pct.org.tw
		  The President of the Taiwan Church Press
lifuch@pctpress.com.tw
		  The General Editor of the Taiwan Church News
ye@pctpress.com.tw
		  The Taiwan Church News  pctpress@ms1.hinet.net
Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.
Visit our web site: www.pctpress.com.tw