wfn.org | Taiwan Church News: TTCS reflects on past, present, and future during global financial crisis

["Lydia Ma" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>Taiwan Church News

>2976 Edition

>March 9~15, 2009

TTCS reflects on past, present, and future during global financial  crisis

>Reported by Chen Yi-shuan

>Written by Lydia Ma

March 15th is the Sunday Presbyterian churches across Taiwan make a  special offering for Tainan Theological College and Seminary (TTCS). In  an open letter written especially for the occasion, TTCS President Ngo  Hu-nga (Wu Fu-ya) noted that during the current political and financial  crisis in Taiwan, churches and seminaries set on carrying out their  mission face a long and difficult journey ahead.

Academic Dean of TTCS Lim Koan-hun (Lin Chuan-fen) echoed Wu’s  sentiments and said during times of unrest, people really need faith to  feel at peace. Circumstances in Taiwan nowadays require seminaries to do  their best in bringing out the hope and love found in Christ.

During an interview, Lin shared that TTCS has strong roots in the  Christian faith and in the country and these are distinguishing features  and strengths of the seminary. However, TTCS has yet to receive formal  accreditation from the Ministry of Education (MOE) and this can weaken  the school’s competitiveness in an era when many schools compete  against each other to attract more students.

TTCS is now working closely with the MOE to receive full accreditation  and estimates the process may take two or three years to complete. The  seminary will need to adjust its curriculum and offer general education  courses approved by the MOE, while simultaneously strengthening its  theological training and Christian education courses.

Lin emphasized that TTCS would not fall behind in spiritual and  theological formation. “We train pastors and anyone willing to  serve in churches. Our focus is to be a “people” centered  seminary instead of an intellectually or philosophically centered  seminary.”

When it comes to interaction between TTCS and local churches, Lin  pointed out that seminaries exist because of churches. She welcomed  local churches to offer suggestions and feedback and also pondered over  visiting churches one by one on behalf of TTCS. The current economic  crisis may decrease the number of new applicants to the school and  scheduling promotional events or orientation sessions at local churches  may help the school attract students. Lin urged local pastors to  introduce talented candidates to the school as well.

In recent years, TTCS has been striving to build a closer relationship  with the local community. It lowered its fences to make itself more  accessible and local residents can now be seen strolling on the grounds  of the campus. Some people have even chosen the seminary as a site for  their wedding portraits. TTCS has partnered with five nearby  neighborhoods in recent months by hosting various events such as  Christmas carnivals.

In terms of TTCS’s infrastructure, school administrators confess  that it is human nature to worry about a decrease in offerings when the  economy is doing badly. However, our faith enables us to trust that God  will supply our needs at just the right time. The seminary witnessed  God’s provision recently when one contributor donated a significant  amount of money which allowed it to remodel its 30-year-old student  cafeteria.

TTCS administrators hope that brothers and sisters can support TTCS  financially through offerings and urge interested individuals and  churches to partner with them in supporting theological education. For  more information, please visit www.ttcs.org.tw

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