wfn.org | Taiwan’s first government-accredited seminary born at last

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>      Taiwan Church News

>3010 Edition

>November 2~8, 2009

Taiwan’s first government-accredited seminary born at last

>Reported by Chen Yi-hsuan

>Written by Lydia Ma

After much effort, Chang Jung Christian University finally  succeeded in obtaining government

accreditation for its seminary, which is slated to begin offering  graduate programs in 2011.

The university also plans to change the name of its School of  Christian Studies into School of

>Theology.

According to School of Theology Dean Chong-Gyiau Wong, the  university’s goal is to cater to

the needs of both average church members and pastors. The M.A. in  Religious Studies is the

recommended program for average church members and pastors who  already possess a

M.Div. degree will soon be able to enroll in the school’s  M.Th. program. The university also

hopes the new school can partner with other seminaries and  churches across Taiwan.

Chang Jung’s School of Theology is the first seminary in  Taiwan to be accredited by the

Ministry of Education and this milestone will enable many  seminarians and clergy members to

finally have their degrees recognized by government agencies and  the Taiwanese public at

large. Chang Jung will also be Taiwan’s first accredited  higher education institution offering

>accredited seminary programs.

Wong reported that the School of Theology currently boasts a few  internationally renowned

faculty members, including visiting professors Rev. C.S. Song and  Rev. Chow Lien-hwa. The

school has also invited renowned theologians from US and Hong  Kong, such as Dr. H.S.

Wilson and Dr. Archie Lee to join as faculty members who will come  to Taiwan and give

lectures on a regular basis. There are currently seven full-time  faculty members in the school.

“If all goes well, those who wish to study contextual  theology will have to come to Tainan city in

the future,” said Wong, adding that the school will also  invite faculty members from other

departments, such as philosophy and religious studies, to teach  some of its classes. He

hopes to see closer cooperation in the future between the new  school and Tainan Theological

College and Seminary so that Tainan city may become a research hub  combining theology,

>philosophy, and religious studies.

Because of government accreditation, Wong said church members and  pastors who

complete their M.A. or M.Th. at Chang Jung will now be able to  pursue doctorate degrees at

other universities afterward. The university hopes its new  programs will lend support to

existing seminaries in Taiwan while at the same time give local  pastors more options to

>choose from when considering further studies.

For more information, visit the university’s website at  http://www.cjcu.edu.tw/english/

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