wfn.org | A Lighthouse in the Dark, Taipei's Tongkwant GLBT Presbyterian Church

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

Taiwan Church News 2583  2nd September 2001
Reported by Wang Hui-chu,  Written by David Alexander

    In most mainstream churches in Taiwan homosexuality would be classed
as sinful.  There is only one "out of the closet" congregation for Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered persons on the island. The
independent Tongkwang GLBT Presbyterian Church has been meeting for more
than three years.  It has now published the first indigenous homosexual
theology, entitled "A Lighthouse in the Darkness".  The book had its
debut on the dayprior to the opening of Taipei's Gay Pride Festival last
week.  Celebrities attended the book signing.
      Open homosexual culture in Taiwan is a recent phenomenon.  The book
details some of the history.  The authors assert that the absence of
mention of  homosexuality in the creation stories in the Bible cannot be
taken to mean that God is opposed to homosexual persons.
     Pastor Tzeng of Tongkwang Church says, "It's not a matter of whether
we are writing for persons who are homosexuals or for those who oppose
them. We are writing into the alienation between the two groups.  There
is a high wall of mutual suspicion between them.  It's composed both of
ideology and of behavior.  We attempt in this book to tear down some
walls.  One of our directions is to publish so all can read them the
testimonies of many Christian homosexuals.
    The Rev. Mr. Wang Rong-yi has a long history of interest in ministry
to the homosexual community.  He said, "It was after my contact with
Christian homosexuals that my viewpoints began to change.  I especially
was struck by the opposition of churches to homosexuals who have come
out of the closet. There was a fear that accepting these brothers and
sisters would lead to a complete breakdown of values.  All of us are
created by God.  All of us have the image of God in us.  Nobody wants to
be persecuted.  We all want to seek benefit, healing and acceptance in
life.  It is from my faith that I have a long-term concern for this
ministry.
    The book is divided into four sections on church history,
testimonies, biblical interpretation and theology from the bottom up.
The testimonies are those of Christian homosexuals and their parents.
TongkWang Church presents this book as an offering to God, and hopes
that it will be one part of a transformation for the people of God and
of mainstream churches.

For more information: tongkwang@ms6.url.com.tw