wfn.org | What Future is in Store for Taiwan's Theological Schools?

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

Taiwan Church News 2732, 5-11 July 2004
Reported by Hsiao Shiuh-ching. Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

Where are Taiwan's theological schools to turn? A symposium sponsored by the
Formosa Christianity and Culture Research Centre in Tainan was held to speak
to this question on June 28 and 29. It brought together presidents and
presidential representatives from several theological schools in this land,
including Holy Light Theological College in Kaohsiung, Taiwan Theological
College in Taipei, The Presbyterian Bible College in Hsin-chu, Yushan
Theological College in Hualien and Tainan Theological College, where the
event
took place.

A lot of ideas were put forth, but no conclusions were reached. In the end
participants appointed an ad-hoc group to consult with Taiwan's government
education authorities. At stake is the legitimacy of the Bachelors' Masters'
and Doctoral degrees that are granted by the many of the schools.

The event was led by Dr. C.S. Chen, president of Chang Jung Christian
University and head of the committee on Higher Education at the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT).  Besides the gathered
institutional leaders, members of Taiwan's parliament and staff from the
Ministry of Education were present.

Hsu Huei-wen and Huang Kuo-chung from the ministry of education set out the
government regulations that apply to privately owned colleges and
universities
in general. The government's hope is that religious groups that have their
own
training centers and theological colleges can upgrade their holdings and
programs to these standards.

Dr. Huang Po-ho, president of Tainan Theological College and Seminary,
rebutted with the concern that compliance to government standards would
remove
religious groups' control over whom they could admit to their schools. That
would lead to the loss of the colleges' original missions to train up church
workers and evangelists. Such a change would eventually change the nature of
theological education and weaken ties between colleges and the churches. But,
he said, to not come into compliance with government regulations also has
negative consequences.	He recommended filing applications, but asking for
exceptions.

As to the question of applying or not, Dr. Chen Jyi-song, president of Holy
Light Theological College, said "Only the matters of campus size and
endowment
can be solved." His school can comply with these because the benefits
outweigh
the disadvantages. But he does not want to lose control over the school's
right to sort those who apply for admission based on indications of their
suitability for the ministry.

Lin Rei-lung, president of the Presbyterian Bible College, suggested that
theological colleges work towards inclusion in the category of private
universities. He suggests that the PCT take action to unify its four schools
into one institution which will have sufficient resources to meet the
qualifications for accreditation.

For more information: C.S. Chen  cschen@mail.chu.edu.tw
		  Huang Po-ho  pekho@bbs.ttcs.edu.tw
		  Chen Jyi-song holyli@ksts.seed.net.tw
		  Lin Rei-lung pbcem@pbc.olrg.tw

For More Information: Formosa Christianity and Culture Research Centre
fccrc@cju.edu.tw
Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.
Visit our web site: www.pctpress.com.tw