wfn.org | Taiwan's Aboriginal Churches Mark 50 Years of Mission Focus

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Taiwan Church News 2744, 27 September to 3 October 2004
Reported by Yang Shu-hao.  Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

Leaders of Aboriginal Churches of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan were
brought together late in September by the General Assembly's Aboriginal
Mission Committee to mark a dual celebration: 140 Years of Protestant Mission
Work and 50 Years of Aboriginal Movement- A Seminar on The Mission of the
Kingdom of God and Church Growth.

The Rev. Mr. Sing O-lamu, Aboriginal Mission Secretary at the General
Assembly
acknowledges that Taiwan's Aboriginal peoples have different cultural and
contextual backgrounds from Taiwan's majority ethnic Han population. This
makes the missional needs of their churches different from those of the
mainstream. The purposes of the seminar were to deepen and clarify
understandings of various issues.  He also hoped that presentation of the
situations of growth in a few exemplary congregations could encourage all
present in their own efforts along those lines.

The theme of the event was, "Christ is the hope of Taiwan's Aborigines."
Presenters included Dr. Cheng Yangen, Professor of Church History at Taiwan
Theological College, Kao Wan-chin, President of Yu-shan Theological College,
Chen Nanjou, Vice principal and Professor of Christian Ethics at Yu-shan, and
Huang Po-ho, President and Professor of Systematic Theology at Tainan
Theological College. Each scholar presented a paper. Topics included "Current
Mission Crisis and Opportunity", "Aboriginal Theological Education and
Mission", "Presbyterian Evaluation and Critique of the Government" and "Aids
and Barriers to Church Growth."

Discussion and sharing were emphasized. The idea of forming
"sub-presbyteries"
was brought up because language and ethnicity based presbyteries sometimes
are
too large geographically or member congregations in the mountains too
remotely
situated for meaningful work to be carried out on a presbytery-wide basis.

Dr. Cheng said that in many current Aboriginal village situations Christians
form the majority of residents. When village residents who have moved to
Taiwan's urban centers return home because of an inability to live on the
outside they can be disappointed about life and cool in faith. Because of
that, mission with Aboriginal youth who live outside the village environment
is essential, and focus on the needs of village residents is no less
important.

He asserted that "By means of the power of faith we must firm up
understandings of land use and Aboriginal identity." A sense of Aboriginal
identity and involvement with the land are points from which mission can
proceed strongly.  Identity issues include mother tongues, renewed
theological
training, community development, and ecological concerns such as forestry
preservation.

The Rev. Kino Lafin from West Amis Presbytery spoke on the need for
discussion
of Aboriginal mission work in urban areas.  He pointed to church-wide
statistics that show 77 Aboriginal congregations in urban areas. In the
ethnic
Bunun and Amis presbyteries these churches have developed isolated from their
roots in the mountains. He suggests a "sub-presbytery" style of organization
to meet the needs of all churches.

Kino called for mutual effort to grow, serve and pray manners that emphasize
the unity of the church and the mission of the kingdom of God.

For More Information: Sing O'lamu  sing@mail.pct.org.tw
		      Cheng Yangen giongun.tin@msa.hinet.net
		      Kino Lafin  v1205633@ms34.hinet.net
Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.
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