wfn.org | TCN: PCT looks forward: Report from the 54th General Assembly Meeting

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

>Taiwan Church News

>2982 Edition

>April 20~26, 2009

PCT looks forward: Report from the 54th General Assembly Meeting

>Reported by staff reporters

>Written by Lydia Ma

The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) held its 54th General Assembly  Meeting in the auditorium of Mackay Memorial Hospital

on April 14~17. The meeting opened with a service commemorating the  500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth.

Since Calvin was known to dislike big choir presentations accompanied by  elaborate organ music, this year’s worship service was

different from years past. A simple accordion was used instead of the  organ and ushers and chairpersons took their seats before the

beginning of the service. The congregation sang a hymn written by Calvin  and the atmosphere was solemn as everyone reflected on

>Calvin’s legacy.

Since Calvin emphasized on confession and humility, a prayer of  confession was read by General Assembly Moderator Asing

Aman and the congregation also read the Ten Commandments out loud. Asing  Aman shared about Calvin’s dreams and aspirations

in his sermon and commented that Calvin trusted and obeyed God’s  plan for his life when he became involved in the Protestant

Reformation. He hoped that Calvin’s example would spur the PCT to  learn to trust and obey God’s leading.

Many motions were read and confirmed during this year’s meeting,  including changes in leadership at various PCT affiliated

organizations such as Taiwan Church Press, Sin-Lau Hospital, Pine Life  University, and more. New and current program secretaries

were introduced and confirmed as well. For more information, refer to  http://www.pct.org.tw/english/

One highlight of this year’s meeting was to introduce new and  retiring missionaries, as well as foreign guests. This year’s  foreign

guests included Tainan Theological College and Seminary’s Visiting  Professor Afire Songco Joye from Philippine Methodist

Church, General Secretary Sayam Muangsak from Church of Christ in  Thailand, Christian Conference of Asia General Secretary

>Rienzie Perera, and more.

Perera focused on the topic of aging societies during his speech and  congratulated the PCT for focusing on senior citizens ministry

during this year’s assembly. Muangsak thanked the PCT for sending  missionary Rev. Angel Wang to minister in Thailand and

shared about the recent political turmoil there.

>Focus on Senior Citizens Ministry

An important theme during this year’s General Assembly Meeting was  “Happy Seniors” and many local church leaders shared

about their church’s ministry to seniors.

According to Program Secretary Rev. Pang Jyh-Fong, who leads PCT’s  Pine Life (Senior Citizens) Ministry Committee, the

average birth rate in Taiwan in 2008 was only 1.07%. If this trend  continues, there will soon be more seniors than children in Taiwan

and the country will need to deal with the challenges of becoming an  aging society.

Therefore, the PCT must pay close attention to its Pine Life ministry  now by establishing close partnerships with local churches and

starting day care centers for seniors, or “Pine Life Day  Stations”. PCT’s goal is to establish 100 day care centers for  seniors by

>2012.

According to reports, PCT operated Pine Life University for seniors is  doing well and there are already 51 branches across the

country. There are currently 3,223 seniors enrolled in the university  and 6,329 seniors have graduated since the university was first

founded. Furthermore, a total of 230 students accepted Christ and were  baptized after attending the university and hearing about the

>gospel there.

Since Taiwan is already considered an aging nation according to UN  reports, and there are over 1,200 Presbyterian churches across the country, many of which have good facilities, Pang urged more  churches to start Pine Life University branches so that Christian and non-Christian seniors can benefit and receive education during their  late years. Pine Life University is also a good way for local churches to stay involved in their communities and spread the gospel.

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