wfn.org | TCN: PCT leaders visit Taiwan Catholic Church leaders

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

>      Taiwan Church News

>2990 Edition

>June 15~21, 2009

PCT leaders visit Taiwan Catholic Church leaders

>Reported by Lin Yi-ying

>Written by Lydia Ma

To promote harmony and understanding between churches in Taiwan,  leaders from

the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan visited Taiwan’s Catholic  Archbishop’s Office

>and Archbishop John Hung on June 8th.

After a gift exchange, Hung asked for the PCT’s help in  training believers to provide

counseling after gospel meetings. The Catholic Church will soon  celebrate its 150th

anniversary since coming to Taiwan and a big gospel rally will be  held on November

21st in a gymnasium in Linkou, Taipei. Hung predicts that over a  thousand people

will make a decision to follow Christ during the rally and would  like to train as many

>counselors as possible ahead of time.

During this meeting between leaders from both churches, PCT  General Secretary

Andrew Chang was accompanied by Associate General Secretaries Lyim  Hong-

tiong, Kho Sing-Doh, Sing ‘Olam, and other leaders. Chang  prepared a collection

of books to give to Hung while the latter gave Chang a special  figurine set of the

>Virgin Mary.

PCT Moderator Leonard Lin told Hung that the PCT would like to  work with the

Catholic church in planning annual national prayer meetings and  related events to

promote greater cooperation and ecumenicalism between churches.

During this visit, officials from both churches also discussed  Taiwan’s relationship

with Rome and China as well as church-related issues. Catholic and  PCT leaders

denounced the Chinese government’s strict monitoring of  interactions between

Taiwanese and Chinese churches, as well as its crackdown on  Catholics and

>church events in China.

Speaking about the upcoming150th anniversary celebrations, Hung  said over 20

thousand people are expected to attend this event and the Catholic  Church will

invite President Ma Ying-jeou, as well as leaders from  Philippines, India, Hong

Kong, and other parts of the world. Hung sees this gathering as an  opportunity to

share the gospel and has urged believers to bring their friends.  Concerned that

counselors should receive enough training beforehand, he sought  the PCT’s help.

According to Lyim, the PCT has enjoyed a good relationship with  the Catholic

Church for a long time and both churches have partnered before in  events

promoting religious dialogue, gender justice, and spiritual  retreats. The PCT also

partners with the Catholic Church once every month for Taize  meditations.

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