wfn.org | Buddhist feel of new church building raises questions

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>      Taiwan Church News

>3028 Edition

>March 8~14, 2010

Buddhist feel of new church building raises questions

>Reported by Chen Yi-hsuan

>Written by Lydia Ma

Permanent housing units built in Pinlin Township, Kaohsiung  County, began 
welcoming new

residents in February when construction was almost complete.  Aborigines from 
Min-tzu and

Chin-he reservations in Namasiya who lost their homes during  Typhoon Morakot 
have begun

>moving in recently.

Since most Min-tzu and Chen-he Aborigines are PCT members, on  March 4, 
representatives

from PCT General Assembly, PCT South Bunun Presbytery, and  Adventist Church 
met up with

representatives from Tzu-Chi Buddhist Foundation at the  newly-built “Da-ai 
Village”. The

village, also known as permanent housing units, was built by  Tzu-Chi 
Foundation.

The meeting between the three organizations was held in one of the  chapels 
inside Da-ai

Village. Stepping inside the chapel, one could see Buddhist  refrains coated on 
the glass

doors of the chapel. Many Tzu-Chi flags and a few carved statues  of Tzu-Chi 
volunteers in their

blue-and-white uniforms could be seen just outside of the chapel.

Representatives from these three organizations met to discuss  ownership of the 
chapels built

inside Da-ai Village. PCT and Adventist Church each gave a report  introducing 
their

denomination’s organizational structure, their statement of  faith, and some of 
their religious

>convictions.

During discussions, Tzu-Chi Foundation repeatedly emphasized it  would respect 
the religious

beliefs of all residents living in Da-ai Village and also  clarified the sole 
purpose of the meeting

was to gather information and report it to Kaohsiung County  government for 
further study.

Churches would be informed of any decisions made by the county  government in 
due time.

The Da-Ai Village built in Pinlin Township by Tzu-Chi adopted  designs and 
colors

characteristic of Tzu-Chi foundation. So far, there are two new  chapels in 
this village, one for

Presbyterians and another for Adventist Church members. But  ownership of these 
chapels

and ownership of the lands on which they’re built are still  undetermined.

According to South Bunun Presbytery Rebuilding Committee Chairman,  Rev. Chu 
Mei-fang,

PCT currently has the right to use the building, but it would like  to obtain 
actual ownership of

the building so that the church can finally be named and a member  roster can 
be established.

“Real ownership of the building is the only way for us to be  able to make 
decisions,” said Rev.

Chu, “we really don’t want to see a Buddhist master  exegete Buddhist texts 
inside a church.”

Rev. Chu noted that there are about 120 Christians living in Da-ai  Village 
from Min-tzu and

Chin-he reservations combined and this is not a small number.  Hence, it is 
imperative that

matters be settled promptly so that Christians can resume their  weekly church 
meetings. Rev.

Chu worries that long periods of waiting will result in loss of  church members.

For the time being, South Bunun Presbytery has set up a small  committee 
entrusted with the

care of those living in Pinlin Da-ai Village. Members from this  committee 
visited Min-tzu and

Chen-he residents on March 14 to get an idea of residents’  needs and help them 
restart

>weekly church meetings.

As for who should ultimately own the church buildings inside  Pinlin Da-ai 
Village, PCT

Associate General Secretary Sing ‘Olam stressed that all  resources are God’s 
gift to

humanity and humans are merely users and stewards of these  resources, 
therefore, people

>must act responsibly.

The final decision about ownership of the chapels lies in the  hands of 
Kaohsiung County

government. However, reports indicate the latter has stated  previously that 
ownership will go

to Tzu-Chi. It remains to be seen whether Tzu-Chi will then pass  on ownership 
of the chapel to

>PCT as gift.

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