Gay Christians’ eligibility for theological education enters PCT radar

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

3096 Edition

June 27-July 3

Headline News

Gay Christians’ eligibility for theological education enters PCT radar

Reported by staff reporters

Written by Lydia Ma

When three PCT seminaries held their respective convocations this summer, a 
small and colorful handmade windmill adorning a corner of an aisle at Taiwan 
Theological College and Seminary’s (TTCS) auditorium caught some people’s 
attention. The windmill had been placed by Tong-Kwang Lighthouse Presbyterian 
Church (a church not affiliated with the PCT) to celebrate the graduation of 
one of its own – Chen Wei-jen – and to draw attention to the plight of gays in 
obtaining a formal degree at PCT seminaries. 

According to reports, Chen Wei-jen, a self-avowed homosexual, had obtained a 
bachelor’s degree from National Chengchi University’s Department of Management 
Information Systems. He applied to TTCS’s Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program 
but was denied admission when he admitted his sexual orientation during the 
admission oral exam. TTCS professors later encouraged him to apply for the 
school’s bachelor-level certificate program, which he completed this year.

While Chen was enrolled in the first year of this program, he reapplied for the 
M.Div. program, but his application was denied. This year, he applied again and 
his application was again denied. Though many professors have privately debated 
over the right to theological education for all and some faculty believe 
application to theological programs shouldn’t be rejected on the basis of 
sexual orientation, faculty at TTCS are striving to submit to the leadership of 
the school for now.  

During the convocation, TTCS Acting President Chen Shang-jen quoted Romans 1:1 
to convey the school’s expectations and wishes for its newest alumni. He 
admonished them to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice to God and to be 
effective in their ministries. He also cautioned them against conforming to the 
world and reminded them to test everything.

In related news, a seminar on how to reach out to gays and how churches can 
help parents with gay children was held on June 12, 2011, hosted by Promise 
Giver Christian Action Network. The network’s members include anyone in the 
Christian community who is either gay or supports gay Christians. The seminar’s 
goal is to provide professional training to churches so that they know how to 
respond to questions and challenges gay people have in their lives in a helpful 
manner.

The seminar’s speaker, Wang Jung-yi, underscored that no one can confidently 
say that he has a 100% hold of the truth, but love is very close to the truth. 
Unfortunately, when churches face the gays, they often act self-righteously as 
though they are absolutely certain gays must be living outside God’s will. Some 
churches are quick to pressure or condemn gays, forgetting the latter needs 
God’s love just like anyone else. 

Commenting on TTCS’s refusal to admit Chen Wei-jen to its M.Div. program, Wang 
said he opposed such a decision on the grounds that admission criteria 
shouldn’t be determined by whether school leaders are gay-friendly. He pointed 
out that there is currently no written regulations within TTCS that says gays 
are not eligible to apply for a Master’s program. Hence, he believes gay rights 
is about gender rights and must be decided through a good discussion in the PCT 
General Assembly.

 

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