Taiwan Church News

3304 Edition

June 22 - 28, 2015

Editorial

PCT History Broadcast By Formosa TV's Famous Program - "Taiwan History"

At 7:55 p.m. on June 21, a remarkable Sunday night, the renown Formosa TVprogram - "Taiwan History" - broadcast a special documentary entitled as "The 150 Years' Missionary History Of PCT" narrating the impact of PCT's missionary ministries upon various dimensions of Taiwan - religion, medicine and culture. Ms. Hu Wang-ling, host of this Formosa TV program, gave her positive confirmation at the beginning of this documentary about PCT's contribution to Taiwan as "an unneglectable part of modern Taiwan history!"

After watching this program and being touched by an inspiration of surprise andexcitement, many pastors and PCT members shared their thoughts on the facebook of this TV program. Though there were still some minor defects in this documentary, the general comment is that it delivered a terse and wonderful story of PCT's mission. Many even shared this program on Youtube, expecting more people to know PCT via this clip and accept the gospel further.

During the production of this documentary, it was inevitable that somehistorical questions needed to be clarified and answered for the Formosa TV news team. Therefore, Taiwan Church Press(TCP) was assigned by PCT General Assembly Office to supply necessary support: be it old pictures, the contents of Taiwan Church News in early days and the contact information of the related interviewers, TCP always did her best effort to search and serve as this is a mission to "witness PCT history with records". Especially, during the period of supporting to shoot this documentary, it made TCP understood more resources had to be invested into storage and maintenance of those rare historical data, otherwise they would be easily vanish in the passage of time.

Based on a respect for the autonomy and professionalism of journalism, exceptfor some necessary support, TCP did not instruct or interfere into the production of this documentary. Almost all the video contents and narratives were professionally researched and independently written by Formosa TV news team. And the documentary introduced PCT mission along three historical stages: first, the contributions of the pioneering missionaries in the second half of the 19 century; second, the expulsion of the foreign missionaries and the enforcement of church schools' teachers and students to attend the shrine worship, during the administration of the Japanese government; third, after the participation of World Council of Churches(WCC) in 1950s, PCT became increasingly concerned about justice, human rights and the process of democracy in Taiwan.

Due to PCT's three brave statements for Taiwan society in the crisis of 1970s,and her faithful role as the guardian for Taiwan democracy in the following decades, this documentary affirms PCT's role as a prophet for Taiwan people. But, in the end of the program, PCT's anti-LGBT stance expressed in her 2014 pastoral letter to all local congregations was solemnly questioned about her integrity as a prophet with reformation spirit.

However, we need not depreciate our self-esteem and think our strength are tooweak to fight for justice. Remember those fearless hearts manifested in our faithful forebears, still we should march forward to proclaim the good messages of the kingdom of God. Just like the comments posted on facebook by Formosa TV news team, "Those who believe are blessed! We are deeply touched inside by such feelings, when many PCT pastors and members are interviewed in the production of the documentary". Maybe the seeds of the gospel are disseminating unto some unexpected corners. Now, they are sprouting and bearing fruits!