Jesus said, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."　　(Luke 12:32)

During the year 2000 many people in Taiwan and around the world found reasons why the church here should respond to current events with fear. Those who follow politics closely were fearful. Some dreaded the possible overturn of the single party rule system under which Taiwan has lived since 1945. Some who desired an overturn feared that it would not happen. Both sides feared that a change might cost lives and produce chaos.

Social instability induced some residents to fear. There were not as many "high profile" crimes as in recent years, but an underlying atmosphere of "black gold" (the conditions of government officers and legislators being closely associated with organized crime and of political manipulation by moneyed interests) continues. Persistent erosion of morality is seen in the pervasive sexualization of childhood. The mass media focus on gossip, innuendo and sensationalism leaving people feeling that the foundations are rotten and all built thereupon will collapse. 

Following the downturn on stock exchanges around the world, Taiwan's fell too. Local industrialists continued moving Taiwan's traditional heavy industries to China and Southeast Asia. Unemployment among local laborers increased. In November it was announced that there were 313,000 unemployed (3.19% of the workforce). At the same time, Taiwan was temporary home to 450,000 legal and illegal migrant laborers in industry, construction and domestic service from the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and China. The exchange rate of Taiwan's currency to the US Dollar dropped nearly 6%.

Taiwan fades from the world stage. United Nations membership is refused us. The number of nations with formal diplomatic relations remains in the 20's. One formerly friendly nation, the Solomon Islands, held what looked like a bidding war, playing off aid and trade from Taiwan against promises from China to determine who to recognize.

Much in the world prompts Taiwan's people to respond with fear. As part of God's people, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) is guided by the Holy Spirit speaking to us through the events of our time and the bible. 

As the eyes of the servant look to his master, and the eyes of the maid to her mistress, so we look to the Lord our God, until he has mercy upon us. (Psalm 123:2)

We will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday. (Psalm 91:5-6)

The Terror of the Night

In the middle of the night of September 21st 1999 Taiwan was struck by an earthquake (the "921") measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale. Over 2,000 died and 6,500 were injured. Property damage was over 100 billion Taiwan Dollars (US$3 billion). On March 18, 2000 Taiwan experienced an event that The New York Times called "a political earthquake". The party that held power in the entire central government since 1945 was turned out of the executive branch. The election campaign was hard fought. Five parties put up slates. The candidate of the former ruling party (the KMT) came in third. Members of the PCT were urged to vote for change. Workshops held in various locations during February produced a pastoral letter sent by the Church and Society Committee on March 1st to all PCT churches urging support for the Chen Shui-bian and Lu Siu-lian, who eventually won. The letter came with leaflets for church members to read and pass to neighbors. On May 20th the new president and vice president were inaugurated. President Chen called for an end to black gold and the creation of clean politics. Though not a Christian, he used biblical themes and called on people to love justice, do kindness, and walk in humility.

The transition was peaceful, but the ensuing political scene has not been. The KMT maintains a majority in the legislature. With other parties it has formed an unholy alliance to prevent the executive branch from acting on many matters. Some blocked actions had KMT support before the election. By brute force the KMT demonstrates its ability to "rule anyway". Many important actions are left undone. When the executive branch cancelled further work on a nuclear power plant the alliance used legislative maneuvers to attempt impeachment of the president. In response, the Church and Society Committee issued a statement, "Cease Political Wrangling, Establish a non-nuclear Home" on October 31st.

The Arrow that flies by Day

It is estimated that over 200 ballistic missiles of China's armed forces are aimed at military, industrial and population centers on Taiwan. Our defense forces seem capable of repelling an airborne or amphibious assault on national territory (with the possible exception of two islands lying in near China's mainland). The KMT had its roots in China and crafted education in Taiwan for the past 55 years to emphasize the role of "One China" within which there should be no division. Political factors are seen as the major impediment to unity. Internationally isolated as we are, little would be said around the world if China should pressure or attack us.

But we fear not. We have raised the banner before regarding China. In 1997 the PCT led a "Say No To China" movement (at the time of Hong Kong's absorbtion into China). In October of 2000 PCT members were among the leaders of a "Say Yes To Taiwan" movement calling all residents to decisively establish Taiwan's independent rights, recognize Taiwan as a legitimate nation, and protect Taiwan's people and territory. In January of 2001 the PCT will host an international forum on East Asia Peace and Security, and in response to the PCT the World Council of Churches plans a consultation on Justice, Peace and People's Security in Northeast Asia early in 2001.

The Pestilence that stalks in the Darkness 

Largely unseen by Taiwan's people, nuclear power has become part of our lives. The Taiwan Power Company has three nuclear generating plants. They are a lucrative source of construction contracts and graft for corrupt legislators and their underworld backers. Nuclear power also fuels the waste ethic that pervades our industrial, commercial and political sectors. The 4th plant, under construction already, was still liable to cancellation. On June 4th, Environment Sunday, the PCT reiterated a 1992 anti-nuclear declaration and called for the end of construction. In October the PCT joined Evangelical churches and para-church organizations urging the government to review its policy, favor alternative power sources, promote conservation, cancel the 4th nuclear plant and plan to eliminate the other three.

After his election in March, President Chen appointed a KMT member as premier, a gesture of reconciliation. The KMT agreed but worked to prevent him from actions favorable to the president. Assaulted from two directions, the Premier stepped down in October. President Chen then named Chang Chun-hsiung, a member of the PCT, to the post. One of Premier Chang's first actions was to cancel the 4th nuclear plant. In the political firestorm that followed the PCT stood firmly on the ground of "a non-nuclear home" and participated in an interfaith prayer movement with Catholics, Buddhists and other people of faith and in protest marches in Taiwan's major cities on November 12th.

The Destruction that wastes at Noonday

Taiwan's economic growth this year was reported as 6%. The government forecasts a 6% for 2001. Professional economists in the region estimate 4.5%. This remains greater than many countries around the world but is lower than the 7-9% rates common in recent decades. A frequent refrain on the lips of local people is "the economy is bad." Non-performing loans at banks are over 8.5% and the stock market fell more than 40% in 2000. Yet the PCT adds commitments to mission at home and abroad. After the 1999 earthquake foreign donations funded much of the rescue and relief work which the church undertook. Reconstruction is a slow and costly process. The PCT has set forth a 4-year plan costing 90 million Taiwan Dollars (US$2,727,300) which were raised by local offerings, funding from MacKay, Chang-Hwa and Sin-Lau Christian Hospitals and overseas appeals. 

World culture has homogenized much of our lives. "Mandarinization" has similarly taken the life out of mother tongues used in Taiwan's aboriginal tribes. The Taiwan Aboriginal Language and Culture Education Association was born in the PCT. It takes advantage of new government mandates for mother tongue education in primary and middle schools. The association works to put pastors and church leaders in classrooms to teach mother tongues until formally certified faculty can be trained. Curricula will be developed by Christian teachers, not by outsiders and imposed upon aboriginal youth. The church is seen as a living repository of aboriginal languages. The PCT also works with Catholics and Wycliffe Bible translators on a new bible in the Puyuma language, spoken by only 10,000 people. In conjunction with the Bible Society the PCT works on Old Testament translation into Tayal and Taroko, and New Testament portions into Tsou. Ethnic Han mother tongue promotion includes "language rooms" (many located in churches) established in major cities and counties to produce curricula for schools and be resource centers for teachers. The Modern Taiwanese New Testament is complete but for the gospels. A "test text" will circulate for comment in 2001. 

Taiwan's mass media aim only at profit. To this end, they emphasize the tawdry and extraordinary. "Exaggeration and titillation" gain audiences. The PCT has established its own Mass Media Center to offer a voice of sanity and morality in the commercial wasteland. The center produces TV programs and CD recordings, conducts human resources training for media personnel and has applied for its own broadcast license.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32)

The PCT has been committed to the values of the Kingdom of God since 1865. The 921 earthquake moved that "kingdom focus" onto rescue and relief for time. Now that reconstruction has begun a more holistic kingdom approach is again our main aim. The 21st Century New Taiwan Mission Movement is the primary vehicle for this work. Major effort this year has aimed at community ministry. Often local churches have served their members and neglected their neighbors. Several publications of a "how to" and "why to" nature have come from the movement. The Research and Development Center provides feedback to the movement through surveys, studies, re-evaluations and resource development. It is also studying inculturation of the Gospel among the Tawu people of Orchid Island.

Evangelism

This committee cares for clergy and their families, ministerial candidates, elders and deacons and the evangelistic outreach of the church. As in previous years it sponsored retreats for clerical families renewal of vocation and cooperated with the PCT's 4 theological colleges in the nurture and formation of candidates. It also supported local presbyteries training of elders and deacons. This year the focus has been on developing "a teachable spirit" instead of "skill enhancement" done in the past. Without diminishing the need to recover and enhance mother tongues the committee encourages churches to add worship services in Mandarin to attract and retain people who, because of five decades of "One China" education or because they or their parents came to Taiwan from China, have never developed fluency in one of Taiwan's native languages. 

Hakka Mission

On December 10th the Hakka District was organized. It functions like a presbytery, but with cultural/linguistic boundaries rather than geographic ones. The district concept began with Aboriginal groups that needed separate identity along ethnic/linguistic lines but lacked the minimum of congregations/members to be a "presbytery". In recent decades districts have been formed by Sai-te-ke, Puyuma, Drukai, Tawu, Tsou, and east coast Paiwan churches. This is the first for a Han group. 

Education

Sunday school teacher training is now available in 3-level correspondence course. 1,100 teachers are enrolled in the basic course and 100 in the intermediate. The advanced has just opened. Total Sunday school curriculum revision began in September and will offer a biblical track and a faith and life track. The traditional "through-the-bible-in-4-years" cycle will be replaced by a 2 year plan. The education department also held a "draw bible stories" contest with the Israeli Foreign Ministry. 

Women's Ministries

Generational change in Women's work is a Global issue. The Women's Ministry Committee focused on spiritual and leadership formation for a new generation of church women, holding training and retreats for Aboriginal and Han women, and participated in international forums as home and as sending agency. PCT Women donate to the World Council of Churches through the Fellowship of the Least Coin, and hold World Day of Prayer events in March every year. The committee publishes Women's Mission Magazine and has funded translation and publication of The Women's Bible Commentary, due out in 2001. Building on a "church developed" skill, women's groups in many areas sponsor community choirs to link churches to neighborhoods. 

Aboriginal Mission

The Aboriginal Church and Society Sub-Committee held empowerment training for its constituency. Lessons in labor relations were offered to protect tribal members who have been cheated when they left traditional homelands to work in industrial and commercial jobs. Training was also given to church staff and clergy seeking to aid community members with labor and health insurance systems. Church management training was conducted to correct a pattern of failure to plan or follow through on plans which affects many churches. 

The Aboriginal Senior Citizens Ministry Sub-Committee continued a 1998 refocus, to community ministry and proclamation, promoting visitation of elderly people living alone in tribal villages.

The Aboriginal Campus Ministry Sub-committee worked with the Amis and Taroko presbyteries to open work in 6 colleges near Hualien on the east coast. The Aboriginal Campus Ministry Center in Taichung found a new and permanent home.

Youth Ministry

After a convention in 1999 youth ministry orientation changed from "top down" to "bottom up". Previous large events were planned "by the pros" for the youth. The result was a loss of youth enthusiasm to participate. Convention goers challenged the structures. In 2000 the youth designed and operated a Junior/Senior High School camp and a music event, Praise 2000. The international "worship and praise" style has become common and popular in Taiwan as in many places around the world, but this event added world, "Hoklo" and Aboriginal music, and some traditional hymns used in the PCT. Another need met was for training of local church youth sponsors and counselors. 80 people participated in a summer conference and called for more training. 

Campus Ministry

The foci of PCT campus ministries were spiritual formation, leadership training and ecumenical work. Formation was more than the traditional group bible study. It included training in use of bible study tools to lead others. Leadership training continues within the program of Taiwan SCM (Student Christian Movement) and gives students exposure to organization for social change. Ecumenical training was boosted by local college students working with others in 921 earthquake reconstruction and by a mission study tour to North America.

Over the past 20 years the number of colleges and universities in Taiwan has increased from 70 to 135. The student population has swelled from 100,000 to 420,000. Yet the staff devoted to full-time to campus ministry in the PCT only increased from 17 to 18. Previously many campus ministry workers were foreign missionaries. Now, with the exception of work with aboriginal students, all campus ministry workers are local people and the work is locally funded. 

Church and Society

The most visible functions of the church engaged in mission, whether advocacy or action, move through this committee. Less visible work includes oversight of the PCT's six social service centers which focus on Laborers, Seamen/Fishermen, Disabled People, Sex Workers, Women's Development and Aboriginal Community Development. Each center has its own board and looks, in part, to the General Assembly for funding. The Church and Society committee is working with Chang-Hwa, Sin-Lau and MacKay Christian Hospitals and the Peng-an Social Welfare Foundation to secure more regular funding for these centers.

Senior Citizens Ministry

The Pine Life University, a PCT institution providing decentralized higher education to senior citizens, inaugurated former Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui, a member of the PCT, as its honorary president in October. Headquarters for the University are in Taipei, operations and academic services in Hsin-chu, administration in Taichung, and instruction is carried out in 32 locations all over the country. 

Reading the Bible with New Eyes

In three years of "New Eyes", participants have been guided a-chapter-a-day through the entire Old and New Testaments. The new phase, begun this year, is slower and more difficult, and will cover the canon in six or seven years at greater depth. A new telephone hotline ministry will deal with emerging questions and to enable illiterate people to take part. Fifteen local centers have been established with trained staff to deal with this program in several languages.

Faith and Order

Liturgical revision is almost complete. The new service book will be published in the coming year. It has appendices with special services for funerals of suicide victims, remarriage of divorced people in the church, and weddings of unmarried parents or expectant couples.

Ecumenical Relations

The United Church in the Marshall Islands became the PCT's 24th partner at the General Assembly Meeting in April. Last year, we hosted a South East Asia Youth Leaders conference from the Christian Conference of Asia, and we are planning to host a mission consultation between PCT and member churches of CWM, and also the General Council of CWM in the coming April and June

Domestic ecumenicity was enhanced through an arrangement of Hoklo language denominations (Holiness, Mennonite, New Life Alliance and PCT) one of the activities was to hold a Christmas party centered on mission to patients and their families at MacKay Memorial Hospital. Additionally a religious leaders roundtable including Mandarin Language denominations (Episcopal & Methodist) and para-church organizations (World Vision) began meeting meet monthly to discuss ways that churches and agencies could cooperate in response to Taiwan's social issues.

Earthquake Reconstruction

The opportunities for moving into community ministry that began from earthquake rescue and relief work have become the source of new ways of being the church. Community Reconstruction Care Centers, of which there were originally 17 (now 16) run by the PCT are the nuclei of church work. They employ 50 full time staff, including trained social workers and pastoral counselors. This professional approach replaces the ad-hoc one used immediately after the 921. Center staffs conduct family visitation and social work functions in reconstruction areas, train caregivers for single elderly people, engage in community redevelopment, and offer such services as will lead to the fallen being able to stand again. In many areas these services are done in cooperation with local governments and people of other faiths. 

Statistical Overview 

The PCT ended the year 2000 with 205,000 members in 1216 congregations, organized into 20 presbyteries and 7 districts. Though worship is conducted every Sunday in 16 different languages, we are one church. 

Future Directions

The year 2001 marks the 50th anniversary of the General Assembly's founding. This is an opportunity for focus on a new mission movement for the new century. 

"Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Luke 12:7)