3142 Edition
May 14-20, 2012
General Assembly News

Reported by Sam Lee

Written by Lydia Ma

PCT General Assembly held a seminar for all of its newly appointed CEOs on May 8, 2012. These CEOs will soon be board members at various PCT-affiliated business and educational organizations. The speakers at this seminar were PCT General Secretary Andrew Chang, Associate General Secretary Kho Sing-doh, and Church Law Committee Chairman Lee Sheng-hsiung.

Chang spoke on “Becoming a faithful steward”, Lee spoke on “An entrusted job”, and Kho spoke on “getting to know PCT organizations”. All 3 speakers addressed these issues from various perspectives so as to help appointed CEOs to have a clear picture of what is expected of them. Special emphasis was placed on being faithful stewards and remembering that these positions are appointed and carry term limits. Ultimately, all of these organizations belong to God, who has given his people an opportunity to be stewards.

The speakers also remarked that there were previous instances of CEOs forgetting that they were merely managers of these institutions and not owners. As result, some CEOs began managing the organizations they were appointed as board members in a selfish manner. In the end, one of these cases resulted in a lawsuit lasting more than 3 years and to the detriment of the whole PCT.

There are currently 29 business organizations owned by the PCT and managed by appointed CEOs. These appointments are guided by PCT church laws governing its business and educational organizations. According to Article 13 of PCT regulations, all appointed CEOs must attend training conducted by the General Assembly before they are given their official letters of appointment. Furthermore, they must swear to abide by all PCT regulations and unconditionally accept all fellow board members appointed by the General Assembly.

Lee Sheng-hsiung likened these appointed board members to “heaven’s civil servants” whose responsibility is even more reverent because they are handling matters concerning God’s kingdom. Therefore, these board members must constantly remind themselves to “trust and rely in God, not men” and obey the teachings of the Bible, the PCT’s statement of faith and PCT regulations.

As a professional lawyer, Lee said that all PCT regulations have their basis in biblical teachings. Though these regulations may be different from the laws of the land, they are not contradictory. Hence, if there are different stances between church laws and Taiwanese laws, CEOs must first give attention to church laws and apply them. Lee hoped that such a guideline would clear any confusion amongst CEOs on whether to use church regulations or regulations governing public enterprises as guides.

“Christian organizations shouldn’t merely depend on written regulations – they should also use Christian principles as foundation,” said Associate General Secretary Ko Sing-doh. He hoped that all leaders in PCT presbyteries, organizations and churches would realize that they were “partnering with a God who is also working” and thus make it their mission to glorify God. Only by clinging to this vision will they begin to experience joy and satisfaction when serving in these institutions.