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“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God” Micah 6:8
ISSUE 013
These are extraordinary times that the entire oikoumene is facing. We take this opportunity to extend our solidarity to you and to pray with you. As a people of faith, we know that nothing will separate us from the love of God. If we trust in God, God will set straight our paths. We give thanks to God for your great faithfulness and take immense solace in knowing that we are praying for each other.
Prayers for PCT General Secretary
In the last newsletter, we asked for prayers for the PCT General Secretary, Rev. Lyim Hong-Tiong who suffered a serious stroke in early January. He faces a long road to recovery. Please pray for him and his family.
PCT General Assembly
The PCT General Assembly had to be postponed to June. With improving COVID-19 circumstances, it is likely to be held. However, the PCT is unable to extend invitations to partners overseas as the Taiwan government still ban foreigners from visiting. At the General Assembly a top item on its agenda will be the election of a new PCT General Secretary. There are four candidates including Rev. Lyim.
Postponement of Convocation of Youth, Indigenous Peoples and Women in June 26-30, 2020
Unfortunately, a TEF Convocation on Youth, Indigenous Peoples and Women, originally to be held in June in the Philippines has to be postponed. This is an initiative of the TEF Steering Group. A planning committee is consulting as to the next steps. The members:
From the Philippines:
Rev. Francisco Hernando
Ms. Faith Justice Sanchez
Bishop Rex Reyes, Jr.
Bishop Reuel Norman Marigza
From Japan:
Dr. Yuki Takai-Heller
Ms. Nonoka Kuze
From Taiwan:
Rev. Dr. Ng Pek-Ho
Evangelist Tjanuabk Ljaljegean
Ms. Rachel Tan
TEF Co-convener: Dr. Collin Cowan
Core Group of the Steering Group
The Core Group of the Steering Group has been meeting electronically since the postponement of the March meeting. It was set up for a consultation with the co-convenors of the Steering Group. The members are: Rev. Chris Ferguson, Rev. Collin Cowan, Rev. Chhoa Lam-sin (Acting PCT General Secretary), Stephen Hsu (Clerk of the PCT), Rev. Sudu Tada (Former Moderator and PCT Programme Secretary) and Victor Hsu.
Next Steering Group Meeting
The meeting of the TEF Steering Group was postponed from its original dates of March 6-7. Instead it will now be held electronically on July 8 & 9 with a two-hour session each day. 19:00 to 21:00 Taiwan Time.
The proposed agenda will include:
Updates on
(a) PCT Gen Sec
(b) PCT
(c) Taiwan Situation and new government priorities
(d) Hong Kong Democratization Struggle
Reports
(e) Building Alliances sub-committee
(f) Convocation on Youth, Indigenous Peoples and Women
(g) November 7 Seminar on Empire and the Kingdom of
God, Academy for Contextual Theologies in Taiwan
Business Items
「世人哪！耶和華已指示你何為善。他向你索要的是什麼呢？只要你行公義，好憐憫，存謙卑的心，與你的神同行。」
彌迦書6章8節
通訊# 13
普世（Oikoumene）現今正面臨非常時期，TEF與普世夥伴團結並一同禱告。身為有信仰的子民，沒有什麼能使我們與上帝的愛隔離。若我們相信上帝，祂將指明道路。感謝上帝豐盛的慈愛及誠實，我們正為彼此禱告，深感安慰。
為台灣基督長老教會總會（PCT）總幹事林芳仲牧師代禱
在上一期通訊中，我們為PCT總幹事林芳仲牧師祈禱，他於今年1月初中風。復健之路漫長，請為他及他的家人代禱。
PCT總會通常議會
PCT總會通常議會延期至6月。隨著COVID-19情況改善，可能於6月舉行。然而，由於台灣政府仍禁止外籍人士到訪，PCT無法向海外夥伴教會發出邀請。於PCT通常議會之議程中，首要議事將選出新任總幹事，共有4名候選人，包括林芳仲牧師。
延期舉行2020年6月26日至30日舉行的「TEF青年、原住民及婦女研討會」
原定於6月在菲律賓舉行的「TEF青年、原住民及婦女研討會」，已因COVID-19延期。「TEF青年、原住民及婦女研討會」是由台灣普世論壇執行小組（Steering Group）倡議，TEF青年、原住民及婦女籌備委員正籌畫中，其成員有：
來自菲律賓：
Francisco Hernando 牧師
Faith Justice Sanchez 姐妹
Rex Reyes, Jr. 主教
Reuel Norman Marigza 主教
來自日本：
Yuki Takai-Heller 博士
Nonoka Kuze 姐妹
來自台灣：
黃伯和牧師/博士
Tjanuabk Ljaljegean（蔣記剛）傳道師
陳怡婷姐妹
TEF共同主席：Collin Cowan牧師/博士
核心小組（Core Group）近況
自3月小組會議業已延期後，核心小組持續利用電子通訊開會。核心小組成立的目的是與執行小組的共同主席進行協商。其成員有：Christopher Ferguson牧師、Collin Cowan牧師、蔡南信牧師（PCT代理總幹事）、徐信得牧師（PCT書記）、Sudu Tada牧師（PCT執行幹事及前PCT議長）及徐望志教授。
下次執行小組會議
3月6日至7日的TEF執行小組會議已延期，並於7月8日及9日每日進行2小時的視訊會議。台灣時間晚上7點至9點。
議程包括：
回報：
(a) PCT Gen Sec
(b) PCT
(c) 台灣局勢與新政府優先事項
(d) 香港民主化困境
報告：
(e) 拓展TEF普世聯盟及社會團體
(f) TEF青年、原住民及婦女研討會
(g) 「帝國與上帝國研討會」，台灣處境化神學學術研討，11月7日
待研議事項
1. SG成員更新
2. TEF的未來走向
3. TEF的下一步
4.未來會議的日期
如您有任何疑問，請隨時與徐望志教授聯絡，電子郵件
chivongtze@gmail.com