The Taiwan Ecumenical Forum Steering Group, co-convened by Chris Ferguson, General Secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches and Collin Cowan, General Secretary of the Council for World Mission, will be meeting in Berlin, Germany on February 26-27, hosted by the Berliner Missionswerk. Steering Group members participating are:

Victor Hsu (PCT)
Michael Jagessar (United Reformed Church)
Melzar Labuntog (UCC-Philippines)
Nancy Lin (PCT)
Kato Makoto (UCC-Japan)
Linda Patton-Cowie (Presbyterian Church in Canada)
Rex Reyes (Episcopal Church, Philippines)
Park Sungkook (Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, PROK)
Sudu Tada (PCT)
Christof Theilemann (BM)
Sunita Suna (WSCF)

There will be the following non-SG members:
Huang Po Ho (Taiwan), Balazs Odor (Hungarian Reformed Church), and Ariel Siagan (Philippines)

In addition, from the PCT staff:
Li U-Peng
Lian Chin-Siong
Lyim Hong-Tiong

There will be three main agenda items:
(1) Evaluation of the first meeting of the TEF held in Hsinchu in November, 2018
(2) Review of the November Meeting Report of the Listening Discernment Group (LDG) and
(3) Plan TEF activities for the near future.

(The SG will also receive an update by the PCT General Secretary, Rev. Lyim Hong-Tiong. He will inform the SG of the recent developments affecting Taiwan, especially regarding the domestic political situation since the local elections that saw a stinging rebuke of President Tsai Ing-wen’s ruling party. At the same time, China’s bullying tactics continue unabated including President Xi’s statement on January 2 threatening to use force against Taiwan.

A related concerning development since the elections is the continuing obstruction by the KMT in the transitional justice implementation. The KMT continues to stonewall the recovery of its ill-gotten wealth and the proposal to remove the monuments celebrating and commemorating its erstwhile leaders, now viewed by many Taiwanese as dictators.

Consequently, with a view to contributing to the emotional daily national conversation, the relevant governance bodies of the PCT issued four major statements since the November TEF meeting.

The first was on December 17 by the Executive Committee entitled “Striving Bravely Forward on the Way of Democracy with Love and Tolerance”
In this statement the Executive Committee reminded the church that “over the past half century, no matter what kind of difficulties Taiwan went through, the PCT held fast to its Christian beliefs by insisting to be rooted in the Taiwanese land and to identify with all its inhabitants, and to practice love with all its might thus becoming the country’s sign of hope.

It quoted the American Vice President Mike Pence who made a major speech about China in the Hudson Institute on 4 October saying that “Beijing is corrupting some nations’ politics by providing direct support to parties and candidates who promise to accommodate China’s strategic objectives. Ted Yoho, chairman of the Asia and Pacific Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, remarked on 11 December saying that “Taiwan is a nation, and it is time to embrace and recognize this fact.” Also, in 2018 the European Parliament supported Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.

The second statement was by the Church and Society Committee entitled, “Unity in the Face of outside Aggression is our Responsibility.” This was issued on January 7, five days after the speech by Xi.

It denounced President Xi’s speech which completely ignored the subjectivity of Taiwan as a country and threatened the use of force claiming “Taiwan” to be an internal issue of China and warned advocates of Taiwan independence who work hard for democracy with severe retaliatory measures. The PCT viewed President Xi in contempt and reiterated its determination to uphold the ideal of “making Taiwan a new and independent country.” The PCT sincerely hopes that China will one day be democratized and give up day-dreaming about taking Taiwan.

The third statement was issued on January 11 by the Indigenous Mission Committee entitled, “Denounce China’s ‘Blood Relatives Myth’ in Trying to Annex Taiwan.

This statement said in part:

Taiwan’s Indigenous Peoples have lived in Taiwan for more than 16 thousand years. Each tribe has been seeking to be an independent and dignified “real human”. Each tribal name is imprinted in the life of each person. Sediq, Bunun, Tayal, Tao, and Pangcah, for example, are all tribal names of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples and share a common meaning—“human being”. President Xi Jinping has claimed to the Taiwanese people that “the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are brothers of the same blood”. This is grossly neglecting facts and an arrogant idea. It must be cast aside by all Taiwanese peoples, global indigenous peoples and all ethnicities.

In the process of historical development, Taiwanese people, comprised of migrants and indigenous tribes, have been united as a community of shared destiny. The constitution is clear in stating that Taiwan is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural nation. We hope that our country can be treated as a really independent subject. This is the deepest wish of the Taiwanese people. The respect of each person, each tribe and the will to be independent is the universal right that granted by the self-determination of the inhabitants.

China’s unification strategy is essentially self-centered and bullying the world, without respect for different peoples and tribal rights. It is purchased with blood and violence. If we just take a look at Tibet, east Turkistan, and modern Hong Kong, we will certainly know how dangerous it is to be “one family” based on such ideology. As the country is facing internal instability and outside threats, the PCT supports President Tsai to stabilize the political situation, and safeguard Taiwan’s security. We are willing to stand in solidarity with all the Taiwanese People, to seek a way of life with dignity.

We hope that the Chinese people in Taiwan will open their hearts and feel their Mother Mountain and Sea—Taiwan. Feel her beautiful face and incomparable life characters of patience, acceptance, love, mercy and perseverance. If we connect our life to Mother Taiwan Land, we believe that you will feel more secure and more dignified living in this beautiful island, our country—Taiwan.

On January 15, the Executive Committee issued another statement On “Safeguarding Taiwan’s Sovereignty and Dignity.”

This Executive Committee statement resolutely rejects China’s “Message to Compatriots in Taiwan” saying that the message is full of autocratic and hegemonic ideas, completely lacking universal values of democracy, freedom and human rights. It is also full of lies and political manipulation. The Executive Committee said that the relationship between Taiwan and China is not just “cross-strait relations” but two different countries, one upholding values of “freedom and democracy” and the other “dictatorship and autocracy.” If the two countries are to communicate with each other, dialogue needs to be based on mutual respect and equality. Therefore, we reiterate that Taiwan’s future will have to be decided upon by the Taiwanese people. Only Taiwanese people have the right to make such decision.

We pray that Taiwanese people will continue to insist on Taiwan’s sovereignty and dignity, safeguarding Taiwan’s democracy and freedom in face of threats from China. We expect the government to push for reform of the Constitution, so it reflects and speaks to the reality of Taiwan. We also expect the government to participate actively in international organizations to contribute Taiwan’s power, making Taiwan truly a “new and independent country” as we have long prayed.

2019年2月

台灣普世論壇（Taiwan, Ecumenical Forum, TEF）執行小組（Steering Group, SG）的共同主席世界傳道會（CWM）總幹事柯林‧柯旺（Collin Cowan）及普世改革宗教會聯盟（WCRC）總幹事佛谷森（Chris Ferguson）將於2月26日至27日在德國柏林舉行會議，並由Berliner Missionswerk（柏林差會）主辦。參與執行小組會議的成員如下：

徐望志教授 （台灣基督長老教會總會）
Michael Jagessar （英國聯合歸正教會）
Melzar Labuntog （菲律賓聯合基督教會）
鄭明敏（台灣基督長老教會總會）
Kato Makoto （日本基督教團）
Linda Patton-Cowie（加拿大長老教會）
Rex Reyes（菲律賓聖公會）
Park Sungkook（韓國基督教長老會）
Sudu Tada （台灣基督長老教會總會）
Christof Theilemann（柏林差會）
Sunita Suna (世界基督徒學生聯盟)

非執行小組成員如下：
黃伯河（台灣）、Balazs Odor（匈牙利聯合歸正教會）、Ariel Siagan（菲律賓）

台灣基督長老教會總會同工如下：
李宇平
連振翔
林芳仲

三個主要議程：
（1）評估2018年11月在新竹舉行的第一次TEF會議
（2）檢閱聆聽洞察小組（Listening and Discernment Group）11月的會議報告
（3）規劃未來的TEF活動

PCT總幹事林芳仲牧師將於SG會議，回報台灣最近的情況，特別是選舉後國內的政治局勢，蔡英文政府正面對嚴厲的非難。同時，中國繼續欺壓台灣，習近平更於1月2日發表聲明，威脅要對台灣使用武力。

選後的另一相關影響是中國國民黨不斷干擾轉型正義的實施且繼續閉口不談其不當取得財產之追徵，也不理會取消讚揚昔日領導人的紀念碑之建議，因許多台灣人視昔日領導人為獨裁者。

因此， PCT與相關的委員會自11月TEF會議以來，發布了四項聲明。

PCT總會常置委員會於2018年12月17日發布「以愛與包容在民主的道路上勇敢向前行」聲明

總會常置委員會藉此聲明提醒教會，「無論台灣面對任何艱難及困苦，台灣基督長老教會秉持基督信仰，堅持釘根台灣本土，認同全體住民，通過愛與關懷的實踐，盡力成為盼望的記號。」

美國副總統彭斯（Mike Pence）10月4日於哈德遜研究所（Hudson Institute）談到中國時說：「北京還直接支持承諾配合中國戰略目標的政黨和候選人，左右一些國家的政治。」美國眾議院外交委員會亞太小組主席游賀（Ted Yoho）甚至在12月11日說：「台灣是一個國家，是時候接受並認清這一事實。」歐洲會議在9月力挺台灣，12月也重申堅定支持台灣參與國際組織。

PCT教會與社會委員會在習近平對台原則之演說後，於2019年1月7日發布「團結對外，責無旁貸」聲明

其聲明譴責習近平的演說內容漠視台灣國家主體性，藉由訴諸人民情感與武力威脅，企圖將台灣問題內政化，恐嚇為民主努力的台獨工作者。本會對習近平主席表示嚴正不齒，將繼續秉持「使台灣成為新而獨立的國家」的理想，期待中國早日民主化，莫對台灣癡心妄想。

PCT原住民宣教委員會於2019年1月11日發布「反對中國血緣論併吞台灣」聲明

聲明如是說：

1萬6千多年前，台灣原住民族早已定居於此。各原住民族一直努力追求成為一個獨立、有尊嚴的「真正的人」。族群名稱烙印在每位族人的生命底層：Sediq賽德克、Bunun布農、Tayal泰雅、Tao逹悟、Pangcah阿美，許多原住民族群名稱都是「人」的意思。面對習近平先生對台灣人宣稱：「兩岸是打斷骨頭連著筋的兄弟，血濃於水的一家人！」這種粗暴不顧及事實，妄言誇大又不知羞恥的論述，必遭整體台灣人民、全球原住民及所有民族的唾棄。

在歷史發展的過程中，由移民及原住民族組成的台灣人民已結合成為一個命運共同體。憲法明定，台灣是多元民族文化的國家。希望自己的國家可以被當成一個真正獨立的個體來看待，是台灣人民最大的願望。尊重個人、各民族及國家獨立的意願與主張，本來就是普世人權價值所強調的住民自決的權利。

帶著自我中心、霸凌天下的心態，不尊重不同地區人民及族群的權利，中國人的統一是用鮮血和槍桿子換來的。看一看圖博（西藏）、東突厥斯坦（新疆）和現代的香港，才知道「一家親」的恐怖。當國家面臨內憂外患之際，本會支持蔡英文總統穩定政局，固守台灣國家安全，願意與之共同促進全體國人團結，為台灣國家尋找一條具有尊嚴的活路。

誠心期待，在台灣極度缺乏安全感的「中國人」們，請倘開心胸，感受養育你們多年的山海母親——台灣。她美麗的容顏，展現出無比的耐心、包容、慈愛、憐憫與堅毅的生命特質。若將生命連接著台灣母親的地氣，相信你們會更踏實、更有尊嚴地活在美麗之島，我們的國家——台灣。

PCT總會常置委員會於2019年1月15日發布「堅守台灣的主權與尊嚴」聲明

總會常置委員會嚴正拒絕接受中國習近平於2019年1月2日發表〈告台灣同胞書〉之內容。其言論除了充滿獨裁霸權的思維，欠缺民主、自由與人權等普世價值之外，也充滿政治算計的謊言。總會常置委員會表示台灣與中國不是「兩岸關係」而是「自由民主」與「獨裁專制」兩個不同之國家。若兩國要交流，應以平等互惠、相互尊重的方式彼此款待。因此我們重申，台灣的前途必須由台灣人民決定，也只有台灣人民有權利決定。
在面對來自中國的威脅時，在面對來自中國的威脅時我們祈願台灣人民繼續堅守台灣的主權及尊嚴，並維護台灣的民主和自由。我們期待政府推動憲法改革，以反映台灣的現實。我們還期望政府積極參與國際組織以貢獻台灣的實力，使台灣真正成為我們所祈禱的「新而獨立國家」。