Taiwan Ecumenical Forum-PCT

Date: 18 May, 2022

Issue No.019

TEF Newsletter (Issue No.019)

May 2022

ASIA PACIFIC KAIROS
A prophetic call to journey together with the PCT in pursuit of justice and peace for the people of Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific

“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

ISSUE 019

The TEF Steering Group (SG) met virtually on 10 February 2022.

Attendees were: Co-Convener: Rev. Dr. Jooseop Keum (CWM), Rev. Dr. Christopher Ferguson (WCRC). Members: Rev. Philip Vinod Peacock (WCRC), Ms. Karen Campbell (URC), Ms. Chung Hiu-Fan (Fanny) (WSCF), Ms Doris Grohs (Mission 21), Rev. Kato Makoto (UCCJ), Rev. Michiko Nishinosono (UCCJ), Rev. Dr. Park Sungkook (PROK), Rev. Linda Patton-Cowie (PCC), Rev. Glynis Williams (PCC), Mr. Sandy Sneddon (CoS), Rev. Dr. Christof Theilemann (BM), Prof. Victor W. C. Hsu (PCT), Rev. Sudu Tada (PCT), Mrs. Nancy Lin (PCT)
Attendees were: Co-Convener: Rev. Dr. Jooseop Keum (CWM), Rev. Dr. Christopher Ferguson (WCRC). Members: Rev. Philip Vinod Peacock (WCRC), Ms. Karen Campbell (URC), Ms. Chung Hiu-Fan (Fanny) (WSCF), Ms Doris Grohs (Mission 21), Rev. Kato Makoto (UCCJ), Rev. Michiko Nishinosono (UCCJ), Rev. Dr. Park Sungkook (PROK), Rev. Linda Patton-Cowie (PCC), Rev. Glynis Williams (PCC), Mr. Sandy Sneddon (CoS), Rev. Dr. Christof Theilemann (BM), Prof. Victor W. C. Hsu (PCT), Rev. Sudu Tada (PCT), Mrs. Nancy Lin (PCT)

Also in attendance: PCT TEF Task Force Members: Rev. Fan-Wei Liang (Taiwan Episcopal Church), Rev. Stephen Hsu (PCT), Rev. Hsin-Liang Chen (PCT), Rev. Dr. Yang-En Cheng (PCT), Rev. Dr. Po-Ho Huang (PCT), Ms. Carys Humphreys (PCT), Ms. Rachel Chen (PCT).

Note-taker: Rev. Thomas Frenz

New Steering Group Members

The SG welcomed two new members. (1) Rev. Philip Peacock from the Church of North India who now serves as a co-General Secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches in Hanover, Germany. (2) Rev. Michiko Nishinosono, Chair of UCCJ’s Commission on Ecumenical Ministries. Rev. Michiko “replaces” Kato Makoto from the United Church of Christ in Japan (UCCJ).

PCT Update

The PCT held its General Assembly in April and elected a new group of officers. The new moderator is Rev. Tai, Shuo-Chin. The TEF is deeply grateful for the active participation of former moderator, Rev. Stephen Hsu during his term.

28 February 2022

Peace and Justice Day – 75th Anniversary 228 Memorial

Open Letter Concerning Attack on Ukraine

16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.
17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.
18 My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(Isaiah 32:16-18, ESV)

Members of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) as part of the universal fellowship and body of Christ share our prayers and concerns as follows:

A two-day webinar with the theme “The Neo-Cold War: The Resurgence of the Geopolitics of Global Empires in North East Asia.” It was based on concept paper prepared by the two co-conveners Jooseop Keum and Chris Ferguson. On the first day, a Taiwanese scholar, Dr. Lai I-Chung gave a keynote with the topic “The Neo-Cold War in Asia and the soon-to-be Hot War in Taiwan Strait”. Rev. Dr. Roderick Hewitt from Jamaica, the President of International University of the Caribbean, and Rev. Dr. Nancy Pittman from the US, the President and Stephen J. England Associate Professor at Phillis Theological Seminary in Tulsa responded to the keynote speech. On the second day, a panel presented their responses to the keynote:

The past recent days as the incredulous drama unfolded in Europe our prayers and thoughts have been dominated with concern for the people and government of Ukraine. The measures taken by Russia, led by President Vladimir Putin, to attack a sovereign, democratic country in an effort to overthrow its government is in total contradiction and violation of international law, the UN charter and basic human rights.

We express our deep concern for the safety of the citizens and residents of Ukraine; we pray for the victims and families of those killed and injured by Russian forces. We give thanks for those countries who have reached out to welcome, provide shelter and humanitarian aid to displaced Ukrainian civilians fleeing from the areas of conflict.

We also pray for Russia knowing full well from experience, and as recently witnessed in that country, authoritarian governments and dictators do not represent the hearts of its people. We pray for the people of Russia who bravely took to the streets to speak out against this war despite the immense personal risk involved.

The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan as an active member stands with the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), and World Council of Churches (WCC) and supports the churches and people of Ukraine in their efforts to seek a just and peaceful solution.   Isaiah 32:16-18

Furthermore, we join our voices with our Christian sisters and brothers around the world urging governments and allies in Europe and beyond, including President Tsai and the government of Taiwan, to do all in their power to pursue diplomatic channels to ensure a credible and sustainable peace process comes to fruition.   As expressed by the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at recent press conference (24 February 2022) “Democracy will always prevail over autocracy. Freedom will always prevail over oppression.” *

PCT calls for an end to the war, the laying down of weapons and the withdrawal of all Russian military from Ukraine. May Your Kingdom come O Lord,

LORD have mercy
   pray for the people of Ukraine
CHRIST have mercy
   pray for the people of Russia
LORD have mercy
   pray for the people of Europe
LORD have mercy
   pray for the innocent victims of war in Ukraine
   pray for those displaced because of the conflict
CHRIST have mercy
   pray for ceasefire and withdrawal of all Russian military from Ukraine
   pray for wise discernment in the diplomatic peace negotiations
LORD have mercy
   pray for JUSTICE
   pray for PEACE
   pray for HEALING
   pray for RECONSTRUCTION LORD of light, hope and love in your mercy, hear us. Amen

SIGNED BY:
Rev. Hsu Hsin-Te
PCT Moderator, 66th General Assembly

Rev. Chen Hsin-Liang
PCT General Secretary

*https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_192408.htm 　　Press briefing by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following an extraordinary meeting of the North Atlantic Council
** Prayer by Carys Humphreys (Han Le-Si), PCT

TEF’s first webinar on the Neo-Cold War in (North) East Asia was held on December 7-8, 2021 with the theme “The Neo-Cold War: The Resurgence of the Geopolitics of Global Empires in North East Asia.” The theme was based on a concept paper prepared by the two co-conveners Jooseop Keum and Chris Ferguson. On the first day, a Taiwanese scholar, Dr. Lai I-Chung gave a keynote with the topic “The Neo-Cold War in Asia and the soon-to-be Hot War in Taiwan Strait”. Rev. Dr. Roderick Hewitt from Jamaica, the President of International University of the Caribbean, and Rev. Dr. Nancy Pittman from the US, the President and Stephen J. England Associate Professor at Phillis Theological Seminary in Tulsa responded to the keynote speech.

On the second day, a panel presented their responses to the keynote:

Rev. Phil King from New Zealand
Dr. Yi Ki-Ho from Korea
Rev. Makoto Kato from Japan
Bishop Rex R. B. Reyes from the Philippine

The webinar was well attended with around 90 participants.

The SG agreed to form a small editorial committee to prepare an e-publication of the webinar’s contents and outcomes. Rev. Dr. Jooseop Keum agreed to be part of this committee; a chief editor is yet to be designated. As a first step, a short terms of reference document should be prepared to clarify the tasks of the committee.

The SG identified four major trajectories for TEF in the coming period:

(1) Internal Steering Group workshop on the history of relations between the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and Chinese Churches

The workshop will be an initial step to “pave the way” for a future exchange with the China Christian Council (CCC). The renewal of relationships with the Chinese churches and the China Christian Council is a TEF’s main objectives. The TEF will take advantage of this year’s World Council of Churches (WCC) General Assembly as a possible occasion to reengage the CCC. The insights and outcomes of the internal workshop are intended to inform this kind of “backchannel diplomacy.”

The SG will invite the director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA), Dr. Peter Prove, as special guest to the exploratory workshop. This invitation is not to ask the WCC to commit to any action, but rather to exchange information and ideas in an informal setting. The SG hopes to include other ecumenical bodies into the process of “paving the way” right from the beginning. Through his decades-long work on this very issue when he was a staff of the WCC and the NCCCUSA, Victor Hsu would help to facilitate this process.

(2) Reviving North East Asia Ecumenical Networking

A special meeting of the church leaders was held on February 17 to consider the next step to revitalize an already existing North East Asia forum. Participants included:

Taiwan: Rev. Chen, Hsin Liang , Rev. Sudu Tada (PCT)/ Prof. Victor Hsu, Mrs. Nancy Lin (TEF)
Korea: Rev. Lee, Hong Jung, Rev. Shin, Seung Min, Rev. Hwang Bo Hyun (NCCK)/ Rev. Kim, Bo Hyun, Rev. Chae, Song Hee (PCK)/ Rev. Kim, Chang Ju, Rev. Park, Sung Kook (PROK)/ Dr. Yi, Ki Yo (Hanshin University)
Japan: Rev. Kim, Sung Jae, Mr. Fujimori, Yoshi (NCCJ)/ Rev. Toru, Akiyama, Rev. Michiko Nishinosono (UCCJ)/, Rev. Heo, Baek Ki (KCCJ)
Philippines: Mr. Toquero, Mervin (NCCP)/ Rev. Hernando, Frank (UCCP)

Moderator Rev. Lee Hong Jung delivered opening remarks, saying that “in consideration of today's situation in Northeast Asia, where people's safety and peace are being seriously challenged amid fierce hegemony competition, the role of churches and civil society to build peace is more urgently requested than ever.”

(3) TEF Membership

The founding membership of the NEA Churches Forum was composed of the CCA member denominations and NCCs in NE region (Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Philippines). However, different challenges have emerged from when it was founded in 2005. It is necessary to respond to them with a collective Christian perspective beyond the institutional membership of the CCA. The meeting agreed to change the name “Churches’ to Christian” and extend the membership to Christian communities. Moreover:

NCCP and UCCP were asked to be full members of the NEA CF.
Membership needs to be extended to the non-CCA member churches like CCJ in Japan.
The suggestion to include the Pacific churches needs to be carefully discussed as we need to focus our efforts in strengthening the NEA CF.
CCA and WCC Asia desk need to be included in the discussion of the membership extension.

The membership and key projects were delegated to a task force team composed of 4 persons: Rev. Fernando (Philippines), Rev. Shin (Korea), Ms. Lin (Taiwan), and Mr. Fujimori (Japanese members will discuss and submit their name later). Theological Reflection Working Group (TRWG) and Follow-Up Webinar on Geopolitics.

(4) The SG charged the TRWG with deepening the topic of last year’s webinar. TRWG convener Rev. Dr. Roderick Hewitt was unable to attend the SG meeting. Christopher Ferguson and Rev. Dr. Huang Po-Ho offered to assist to find ways to help move the group’s work forward.

Recent Developments related to Taiwan
Source: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2022/05/09/2003777926

Chinese plans on Taiwan affected by war: CIA chief

‘BITTER EXPERIENCE’: Although the Ukraine war would alter Xi Jinping’s calculations over Taiwan, it would not change his long-term ambition to invade the nation

CIA Director William Burns on Saturday said that China is closely monitoring Russia’s conflict in Ukraine and that it is affecting Chinese leaders’ calculations over Taiwan.

Burns, speaking at a Financial Times event in Washington, said the Chinese government had been struck by Ukraine’s fierce resistance to Russia’s invasion and by the economic costs Russia is bearing.

“I think the Chinese leadership is looking very carefully at all this — at the costs and consequences of any effort to use force to gain control over Taiwan,” Burns said.

However, he cautioned that it would not shift Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) long-term goals over Taiwan.

“I don’t for a minute think that this has eroded Xi’s determination over time to gain control over Taiwan,” Burns said. “But I think it’s something that’s affecting their calculation about how and when they go about doing that.”

China has refused to condemn Russia’s war in Ukraine and has criticized Western sanctions on Moscow.

Beijing and Moscow declared a “no limits” strategic partnership several weeks before the Feb. 24 invasion, and have been forging closer energy and security ties in recent years to push back on the US and the West.

However, Burns said the US believed China was unsettled by the reputational damage of being associated with the “brutishness” of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military action.

“I think what the bitter experience, in many ways, of Putin’s Russia in Ukraine over the last 10 or 11 weeks has done is demonstrate that that friendship actually does have some limits,” Burns said.

Separately, US Representative Mark Green on Thursday said China would face an even more united response than Russia is facing now if Beijing were to invade Taiwan.

Green made the remarks during an appearance at the NewsNation show On Balance with Leland Vittert, when Vittert asked: “Can the world come together against China if they invade Taiwan?”

“Yeah, I think so,” Green said, adding: “While you’re sort of looking at the difference between China and Russia, I’d suggest you look at the difference economically between Taiwan and Ukraine.”

“Taiwan makes 94 percent of all the high-end semiconductors. The West cannot tolerate China seizing control of Taiwan,” he said.

“So absolutely we are going to push back. Everyone is going to unite and probably even more so than with Ukraine,” he added.

Green said the US could and should do more to help Taiwan defend itself.

“What we’ve got to do is make the consequence of China attacking Taiwan so great that they choose not to do so. That’s real deterrence,” he said.

Additional reporting by staff writer

台灣普世論壇通訊

亞太新契機：響應PCT先知性呼召、為台灣及亞太人民尋求公義與和平

「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# 19

TEF執行小組（SG）於2022年2月10日召開視訊會議。

出席：
共同召集人：Christopher Ferguson前總幹事（WCRC）、Jooseop Keum總幹事（CWM）。成員：Philip Vinod Peacock（WCRC）、Karen Campbell（URC）、Chung Hiu-Fan (Fanny)（WSCF）、Doris Grohs（Mission 21）、Makoto Kato（UCCJ）、 Michiko Nishinosono （UCCJ）、Dr. Park Sungkook（PROK）、Linda Patton-Cowie（PCC）、Glynis Williams（PCC）、Sandy Sneddon（CoS）、Dr. Christof Theilemann（BM）、徐望志（PCT）、Sudu Tada（PCT）、鄭明敏（PCT）

列席：TEF工作小組成員：梁凡偉牧師（Taiwan Episcopal Church）、徐信得議長（PCT）、陳信良總幹事（PCT）、鄭仰恩牧師（PCT）、黃伯和牧師（PCT）、Carys Humphreys（PCT）、陳怡婷（PCT）
Rev. Thomas Frenz擔任記錄。

SG新成員

TEF SG歡迎兩位新成員，第一位是來自北印度教會的Philip Peacock牧師。他是普世改革宗教會聯盟（WCRC）總部成員，目前擔任公義及見證執行幹事也是「共同協作總幹事」之一。

第二位新成員是Michiko Nishinosono牧師，日本基督教團（UCCJ）的普世事工委員會主席。來自UCCJ的Makoto Kato牧師介紹說，Michiko Nishinosono牧師是他的接任者。

台灣基督長老教會最新消息

PCT於四月舉行通常議會，選出「第67屆總會幹部」，戴碩欽牧師為第67屆總會議長，TEF也感謝前任議長徐信得牧師積極參與TEF及任內的一切辛勞。

2022年2月28日

和平公義日--228紀念75周年

台灣基督長老教會為烏克蘭祈禱

　　16 處處有正義，有公道。
　　 17 因為人人行為正直；他們將永遠安居樂業。
　　 18 上帝子民的家穩妥安全，無憂無慮。
　　　以賽亞書第32章: 16-18（現中2019版經文）

台灣基督長老教會（PCT）的成員身為基督的肢體與普世團契的一份子，關切烏克蘭並為她代禱。

在過去的幾天裡，歐洲發生令人難以置信的事件，我們憂心烏克蘭人民與政府並為其禱告。由俄羅斯總統普廷領導下，攻擊一個有主權的民主國家，試圖推翻其政府，徹底違反國際法、聯合國憲章與基本人權。

我們關切烏克蘭人民的安危；我們為遭俄羅斯軍隊殺害及受傷的受害者與家屬祈禱。我們感謝那些伸出援手的國家，為因武裝衝突而流離失所的烏克蘭人民，提供住所與人道救助。

我們也為俄羅斯祈禱，根據經驗我們清楚知道，專制政府與獨裁者並不代表其人民的心願，正如最近我們所見證的一般。我們為俄羅斯人民祈禱，他們不顧自身，承擔巨大風險，勇敢走上街頭，大聲疾呼反對這場戰爭。

台灣基督長老教會是積極的普世成員，與普世改革宗教會聯盟（WCRC）及普世教會協會（WCC）一同支持烏克蘭教會與人民尋求公義與和平。以賽亞書32:16-18

此外，我們與世界各地的基督徒姐妹兄弟一起，敦促歐洲及其他國家政府與盟友，包括蔡英文總統及台灣政府，盡其所能尋求外交管道，確保可信、可持續的和平進程發揮成效。正如北大西洋公約組織（NATO）秘書長Jens Stoltenberg近日於記者會上（2022年2月24日）所言：「民主永遠戰勝專制。自由永遠戰勝壓制。」*

台灣基督長老教會呼籲結束戰爭、放下武器並從烏克蘭撤出所有俄羅斯軍隊。主啊，願祢的國降臨，

上主，求祢憐憫
　　為烏克蘭人民祈禱
上主，求祢憐憫
　　為烏克蘭人民祈禱
基督，求祢憐憫
　　為俄羅斯人民祈禱
上主，求祢憐憫
　　為歐洲人民祈禱
上主，求祢憐憫
　　為烏克蘭戰爭中無辜受害者祈禱
　　為因衝突而流離失所的人祈禱
基督，求祢憐憫
　　祈求戰火停息及所有俄羅斯軍隊從烏克蘭撤軍
　　祈求在外交和平談判中能有明智的判斷力
上主，求祢憐憫
　　祈求公義
　　祈求和平
　　祈求醫治
　　祈求重建
光明、希望與愛的主，在祢的憐憫中，

垂聽我們。阿們
徐信得牧師　　　　　　　　　　　　陳信良牧師
PCT第66屆總會議長　　　　　　　　PCT總幹事

*北大西洋公約組織（NATO）秘書長Jens Stoltenberg記者會 https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_192408.htm

TEF 於 2021 年 12 月 7 日至 8 日舉行首次東北亞新冷戰網路研討會

為期兩天的網路研討會，主題是「新冷戰：全球帝國在東北亞重新崛起」。根據TEF兩位共同召集人Jooseop Keum與Chris Ferguson撰寫的概念文件，第一天，台灣學者賴怡忠博士以「The Neo-Cold War in Asia and the soon-to-be Hot War in Taiwan Strait」為題演講。來自牙買加加勒比海國際大學校長Roderick Hewitt牧師與來自美國塔爾薩菲利斯神學院院長兼Stephen J. England副教授Nancy Pittman牧師對專講作出回應。第二天，來自五個國家的牧長也回應第一天的專講。

紐西蘭的Phil King牧師
韓國的Yi Ki-Ho教授
香港的龔立人副教授
菲律賓的Rex R. B. Reyes主教

他們從各自國家的角度發言，隨後是問答時間。這次網路研討會大約有90名線上參與者。

SG 同意成立編輯小組來整理兩天網路研討會內容集結為電子出版物。Jooseop Keum 博士同意成為該小組成員；尚未指定主編。第一步，應準備一份簡短的職權範圍文件，以闡明小組的任務。

SG確定 TEF 未來的四項主要事工：

(1) SG 內部研討會-台灣基督長老教會與中國教協歷史關係

SG決定召開台灣基督長老教會與中國教會歷史關係的內部研討會，為未來與中國基督教協會（CCC）的交流「鋪路」。TEF 的主要目標之一是更新與中國教會及中國基督教協會的關係（參見 TEF 的職權範圍）。TEF 將利用今年的普世教協（WCC）大會，作為重新與CCC交流的可能機會。內部研討會的見解與成果旨在為此「間接外交」提供信息。

SG將邀請普世教協（WCC）國際事務委員會（CCIA）主任參加此研討會。但不會要求普世教協/國際事務委員會承諾採取任何行動，而只是非正式場合交流資訊及想法。通過這種方式，SG希望一開始就將其他普世教會機構納入「鋪路」的過程。徐望志教授曾在過去一段時間擔任WCC工作者，他希望能促進這「鋪路」的進程。

(2) 加強東北亞普世合作連結

2月17日舉行一場教會領袖的特別會議，並考慮下一步如何重啟既有的東北亞論壇。與會者包括：

台灣：Rev. Chen, Hsin Liang , Rev. Sudu Tada (PCT)/ Prof. Victor Hsu, Mrs. Nancy Lin (TEF)
韓國： Rev. Lee, Hong Jung, Rev. Shin, Seung Min, Rev. Hwang Bo Hyun (NCCK)/ Rev. Kim, Bo Hyun, Rev. Chae, Song Hee (PCK)/ Rev. Kim, Chang Ju, Rev. Park, Sung Kook (PROK)/ Dr. Yi, Ki Yo (Hanshin University)
日本：Rev. Kim, Sung Jae, Mr. Fujimori, Yoshi (NCCJ)/ Rev. Toru, Akiyama, Rev. Michiko Nishinosono (UCCJ)/, Rev. Heo, Baek Ki (KCCJ)
菲律賓：Mr. Toquero, Mervin (NCCP)/ Rev. Hernando, Frank (UCCP)

主持人Lee Hong Jung牧師致開幕詞，他表示：「考慮到現今東北亞局勢，在激烈的霸權競爭中，人民的安全與和平受到嚴重挑戰，教會及公民社會的任務比以往更迫切，他們需要在和平建構上發揮作用。」

PCT普世幹事鄭明敏指出，PCT主動發起這次線上會議。徐望志教授、Yi Kiho博士和Park Sung-Kook牧師一致回應，必需加強東北亞普世平台。公義與和平、東北亞的人民安全是我們共同關心的議題。NEA論壇應與TEF及韓國普世論壇建立對話平台，因為大家都希望加強普世影響力。由於處境關係，宗教團體需在人民的安全與和平建設中發揮更積極的作用，因此在會議中達成共識。

(3) TEF 會員

NEA教會論壇的創始成員由東北亞地區（香港、韓國、日本、台灣與菲律賓）的CCA會員教派和各國NCC組成，但自2005年成立以來出現不同的挑戰，所以有必要以基督教觀點並超越 CCA 的會員限定來回應這些挑戰。會議同意將「Churches」名稱更改為「Christian」，並將會員資格擴大到基督教社群。

NCCP和UCCP受邀請成為NEA CF的正式成員
會員資格需擴展到非CCA會員教會，如日本的CCJ。
關於將太平洋地區的教會納入其中，此建議需要仔細討論，因我們需要集中精神加強NEA CF。
d. CCA和WCC亞洲區負責人需要納入擴展會員資格的討論中。

(4) SG委託TRWG深化去年網路研討會的主題。TRWG召集人Roderick Hewitt牧師無法出席SG會議，Christopher Ferguson和Huang Po-Ho牧師主動提出協助以幫助推進TRWG小組事工。起更多關切。