April 20, 2003

Clergy and laypersons have established a "This Land Theology Society" led by Dr. Ong Chong-giau of Tainan Theological College and Seminary in Tainan City, Taiwan. A formal meeting to recognize the founding of the society will be held on April 25th. It is intended to bring together contemporary theological currents with the distinct tone of Taiwan's social life and provide churches with resources for facing current challenges.

The society initially hopes to focus on two projects. Archived materials from the Taiwan Church News (which was published in Romanized Taiwanese before 1969) will be translated into Chinese characters.

Theological resources from overseas that reflect thought currents of the world church will also be translated into Chinese to make them available for use in Taiwan's ecclesiastical circles.

Dr. Ong says, "The world in general, and Taiwan in particular, is changing at a rapid pace. Questions about globalization, sexuality, cloning and other issues confront us. Taiwan's churches are impacted, but are unable to respond." He emphasizes that through translation of world church reflections and theological works experience can be gained and help obtained.

The project to translate the old editions of the Taiwan Church News is considered important because, over recent decades, the ability a generation of Taiwan's believers to read Romanized Taiwanese script has been lost. The articles and testimonies contained in the News (published since 1885), are records of the faith of Taiwanese believers of past. They serve as foundations for expressions of faith in the Taiwanese context today. The "This Land Theological Society" invites any who wish to join in the two translation tasks to become members of the society when it is formed on April 25th.

Taiwan Church News
Reported by Li Hsin-ren. Translated and rewritten by David Alexander