February 27, 2008
By Pat McCaughan

The Episcopal Diocese of Taiwan will host the 35th annual Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry (EAM) consultation June 6-10 at the Grand Hotel and Cheng Ching Lake Youth Activity Center in Kaoshiung.

The annual gathering of Asian American clergy and lay leaders, "Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord: Mission and Evangelism in the Era of Globalization," will feature Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and the Rev. Canon Soh Chye Ann as guest speakers, said the Rev. Fred Vergara, program officer for Asian American Ministries of the Episcopal Church.

The priority of mission and the focus on evangelism are imperative in the Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry "as we grapple with complex issues of global poverty, social justice, racism, multiculturalism, global warming, and competing and how they affect local parishes and missions," Vergara said.

"The complexity of cultural diversity, religious pluralism, socio-political change and ecological issues in this era of globalization demand from clergy and lay leaders excellence in ministry and versatility in doing church," he added.

The EAM consultation is the annual gathering of Asian American clergy and lay leaders coming from Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Japanese, Southeast Asian (Vietnamese, Cambodians, Laotians, Hmong) and South Asian (Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, Bangla Deshis, Burmese, etc.) convocations.

Taiwan is the only overseas diocese of the Episcopal Church in Asia, and is part of Province VIII. Although travel is far for delegates from the United States, hotel and meals are so much cheaper. More importantly, the consultation would give opportunities for U.S. delegates to build, renew and deepen their network of family and friends in various Asian churches. Vergara said the decision to hold the consultation in Taiwan was made to honor the long-standing invitation from its diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. David Lai, and to reconnect with the churches in Asia.

Participants from other cultures are welcome to join the ethnic convocations of their choice or participate in multicultural meetings of diocesan representatives, or in women and young adult convocations and men's gathering, Vergara added. Visitors and observers from other denominations are also welcome.

Vergara said the Presiding Bishop will attend the EAM consultation after making her first official visit to the Philippines and Hong Kong. She will preach at the Commissioning Service and attend the EAM multicultural banquet.

Other primates and bishops from Asia and the United States are also expected to attend.

The keynote speaker, the Rev. Canon Soh Chye Ann, is an itinerant evangelist, missionary and entrepreneur who formerly served as chair of the Commission on Mission and Evangelism (COME) of St. Andrew's Cathedral in Singapore and vicar of St. Margaret's Church which sent several missionaries in Asia. He became an itinerant evangelist in South Africa and Asia director of the Church Mission Society in England.

Currently, Soh is founder and CEO of Magi Enterprises, an entrepreneurial mission venture combining theological principles and business models in doing church.

"Canon Soh's diverse experiences and unique insights in understanding ‘the context, the content and the conduits of mission' can help us strengthen our theological foundation and help us sort our ministry priorities," Vergara added.

Aside from the plenary sessions, there will be several workshops designed to provide tools for participants in doing the work of the ministry. The Rev. Dr. Fran Toy, president of the EAM Council said that "prayer under girds everything that we do" and there will be regular prayer and worship in the consultation.

Workshops on congregational wellness, Pan-Asian and multicultural ministry, contemporary worship and ethnic leadership and tools for mission and evangelism will be featured.

Vergara said early registration is encouraged, especially for participants who have to spend for their individual travel direct to Kaoshiung or via Taipei. Fees for lodging and meals at the youth center are $100 for the entire consultation. Some participants are planning to extend their travel to visit their home countries in Asia on their own expense before or after the consultation, Vergara added.

For more information on EAM and the EAM Consultation, contact Angeline Cabanban at 212-867-7652 or email acabanban@episcopalchurch.org or visit the EAM website at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/asian.htm.

Episcopal News Service
The Rev. Pat McCaughan is Episcopal Life Media correspondent in Province VIII (the Province of the Pacific). She is based in Los Angeles.