Editorial: Refocusing ecumenical relations and ministries

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

      Taiwan Church News

      3053 Edition

      August 30~September 5, 2010

       

       

      Editorial: Refocusing ecumenical relations and ministries

       

      Translated by Lydia Ma

       

       



      Church ministries in this day and age vary greatly from church 
to church and are increasingly 

      complex because every church or region has its own unique 
calling from God and its own 

      distinctiveness. Different churches prioritize ministries 
differently according to what they 

      perceive is most important. 

       



      With so many issues calling for churches’ attention, and the 
ecumenical movement’s focus on 

      international politics, economy, social justice, etc., PCT’s 
ecumenical work must seek clarity 

      and discernment. Below are a few important factors to take into 
consideration when 

      determining what is most important:

       



      Clarify the definition of “missions”: In the past, churches or 
organizations with plenty of 

      human capital and financial resources would go on mission trips 
to places that don’t have 

      much of either of these resources and minister to them. 

       



      But if churches are not careful, their attempts to help can 
easily become condescending to 

      those receiving their assistance. As result, not only are the 
wishes of recipients overruled, 

      well-meaning assistance can turn out to be burdensome and 
awkward.

       



      After much discussion and reflection between churches all over 
the world, a guideline was 

      born – Partnership in Mission. This term implies whenever a 
church begins a mission in a 

      new place, it must work with local churches in understanding 
the needs and challenges that 

      local people are facing. 

       



      In other words, sending churches must really see local churches 
as their partners and work in 

      cooperation with them. This is the only way for all churches to 
benefit and grow from such an 

      experience and exchange.

       



      Reach out and honor missionaries: Missionaries have always 
played a crucial role in the 

      history of PCT. It was largely due to their tireless efforts 
throughout the past century and their 

      work with our pastors that PCT has become what it is today – a 
strong and growing church. 

      Their works and legacies can never be forgotten from Taiwan’s 
church history.

       



      We can only imagine the hardships and struggles these 
missionaries had to overcome when 

      they first came to serve in Taiwan. Not only did they have to 
learn a new culture, lifestyle, 

      language, they also had to help their families and children 
adjust to life in Taiwan. Let’s not 

      forget to express our heartfelt gratitude to them through 
tangible action such as personal visits.

       



      Training people for world missions: To train a new generation 
of people to be part of the 

      ecumenical movement requires much training as getting them 
acquainted with churches 

      worldwide and the dynamics of the ecumenical movement requires 
a lot of time. 

       



      Furthermore, people need time to get acquainted and trust one 
another as they begin to work 

      with people from other churches around the world. They also 
need time and practice to 

      sharpen their language skills – especially English – before 
they are confident in representing 

      their churches abroad at various ecumenical meetings.

       



      Looking at the history of PCT in the past few decades, we 
notice only a handful of people have 

      been actively involved in representing PCT abroad at ecumenical 
gatherings. Oftentimes, it’s 

      the same people who venture out again and again. 

       



      In conclusion, churches must strive to raise up a new 
generation of talented people passionate 

      about promoting and participating in the ecumenical movement, 
or we will experience a 

      generational gap and a shortage of people involved in 
ecumenical ministries sooner than we 

      ever expected.

       



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