TSPM/CCC Group Participates in Taiwan Forum

Six pastors were members of a TSPM/CCC group attending the "Cross-Straits Modern Urban Church Service Forum--The Urban Church and the Modern Soul" held in Taipei from 13-14 November, 2009. Eighty participants from various churches in Taiwan also attended the one-and-a-half-day meeting.

The twelve papers presented at the forum addressed six topics from a cross-straits perspective: 1) a historical review; 2) Christianity and social development; 3) theological education and modern social change; 4) church bodies and social concern; 5) the churches' care for the elderly; and 6) lay training and church development. Each topic was presented as a "cross-straits" issue with a papers read by local and mainland participants respectively. Mainland participants took questions from their Taiwan counterparts, elucidating the "one China" and "Three-Self" stance of churches on the mainland.

The forum followed similar conferences held in October 2006 at Tunghai University in Taiwan and in April of this year at the Taiwan Baptist Seminary. Following the conference the six mainland participants visited churches and other church bodies around Taiwan. These meetings are of great significance in maintaining links and fostering understanding and confidence between Mainland and Taiwan churches.