Page 33 - Presbyterian Connection

presbyterian.ca
WINTER 2021
CONGREGATIONAL NEWS
Annual Meeting of the Synod of the Atlantic Provinces
Indigenous peoples, human rights and human dignity.2 Since these are all unquestionably matters of faith, our paper affirms the need to focus the work of the TEF on the “people’s inalienable rights and responsibility to self-determination within a global environment dominated by amoral empires that act only for their own interests.”3
This latest act of aggression by China affirms the need for the in- ternational community to speak out in defence of Taiwan’s political independence from China. Follow- ing a civil war in the 1940’s, China has viewed Taiwan as a breakaway province, and has used its power to effectively isolate Taiwan internation- ally, blocking their participation in many important organizations, in- cluding the United Nations, the World Health Organization and INTERPOL. (Taiwanese citizens are not allowed to visit the United Nations headquar- ters in New York.) Taiwan is not of- ficially recognized by many nations, including Canada. In fact, the United States does not officially recognize Taiwan, either, though it does have a law that requires the U.S. to provide defence articles to Taiwan so it can defend itself. And while the material and political support of the U.S. is appreciated, Taiwan now finds itself squeezed between two empires, Chi- na and the United States. Both exert considerable cultural influence on the people of Taiwan, and this is a con- cern to those who want to determine their own future.
I know the PCT and the members of the TEF covet our prayers, and our interest in their situation. I would challenge you to hold them in prayer, and to learn more about the geo-po- litical realities in which they live. Ask your elected representatives to pay attention to the plight of Taiwan, and to advocate for their recognition on the international stage. As Christians, we are called to take sides, and to stand for and with the peoples’ strug- gle for freedom, peace and justice. May we, like the persistent widow in the Gospel of Luke, not grow tired of advocating for justice for Taiwan and its peoples.
FOOTNOTES
1 Taiwan Ecumenical Forum Newsletter
(Issue No. 017)
2 Concept Paper. Theological Reflection
Working Group of the Taiwan Ecumeni-
cal Forum for Justice and Peace. p. 1 3 Ibid. p. 4
Connection
INTERNATIONAL
Freedom, Peace and Justice for Taiwan
PRESBYTERIAN
33
Charles Greaves, Moderator of the Synod of the Atlantic Provinces.
By John Barrett, Representative Elder to Synod, Zion Presbyterian Church in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
On Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, members of the Synod of the Atlantic Provinces met online for their annual meeting. With the 2020 meeting cancelled last year due to travel and health restric- tions, this is the first time the full Synod has met for 24 months. De- spite the inconvenience and lack of personal interactions of meeting on- line, those charged with the smooth technical preparation for the event are to be commended. Synod recog- nizes the supporting efforts of Synod Clerk the Rev. Jeffrey Murray, church host and technical assistant the Rev. Andrew Campbell, and Grace Mc- Creary, Program Assistant with the Life and Mission Agency. They aptly guided us through the various pro- cesses and voting protocols as well as leading in the Synod Orientation on October 18.
Synod began with the Moderator, the Rev. Dr. Marion Barclay-MacKay, leading in worship and communion. Due to Covid and the cancellation of the 2020 Synod, Marion has served in this capacity for the last two years. She shared the difficulty of visitation during her tenure but remained posi- tive despite the challenges faced by the churches of our region. Follow- ing worship, Charles Greaves, Clerk of Session at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Sydney, N.S., was installed as the new Moderator of Synod for the 2021/22 year. A former member of Assembly Council, the National Fi- nance Committee and Moderator of the Cape Breton Presbytery, Charles accepted the challenge of Moderator and looks forward to perhaps a more normal year ahead and the opportu- nity to meet in person next October in Hanwell, New Brunswick.
As is normally the case, the Synod Book of Repor ts was circulated in advance with many of the 31 recom- mendations being able to be passed
The Rev. Dr. Richard Topping, Vancouver School of Theology.
through a consent agenda. Highlights from the business component of the meeting included the adoption of a new job description and the approval to advertise for the upcoming vacan- cy in the position of Synod Camping and Youth Consultant. The contract of current employee Whitney Can- ning has been extended to December 31, 2022, with the hope that the new candidate will be approved at the October 2022 meeting of Synod and have the opportunity to spend time with Whitney before she leaves.
Synod heard from our Halifax Hospital visitor Calvin Burt, who eloquently expressed his deep com- mitment to the position and the ef- fect that visitation has not only on patients, but family members who are unable to be at their loved ones bedside due to distance.
Reports from the usual commit- tees such as Nominating, Missions, Camping and Synod Council were all shared with positive news com- ing from all fronts. A recurring theme throughout the day was online ser- vice and their importance during the pandemic. Churches were encour- aged to share links to their online services with each other so that all can learn from one another.
The highlight of the day was a nine- ty-minute presentation by the Rev. Dr. Richard Topping from the Vancouver School of Theology. Richard’s topic was “Scripture, Preaching & Imagi- nation.” His words of wisdom and advice were extremely well received and was certainly something those in attendance could take away, digest and implement in the months ahead. Synod is extremely grateful for Dr. Topping’s contribution to this year’s program. The Rev. Dr. Dale Woods has been invited as Synod’s special guest speaker for the 2022 annual meeting.
All members look forward to meet- ing in person next year for the 148th meeting of the Synod of the Atlantic Provinces.
The Rev. Linda Patton-Cowie with the Rev. Glynis Williams (left), Associate Secretary of International Ministries, and the Rev. Dr. Paul McLean, international mission staff to Taiwan.
By the Rev. Linda Patton-Cowie,
St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church in Orillia, Ont., and PCC representative on the Taiwan Ecumenical Forum steering group.
Very early one morning in October, I woke to the news that Chinese war planes, including heavy bombers and advanced fighters, had again entered Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), flying in attack forma- tion. These incursions by China have been happening with increasing fre- quency in the past several months, and this was certainly the largest show of force to date.
This news prompted me to have a very visceral reaction, which was based in fear. I am not Taiwanese, but I am the PCC’s representative on the Taiwan Ecumenical Forum’s (TEF)
The Rev. Linda Patton-Cowie with a youth delegate to the TEF conference.
Steering Group, and in that role have come to know and have great respect for those I have met and worked with. I worried for them, and their families, and what might lie ahead for this tiny island nation. I can’t imagine what it would be like to live each day with the very real threat of invasion and the possibility of war hanging over my head. I have often said that the “tagline” of the PCC should be, “It’s all about relationships,” and that is certainly true for our international partnerships. Living into our relation- ships with our Taiwanese siblings in Christ means that we must learn about their reality; we must recognize that the geo-political tensions that ex- ist in that region of the world take a toll on everyone.
The TEF is an initiative of the Pres- byterian Church in Taiwan (PCT). Through it, many international ecu- menical partners have come together to journey with the PCT “in pursuit of justice and peace for the people of Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific.”1 A number of working groups have been formed, and I am a member of the Theological Reflection Work- ing Group. We were tasked with completing a biblical-theological reflection about the crucial issues of concern to the PCT: identity, self-determination, the importance of transitional justice, the rights of