Movement News:

Student Christian Movement Taiwan

2004 February-March

Taiwan SCM joined hold hands in the call for democracy
More than a million and a half people joined hands on 28 February 2004 to form a 500-kilometer long human chain spanning the length of Taiwan. This massive anti-China protest was an unprecedented and historical milestone in Taiwan’s democratic movement. Its turnout and manifestation of peace and joy surpassed the expectations of the governing Democratic Progressive Party.

About 35 thousand church members of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and 300 Taiwan SCMers joined in the historic and meaningful activity. Through songs, slogans and posters, we demonstrated that the people on this island seeking for peace, love and justice, and determine to protect the security of our homeland from any form of external threats.

The rally also marked a clear shift in the focal point of the 20th March presidential election. Because the demonstration highlighted peace and the defense of Taiwan against China’s missiles rather than issues of ethnicity, it transcended the traditional symbolism with the 2-28 commemorations and transformed the election into a vote on cross-strait issues instead of purely domestic considerations.

2002 August

Be the Light & Do the Justice:
The Second TSCM Training Programme The second Taiwan Student Christian Movement Training was held on 1-8 July 2002, with 60 participants. The programme included basic training for the new participants and re-training for those who had passed basic training last year.

The training, which was called Canadian Urban Training Project for Christian Services (CUT), served to fulfill the two purposes of the Urban Rural Mission (URM) – “Empowerment of People” and “Organising people for power in order to restore God’s image and human dignity in us”. Most of the participants are TSCMers and are of different races, occupations and ages. The programme also invited some foreign friends: exiled Tibet people from India and a Canadian sociology teacher. In the TSCM camp, there was no barrier between countries because the motivation of TSCM was to strive for freedom and dignity with love, justice and peace.

The speaker Dr. Ed File is a sociologist and pastor who sees Taiwan people as his brothers and sisters. He came to Taiwan for several times since 1983 to spread the idea of URM and to introduce CUT to the Taiwanese. Under Dr. File’s facilitation, 60 participants learned ways to transform social concerns into concrete action while relating them to their faith. Some of the participants’ concerns were: “Education”, “Nucleus Issues”, “Unemployment Problems caused by the move of Taiwan Industries”, “Drug Abuse of Juveniles”, “Decision Making Power of the Aboriginals” and “Recognition of Taiwan as a Nation”.

During the training programme, the focus and analysis were on the two structures of “bureaucratic system” and “to achieve our ultimate goal—the image of God’s kingdom”. Dr. File required every participant to understand the Constitutions of government organisation, so that any defects could be detected and changed. In each proceeding step, Dr. File emphasised that only with a non-violent, peaceful resistance of “love, strength and justice” can be used by the social movement to fulfill the reign of God.

2002 February

The Bible Study Camp (BSC) went into its 31st year this February 2002! It is a national camp and it is always being held in the annual spring vacation. The Camp started when a few students who questioned that not only students studying in the Seminary should receive training and lessons on Theology and the Bible, but also for all other Christian students. This is because students are the future leaders in the Church and there is a need for them to be well equipped to take the lead. The Camp is not just about the study of the Bible, it is more about a re-examination of the Bible and of Theology and it includes live sharing, workshops, and group discussions.