Chiayi road trip

I made a recent last-minute visit to Taiwan to our partner church as part of a different URC-PCT program and had a short overnight visit to Chiayi Presbytery with whom our North Western Synod is linked. The Ecumenical Committee was convened for us to talk together about several issues of our partnership:

1. Twinning relationships between church to church. There are a very small number of churches who are trying to establish relationships with local PCT churches in Chiayi. Language is certainly a barrier from both sides of the partnership and it would help if local churches had one email and named person to enable smooth conversation. Young people across Chiayi are also willing to use MSN & social networking sites to have different communications but again language is a barrier. Something which has been suggested is a 2-week English language camp for Taiwanese and British people from the churches youth to get together and share with each other. Churches who have already made a link or contact through me will hear directly from me soon.
2. An invitation has been made to ministers of Chiayi to attend ministers summer school with North Western Synod for 4 days annually & also spend about 1 week with a local URC minister in their pastorates either before or after the summer school. The dates for 2008 & 2009 have been shared. Although this year it may be more difficult for 1-2 ministers to attend it will be strongly encouraged by the Ecumenical Committee that 2009 summer school be attended by 1-2 ministers from Chiayi and hosted by a local minister who is open to sharing with a Taiwanese minister. In our synod there are over 10 ministers who have met with Taiwanese ministers & it is hoped someone new will volunteer to host for 2009 for about 1 week. Contact Kate Gray if you're interested.
3. Young people - a separate youth link between nwsynod FURY young people & young people in Chiayi Presbytery is something which may be possible. Perhaps a group visit, mission trip to Chiayi or our synod, MSN online conversations and other suggestions were made. I'll contact Leo Roberts & the synod FURY group in due course.
4. Visit from Chiayi to NW Synod - there will be a small group visit of 6 people from Chiayi Presbytery in November 2008 including 4 ministers and 2 elders from the executive of the presbytery. They will be attending our NWSynod on Sat. 8th Nov. in Morecambe at Christ Church URC. The full details of their visit will be discussed & planned with our Taiwan synod planning group & posted here soon after. A schedule will be made available for local churches however at this stage offers of support with respect to finance, hosting and transport would be helpful. Please contact me, Kate Gray by telephone or email. Details from the URC Handbook or your minister.

Please share a little of this news in your churches. More news to follow in the next few days.