In Taiwan, the LGBT issue is being examined within the churches and in the society, just as what is happening worldwide. It is highly controversial.
Byline: Chai Yu-Mei
Translator: Chen Szu-Ying
Recently, the Taiwan government made several reform proposals to include homosexuality as part of gender equality and espouse equal rights on the basis not just on gender but especially on homosexuality. This approach challenges the traditional view on gender and created social conflict. For Christians, it brings forth a fierce dispute for the reason that people claim various interpretations on the Bible. In the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT), a panel issued a report in 2004 on this subject from theological, sociological and medical aspects, “Homosexuality Subject Research”. Even so, for the PCT, the subject on LGBT Issues remains highly sensitive and it has been unable to reach any consensus.
One reason the PCT youth chooses this subject as our theme in the WCC 10th Assembly is that many young Christians in Taiwan, especially homosexual youth, are struggling with this issue. In Taiwan today, people are actively socializing the education on sexuality and advocating for equal rights for on LGBT. They are pushing for the amendment of the current “Civil Partnership Rights”. However, most of the churches and Christians take reserved and traditional stances and consider “homosexuality” sinful. They believe that sexual intercourse or love-making between the same gender is against God’s will. Though they say that Christians should love and be concerned about the homosexual, they emphasize that the homosexuals must repent their homosexuality and seek to be cured and change their sexual orientation. Concerning the “Civil Partnership Rights” amendment bill, most of the churches claim this law to be a violation of family morality, bringing countless irremediable consequences. Some even adopt much more radical proposals when protesting this amendment, leading the society to dislike the Christian.
Regarding the current situation, some PCT youth are in favor of equal rights on LGBT Issues. They are convinced that through prayerful reflection, the grace of God can be with anyone, and that humans have the right to choose their own partner. The point is not about gender. It is that two people hold their vows and become partners in their lives. This is what matters in order to please our God. However, other youth still take traditional views and think otherwise on this idea. But a majority stay silent on this subject, or choose to keep away from the conflict, taking the stance of wait and see.
Hence, we expect to present this controversy, “LGBT”, within the PCT youth, to the WCC Assembly. It’s about how we seek out faith, learn to understand the things unknown, and embrace those who are different. Via the social issue discussed, we learn how to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, and become the disciple preaching the gospel. We believe that this process of establishing integrity can be extremely valuable. More importantly, as we are confronted by things we are not familiar with and take initiative to probe into it, we open our minds to experience it, learn from it, and reflect on the entire process. Throughout all this faith journey, we think about the relationship with God
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