Disciple: Why Taiwan?

By The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry

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By the time you read this, the Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple and I will have returned from seven days in Taipei, Taiwan, for the fall meeting of the House of Bishops, only to leave after one day and fly to Jackson, Mississippi, for the ordination of the new Bishop of Mississippi. On a few occasions before my departure, people asked me, in a friendly yet understandably quizzical way, why in the world American bishops of the Episcopal Church, most of the dioceses of which are located in the Western Hemisphere, were going all the way to Taiwan for a meeting.

A really helpful answer began to emerge for me during the closing Eucharist in Taiwan, which the Rt. Rev. David Lai, Bishop of the Diocese of Taiwan, celebrated in Chinese.

The first Bible reading in the liturgy was from Isaiah 44:8, where the prophet says that the people of God are to be witnesses of God in the world. Building on that, Jesus said, “[Y]ou will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” I believe that he really meant it. When he said, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,” I believe he really meant that, too (Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28:19).

Jesus really was and is summoning into being a new human community “born of his Spirit, washed in his blood,” as the old song says. That community of Jesus transcends all of our ethnic, national, creedal, political and ideological differences and divisions and instead embraces our wonderful God-given variety. How does St. Paul say it?

As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:27-28).

This community of Jesus has been born to witness: to witness to the love of God that knows no bounds, to witness to the way of Jesus that transforms our ways and those of the world, to witness to the Spirit who can lead us as a human race into becoming the human family of God — the beloved community of Pentecost — and not just an individualized collection of self interests. It is this community of Jesus that has a witness for the hope of the world. How does the old hymn say it?

In Christ there is no east or west,
In him no south or north.
But one great fellowship of love,
Throughout the whole wide earth.

One great fellowship of love, throughout the whole wide earth.
I think I know why we went to Taiwan.

On Sunday, bishops worshiped at various churches in the Diocese of Taiwan. As I worshiped at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Taipei, I thought of our own Good Shepherds in Ridgeway, Rocky Mount, Raleigh and Asheboro, as well as Durham’s El Buen Pastor.

One great fellowship of love, throughout the whole wide earth.
I think I know why we went to Taiwan.

While in Taiwan we met and heard from the Anglican Archbishops of Korea, Japan and Pakistan and from the General Secretary of the Church in Hong Kong.

They told their stories of following Jesus as a distinct minority in their cultures. We heard stories of how the Church in Asia has been and is a powerful witness for the Gospel in a non-Christian culture. We heard of the Church’s work of reconciliation among races and national groups. We heard of the Church’s work of ecumenical and interfaith cooperation and reconciliation. We heard stories of advocacy for the poor, service to those in need and witness to Jesus in incredible ways. Through them we share in the work of Jesus in Asia. Through us they share in the work of Jesus here. And together we follow Jesus into God’s dream for the world.

One great fellowship of love, throughout the whole wide earth.
I think I know why we went to Taiwan.

During the Eucharist we recited the Nicene Creed in English and Chinese. I was struck by the words that I’ve said many times.

“We believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church....”

I realized that the Nicene Creed answered the question, why Taiwan?

We came because we really believe in “one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.” We are not just a congregation, a diocese, an American Church. We are the Church catholic, the Body of Christ in the world, the whole world. And we came to Taiwan, which is part of the Episcopal Church, to celebrate their 60th anniversary as a Church and to affirm and share their witness.

Everywhere we went, the people of the Diocese of Taiwan welcomed us genuinely, joyously and wonderfully. They weren’t offering just a polite welcome but instead extended deep gratitude for us being present in their Church. Each congregation greeted us with applause and a lot of food. And at one church there was a sign outside: “Welcome to the Honorable Bishops of the American Episcopal Church.”

In Christ there is no east or west,
In him no south or north.
But one great fellowship of love.
Throughout the whole wide earth.

I think I know why we went to Taiwan.

Keep the faith,
+Michael

DID YOU KNOW?

The Episcopal Church is located in 16 countries: Taiwan and Micronesia, Honduras, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Haiti, Dominican Republic, British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the United States.

The largest diocese in the Episcopal Church is the Dicoese of Haiti.

The Taiwanese Episcopal Church was established in 1954.

The Diocese of Taiwan has 2,000 members, 16-18 places of worship, several house churches, 8 kindergartens and one University of Technology (St. John's University).

Taiwan's population is 23 million.

Less than 5% of Taiwan's population identifies as Christian.