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Presbyterian Church in Taiwan Wikipedia

Image:Kauhoe.jpg|thumb|right|An issue of the Taiwan Church News, first published by Presbyterian missionaries in 1885. This was the first printed newspaper in Taiwan, and was written in Taiwanese (linguistics)|Taiwanese, in a Latin alphabet.
The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT; Taiwanese (linguistics)|Taiwanese: Tâi-oân Ki-tok Tiúⁿ-ló Kàu-hoē; Chinese language|Chinese: 台灣基督長老教會) was planted in Taiwan in the 19th century by Dr James Laidlaw Maxwell Sr of Britain, and Dr George Leslie Mackay of Presbyterian Church in Canada|Canada.

In Taiwan, Presbyterians have historically been active in promoting the use of the local vernacular Taiwanese (linguistics)|Taiwanese, both during the Japanese colonial period, as well as after the transfer of rulership to the Republic of China, during which the exclusive use of Mandarin (linguistics)|Mandarin was legally mandated. Also, the church has historically been an active proponent of human rights and democracy in Taiwan, a tradition which began during the Japanese colonial period and extended into the martial law period of the ROC. As such, the church has been somewhat associated with the Taiwan independence movement.

In terms of polity, the PCT has a general assembly, and only one synod (the Northern Synod); the presbytery|presbyteries in the south of the island connect directly to the general assembly. The PCT is a member church of the World Council of Churches.

Immigrants from Taiwan to the United States and Canada have also started Taiwanese language churches which are closely related to the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. While most of these churches are affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), or the Presbyterian Church in Canada, or United Church of Canada, the liturgy and church practices are rooted in the Taiwanese Presbyterian tradition, and pastorships are usually filled by ministers trained in the PCT.

Last Modified:   2005-11-04