Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
He
Program Agency
475
Riverside Drive, New York, NY10115
Statement on The
Deportation of Dr. and Mrs. David S. Gelzer from Taiwan
The Program Agency deeply
regrets the forced departure from Taiwan of David and
Elizabeth Gelzer. They have fulfilled important roles at
Tainan Theological College and in the life of the
Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. We are also concerned
about the implications for religious liberty of the
decision of the Government of the Republic of China to
expel the Gelzers from Taiwan which was done seemingly
for the simple reason of their being faithful
representatives of the Presbyterian Church in making
known to the wider church the position of that church in
regard to the future of Taiwan.
This act would seem to
reaffirm the stance of that government in opposing
self-determination for the people of Taiwan and in
refusing to give the people of Taiwan an opportunity to
shape their own future.
This position of the
government would seem to be related to the decision of
Taiwanese authorities to imprison General Secretary C.M.
Kao, whose release has been the object of prayer for
Christians throughout the world.
J. Oscar
McCloud, General Director, Program Agency
Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.)
Jan..24, 1984
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