Chuandao

A Letter from Jonathan and Emily Seitz, serving in Taiwan

Fall 2022

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When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:36-38

Dear friends,

In the U.S. we have a mix of titles we use for church leaders—deacons, elders, musicians, pastors, children’s ministry and youth directors, Sunday School teachers, and on and on. In Taiwan (and much of East Asia) there’s another title that is very common: chuandao, often translated as “evangelist.” Chuandao contains two words, one meaning “spread” or “share” (chuan) and the other meaning “way” or “path” (dao). As “sharers of the way,” chuandao do a wide mix of pastoral ministries, often in teaching and visitation, but also including preaching and leading ministries. Sometimes the term is instead translated as “pastor,” someone who preaches and does everything in a church but the sacraments.

Most Presbyterian chuandao are new seminary graduates, and in this case chuandao is a transitional role after seminary and before ordination. In the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, new seminary graduates draw straws and are assigned to a presbytery where they’re sent as chuandao to lead a small, usually rural, church. They serve in these small churches or other institutions for two to three years, and then can be ordained. Students from all of the seminaries gather for training giving by the General Assembly. Taiwan Seminary’s annual fundraising video showcased the stories of several recent graduates who went to serve in rural churches in Taiwan and now are pastoring throughout Taiwan. They describe the challenges of early ministry: dealing with leaky roofs, helping revive ministries, and reaching out to the communities where they lead.

There are also lifelong chuandao, kind of like the role of trained, permanent deacons in some traditions. In this case, any seminary graduate is a chuandao. Our music and counseling graduates fulfill this role. However, chuandao can also include people who do seminary too late in life to be ordained. One of our recent students fits into this category. She is a widow who raised two daughters before she was able to enter seminary in her 60s. Since graduating from seminary, she serves a small church where she had previously interned, assisting the pastor there in a mix of ministries. In other denominations, chuandao are often any leader who received some training by a senior pastor and serve in different ministries.

Recently, a group of Taiwanese, Christian sociologists did two surveys of the church. One interviewed church leaders, about a third of which were chuandao. Chuandao tend to be about 10 years younger on average than pastors, perhaps reflecting that they are sometimes just beginning their ministry. The research on Taiwanese church leaders was fascinating to me. 70% work more than 50 hours a week and 25% work more than 70 hours a week. Most sleep about 6.5 hours a night. About two thirds say they’re in good health. One of the interesting findings was that 47% of church leaders struggled with how work interfered with family life, while 31% felt that family interfered with work. I was sharing about this at a recent conference with a mix of mission workers, and several people talked about the major role chuandao play in their ministries.

They are often the unsung heroes doing the core work of behind-the-scenes ministry. Church leadership is a struggle everywhere. In the U.S., many churches now are served by long-term stated supply or commissioned lay pastors. We also have a huge host of core ministry positions that come with a mix of titles: Christian educator, youth leader, chaplain, etc. Many of whom have undergone theological education. Like Taiwanese chuandao, these are core parts of the life of the church.

It was fascinating for me to realize that in the world church, there are entirely different ways of conceiving of discipleship, church leadership, or ministry. I have always been impressed by the faithfulness of so many of these leaders, who put in huge amounts of work out of their love of the church and their desire to serve. They are an inspiration.

What would it mean for you to think of your work as “spreading the way,” as an intense calling to learn and lead and serve? My prayer is that whatever your stage of life or situation you will see God calling you to serve.

Holy God, we thank you for those called to a variety of ministries. We pray especially for students and chuandao who serve in the church: teaching, preaching, singing, worshiping, counseling, guiding and praying. We pray especially for Christians in Taiwan as they seek to serve you. Amen.

 Jonathan and Emily

Please read the following letter from Rev. Mienda Uriarte, acting director of World Mission:

Dear Partners in God’s Mission,

What an amazing journey we’re on together! Our call to be a Matthew 25 denomination has challenged us in so many ways to lean into new ways of reaching out. As we take on the responsibilities of dismantling systemic racism, eradicating the root causes of poverty and engaging in congregational vitality, we find that the Spirit of God is indeed moving throughout World Mission. Of course, the past two years have also been hard for so many as we’ve ventured through another year of the pandemic, been confronted with racism, wars and the heart wrenching toll of natural disasters. And yet, rather than succumb to the darkness, we are called to shine the light of Christ by doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God.

We are so grateful that you are on this journey as well. Your commitment enables mission co-workers around the world to accompany partners and share in so many expressions of the transformative work being done in Christ’s name. Thank you for your partnership, prayers and contributions to their ministries.

We hope you will continue to support World Mission in all the ways you are able:

Give – Consider making a year-end financial contribution for the sending and support of our mission personnel (E132192). This unified fund supports the work of all our mission co-workers as they accompany global partners in their life-giving work. Gifts can also be made “in honor of” a specific mission co-worker – just include their name on the memo line.

Pray – Include PC(USA) mission personnel and global partners in your daily prayers. If you would like to order prayer cards as a visual reminder of those for whom you are praying, please contact Cindy Rubin (cynthia.rubin@pcusa.org; 800-728-7228, ext. 5065).

Act – Invite a mission co-worker to visit your congregation either virtually or in person. Contact mission.live@pcusa.org to make a request or email the mission co-worker directly. Email addresses are listed on Mission Connections profile pages. Visit pcusa.org/missionconnections to search by last name.

Thank you for your consideration! We appreciate your faithfulness to God’s mission through the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Prayerfully,

Rev. Mienda Uriarte, Acting Director
World Mission
Presbyterian Mission Agency
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

To give, please visit https://bit.ly/22MC-YE.

For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6