台灣教會公報新聞網

In the eve of Indigenous Peoples' Day, designated on Aug 1, the Executive Yuan held the ceremony called “Siraya Indigenous People’s Name-Rectification and Recognition” on July 30 to announce the Siraya plains ethnos as the 17th indigenous people in Taiwan.

To commemorate and cultivate a significant historical site initiated with a brand new writing system around 400 years ago, a press conference - “Restoring Sinkang Community’s Dutch Church and School” - sponsored by "Preparatory Committee for Celebrating both the 130th Anniversary of Sinkang Church and the 400th Anniversary of the Mission in Taiwan" was held at Sinkang Church of Tainan Presbytery in the morning on July 25. Elder Lee Der-chang, general secretary of Tainan Sinkang Cultural Council, indicated “the project aims to lead the public to appreciate the Christian mission’s legacy by restoring the vivid stories buried in the past.”

Celebrating the 150th birthday of Masataro Kaneko, dubbed as "Father of Taiwan's sugarcane”, the eldest grandson of Masataro, Mr Ryoshke Kaneko in his 80s and his wife led their daughter, son-in-law and three granddaughters to visit their ancestor’s footprints in Hsin-Hua district, Tainan City, on July 19. Officials of Cultural Affairs Bureau of Tainan City Government, research specialists of Taiwan Sugar Company, and a group of historians versed in local affairs enthusiastically received the descendants of Masataro.

On June 20, about 80 family, friends and partners from Taiwan gathered in Lonsdale, a small village in eastern Ontario, Canada, to hold a memorial service - Celebration of Life - for Rev Dr Edgar (“Ed”) File, a pastor of the United Church of Canada (UCCan). Ed, nick-named as a “Love Taiwan” pastor, peacefully passed away at an age of 94 on 13 February 2026.

Attracting 90 students, a summer camp - “Happy Children and Teenagers” - was held at Taipei East Gate Church of Chi-Hsin Presbytery from July 6. On July 8, a walking tour was arranged to visit the Rose Historic Site - Tsai Jui-yueh Dance Research Institute and enjoy two dances: "Song of India" and "We Love Our Taiwan" choreographed by Mrs Tsai Jui-yueh. Ms Chan Tien-chen, a teacher of the Rose Historic Site, indicated that in the past decades, many people’s speech and thought was highly restricted due to an authoritarian censorship. Next she led the children to experience the free expression of their bodies following the musical rhythm on the venue.