CWM delegates elected Dr Lin Ming-Chu Natalie, from the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT), as the incoming moderator on 15 June. She will succeed outgoing moderator Rt Rev. Lydia Neshangwe. Dr Natalie Lin will serve a four-year term that ends in 2028. In describing her vision for CWM and her call to serve as moderator, she noted that she has served CWM in many ways and for many years—but until this year had not thought of serving as moderator. “I have to be honest: it has been a struggle for me to come to the decision of running for election as moderator,” she said. “But after the recommendation of my church and many prayerful nights, I believe the calling is now.” She envisions this is a new stage, a way of being part of “the new church with an incredible impact we can achieve together,” she added. “The position of the moderator is not to be a guide and steer the ship but to be a servant to all, to be attentive to the needs of the regions and the member churches, and anyone who is serving and working together for God’s mission,” she said. She outlined three main tenets of her philosophy as incoming moderator: listen to the marginalized; nurture dialogue and growth; and learn with a passionate heart. “I am willing to offer up my servanthood as a sister, a nurturer, and a coworker,” she said. “As a woman in society, as a layperson in a preaching world, as a person from Taiwan, I am no stranger to what it is like to be oppressed or marginalized.” She concluded: “We can be in partnership to return and bring restoration to the dignity of life.” SOURCE>CWM |