1. History and Migration of the Central Bunun Presbytery

(1) 1904–1950: Early Missionary Period (44 Years)

The Central Bunun Presbytery (CBP) of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) reached its 30th anniversary on February 1, 2024, since becoming autonomous on February 1, 1994. However, according to most existing documentations, the missionary history of the Central Bunun Presbyterian Church dates back 77 years to 1947. That year, Rev. Chen Qiong-Yao (a Han Chinese minister) was dispatched to Xinyi, Ren'ai, and Heping Townships (in Nantou and Taichung Counties) in his capacity as a mountain administrative instructor to promote government orders. He seized this opportunity to share the Gospel with the Bunun people in Xinyi and Ren'ai.

During the same year, Rev. Luo Wen-Fu of the Puli Church (Taichung Presbytery) led church members on several evangelistic trips and revival meetings in the Qukeng Community of Ren'ai Township—presently known as Zhongzheng Village (Katu Community). Meanwhile, the Ailan Church of Taichung Presbytery and the Mountain Medical Mission Team also entered the Katu Community to conduct medical evangelism. Furthermore, in 1948, Elder Lin Yun-Shan of the Shuili Church (Taichung Presbytery) traveled to Mili, Shuanglong, Renhe, and Tannan Villages in Xinyi Township to proclaim the Gospel. Therefore, the CBP is deeply grateful to God and honors the ministers, elders, and brothers and sisters of the Taichung Presbytery and its churches for breaking down ethnic barriers and overcoming geographical obstacles to actively pioneer early Gospel outreach among the Central Bunun churches.

(2) 1950–1953: Church Planting Period (3 Years)

As the number of Bunun believers grew amidst a severe shortage of ministers, Rev. Hu Wen-Chi conducted a 5-day Bible study seminar and examination at Guanshan Church in June 1949. Candidates who achieved outstanding results were commissioned as lay evangelists and dispatched across different regions: 2 to Nantou, 2 to Kaohsiung, 3 to Taitung, and 1 to Hualien. Subsequently, in September 1950, Rev. Hu Wen-Chi successively commissioned Zhang Wang, Tian Guang-Ming, Liu Chuan, Shi Jing-Qi, and Huang Shun-Li as lay evangelists to conduct itinerant evangelism and establish meeting places across Central Bunun communities.

On November 17, 1950, Xinyi Church was established as the very first church in the region. In the same year, missionary Lillian Dickson, along with three Han believers, traveled to the Tamazu’an Community to share the Gospel. In 1951, to deepen the Central Bunun people’s understanding of the Bible, Rev. Hu Wen-Chi and Rev. Luo Xian-Chun led a six-day Bible study conference at Shuili Church (Taichung Presbytery). Following the conference, believers returned to their respective communities with renewed zeal for evangelism. To equip local believers as ministers, Brother Quan Suo-Zhe of Fengqiu Church was recommended for theological training at Yushan Bible College (now Yushan Theological College and Seminary). In 1953, he was assigned to pastor three churches—Fengqiu, Xinxiang, and Luona—becoming the first minister of this presbytery.

(3) 1954–1958: Taichung Mountain District Committee Period (3 Years)

With the establishment of church structures among the Central Bunun communities, the Taichung Presbytery approved the formation of the Taichung Mountain District Committee at Puli Church in August 1954. Rev. Quan Suo-Zhe served as the first District Committee Chair, Rev. Wu Tong-Can as Secretary/Treasurer, and Rev. Luo Wen-Fu as Advisor. In October 1955, the first cohort of pastors under the Taichung Mountain District Committee—Jin Xing-Guo, Lu De-Cai, Shi Qi-Ming, and Tian Cheng-Qi—were assigned to Indigenous communities in Central Taiwan. Later, in 1957, Rev. Quan Suo-Zhe was appointed as the first itinerant pastor for the Central Bunun region.

(4) 1959–1973: Central Bunun District Committee Period (14 Years)

On April 6, 1959, supported by the General Assembly's Indigenous Mission Committee, the Central Bunun churches established the Central Bunun District Committee at Xinyi Church, with Rev. Quan Suo-Zhe serving as the inaugural Moderator. During these 14 years (1959–1973), in response to the 1968 General Assembly Indigenous Mission Year, churches under the Taichung Presbytery established sister-church relationships with churches in our district. In 1969, the Mustard Seed Mission sent Rev. Quan Suo-Zhe to mission among the Iban people in Malaysia, opening the doorway to overseas missions for the Central Bunun Presbytery.

(5) 1974–1993: Bunun District Committee under Taichung Presbytery (19 Years)

During the 4th Spring Assembly of the Taichung Presbytery in 1974, a proposal was passed to incorporate the Bunun District Committee into the Taichung Presbytery, with the goal of eventually establishing an independent presbytery. Over the next two decades, the district engaged in learning, observation, training, counseling, and organizational development. In 1980, in response to a General Assembly initiative, the Taichung Presbytery and its district committees organized a fasting and prayer meeting for Rev. Chun-Ming Kao and political prisoners. This practice evolved into a monthly fasting and prayer ministry for the CBP that has continued for 44 years to this day. In 1984, with guidance and assistance from the Taichung Presbytery, the first urban mission church of the CBP—Nanshan Church—was established, marking a major milestone in urban ministry.

(6) February 1, 1994 to Present: Central Bunun Presbytery Period (30 Years)

On January 9, 1992, the Bunun District Committee proposed the creation of the Central Bunun Presbytery to the Taichung Presbytery, which was approved. Subsequently, during the 40th General Assembly Regular Meeting (April 13–16, 1993), the establishment of the "Central Bunun Presbytery" was officially passed. The presbytery was formally inaugurated on February 1, 1994, during the 64th Spring Assembly of the Taichung Presbytery held at Dali Church.

At its inception, the presbytery comprised 19 churches: Dongguang, Dongpu, Wangxiang, Jiumei, Luona, Xinxiang, Fengqiu, Xinyi, Renlun, Guangfu (Dibaan), Shuangfeng, Qingyun (Tamazu’an), Tannan, Qukeng (Katu), Wujie, Wanfeng (Ximaan), Nanshan, Punong, and Dashan. Rev. Arnold Isbalidav (Si Ming-Shan) was elected as the inaugural Moderator. On February 15, 1994, a Thanksgiving Service was held at the Gymnasium of Shuili Junior High School in Nantou County. Since then, the presbytery has operated under the principles of self-reliance, self-governance, and self-support. Today, the presbytery oversees a total of 26 churches.

2. Partnership Foundations and Cross-Ethnic Ministries

(1) Cou District Committee: 2013–2023 (10 Years)

Over its 30-year history, the CBP has signed mission partnerships with two ethnic district committees.

In 1956 (68 years ago), while the CBP was under the Taichung Mountain District Committee, Missionary Shi Qi-Ming traveled to the Cou District Committee for itinerant preaching in response to the General Assembly’s Double Movement. In 2008, both district committees participated in the General Assembly’s "Uphold the Cross, Guard Taiwan into the UN" rally. Co-workers from both districts stood on Mount Jade (Yushan) upholding the cross to pray for Taiwan. Recognizing that both the Bunun and Cou peoples inhabit the Mount Jade range, the two districts embraced a shared mission vision for unified Gospel outreach in Central Taiwan.

In July 2013, a formal partnership agreement was signed, with provisions for renewal every five years. In August 2018, due to a minister shortage in the Cou District Committee, the partnership was renewed, and ministers from the CBP were formally dispatched to pastor Cou churches through the General Assembly’s Cooperative Mission System. Ministries and departmental exchanges also expanded. To further encourage grassroots exchanges between local congregations, a Thanksgiving Service for Sister-Church Partnerships was held in November 2020.

In 2023, marking ten years of partnership, the Cou District Executive Committee proactively proposed concluding the partnership to allow their district to re-examine future mission strategies and address local pastoral placement considerations.

(2) Seediq District Committee: 2021–Present (3 Years)

In May 2021, facing a severe minister shortage, geographical proximity, and a long history of intermarriage between the two ethnic groups, the Seediq District Committee entered into a mission partnership with the CBP. Beyond dispatching ministers through the General Assembly’s Cooperative Mission System, departments from both districts began collaborating on various initiatives. Recognizing that the partnership contributed positively to local church growth, ministers and members of the Seediq District renewed the mission partnership agreement with the CBP in May 2024.

(3) Sister-Church Partnership with Taichung Presbytery: 1968–Present (56 Years)

In 1968, in response to the General Assembly's Indigenous Mission Year, churches under the Taichung Presbytery established sister-church partnerships with churches under the CBP, a relationship that continues today.

(4) Sister-Church Partnership with Southern Bunun Presbytery: 2009–Present (15 Years)

Following Typhoon Morakot in 2009, the CBP established a partnership with the Southern Bunun Presbytery to support churches in severely affected disaster areas. To this day, congregations from both presbyteries maintain active mutual visits, fellowship, and ministry connections.

(5) Bunun Bible Translation Ministry across the Three Bunun Presbyteries: 2012–2024 (12 Years)

Sharing a common ethnic heritage and recognizing that the 2000 edition of the Bunun Bible: New Testament and Shorter Old Testament was incomplete, the Bunun, Central Bunun, and Southern Bunun Presbyteries reached a consensus in 2009. They officially launched a joint Bible translation initiative in 2012. On April 17, 2024, during the General Assembly Regular Meeting, a Thanksgiving Service was held for the publication of the Bunun, Rukai, Pinuyumayan, and Seediq Bibles. After 12 years of dedicated labor, the joint translation effort across the three Bunun presbyteries was successfully completed.

(6) Joint Pastoral Placement Ministry across the Three Bunun Presbyteries: (18 Years)

Discussions regarding candidate minister assignments among the three Bunun presbyteries began as early as 2000 (24 years ago). In 2006, the three presbyteries officially passed a joint draw-based placement framework. Following deliberations with the General Assembly’s Ministry Committee, a consensus on diversified pastoral placement was implemented, allowing ministers to be assigned across the three Bunun presbyteries via the General Assembly’s lottery system.

3. Mission Scope and Church Count of the Central Bunun Presbytery (Geographical Order)

(1) Church Statistics of the Central Bunun Presbytery

According to the PCT General Assembly statistical reports, churches under the CBP had a total of approximately 6,123 believers, 3,793 communicant members, and an average weekly attendance of 2,878 in 2020.

However, according to the Council of Indigenous Peoples' Bunun demographic report from May 2024, the total Bunun population across Taiwan (both plains and mountain areas) reached 62,633. Within the mission scope of the CBP, the Bunun population stands at:

• Taichung City: 5,252

• Changhua County: 1,126

• Nantou County: 13,958

• Yunlin County: 439

Combined, the Bunun population across the Taichung-Changhua-Nantou-Yunlin region totals 20,775. In other words, there are 20,775 potential targets within our mission territory—a number more than three times the current membership of the presbytery. This demonstrates that there remains an unreached population three times our size that requires Gospel outreach.

(2) Number of Churches

The mission scope of the Central Bunun Presbytery spans Central Taiwan, covering Miaoli southwards through Changhua, Nantou, and Taichung, and extends from northern Chiayi down to Yunlin. Since its establishment in 1994, the presbytery has grown over 30 years to a total of 26 churches (comprising 22 organized churches and 4 mission stations/chapels).

Among these 26 churches, 16 are located in original tribal homelands and 10 are urban mission churches. Compared to the original 19 churches present at the presbytery's inauguration, 7 new churches have been planted—averaging one new church established every 4 to 8 years.

(3) Geographical Distribution

Geographically, the 26 churches of the Central Bunun Presbytery extend from the upper reaches of the Zhuoshui River in the Central Mountain Range all the way to its estuary:

• Xinyi Township (Chenyoulan River Line, Nantou County) — 8 Churches: Dongguang, Dongpu, Wangxiang, Jiumei, Luona, Xinxiang, Fengqiu, and Xinyi Churches.

• Xinyi Township (Zhuoshui River Line, Nantou County) — 5 Churches: Dibaan, Tamazu’an, Tannan, Shuangfeng, and Renlun Churches.

• Ren'ai Township (Nantou County) — 3 Churches: Ximaan, Wujie, and Katu Churches.

• Urban Mission Churches — 10 Churches:

  • Shuili Township, Nantou: Shuinong Church

  • Nantou City: Nanshan Church

  • Puli Township: Punong Church

  • Yuchi Township: Nine Tribes Joint Church

  • Greater Taichung Area (5 Churches): Dali Vineyard, Dashan, Qingshan, Hemu, and Taiping Qi'en Churches

  • Mailiao Township, Yunlin County: Mailiao Enhui Church