TARSA Southern California (台美宗教研究學會)
Identity
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 台美宗教研究學會 |
| Full Name | Taiwanese-American Religious Study Association — Southern California |
| Founded | October 29, 2009 |
| Founder | 葉思雅 (Sze-ya Yeh) and Evergreen Fellowship (長青團契) |
| Meeting Location | 大洛杉磯台灣會館 (LA Taiwanese Cultural Association) |
History
Origin Story
TARSA was born from a conflict at the Formosan Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles (FPCLA).
Rev. 葉思雅, along with other FPCLA elders and the Evergreen Fellowship (長青團契), had been promoting cross-religious dialogue and academic lectures featuring scholars from various faith traditions. However, conservative elements at FPCLA declared this interfaith dialogue “heresy” and blocked further lectures.
In response, the Evergreen Fellowship members resigned collectively from FPCLA’s leadership. Then, on October 29, 2009, they established TARSA — “to continue cross-religious dialogue and academic exchange.”
Mission
TARSA meets monthly to:
- Promote interfaith dialogue and understanding
- Host academic lectures from scholars of various faith traditions
- Foster intellectual exchange among Taiwanese Americans
- Continue the work of religious and cultural exploration that was blocked at FPCLA
Significance
TARSA represents an important chapter in the evolution of Taiwanese American community life — the transition from single-denomination church-based community to more pluralistic, interfaith intellectual engagement.
Related Entities
- Sze-ya-Yeh-葉思雅
- Formosan-Presbyterian-Church-Los-Angeles-FPCLA
- Evergreen-Fellowship-長青團契
- LA-Taiwanese-Cultural-Association-大洛杉磯台灣會館
Notes
- Wiki entry created: 2026-05-14
- Sources: taiwaneseamericanhistory.org, TARSA founding essay by 葉思雅