(Summarized report of Nanjing meeting)
Ecumenical Forum
for Peace, Reunification and Development Cooperation
on the Korean Peninsula
Steering Committee Meeting
May 16-17, 2008,
Guoxin Hotel, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
1. Members Present:
Dr. Matthews George Chunakara (WCC) , Mr. Tony Waworuntu (CCA), Rev. Kwon Oh-Sung (NCCK), Rev. Ri Jong Ro (KCF), Ms. Bern Jagunos (UCC), Ms. Stefanie Elbern (EED), Rev. Kenichi Otsu (NCCJ), Rev. Heawon Chae (Forum), Ms. Patricia Bruschweiler (WCC Asia Desk ), Mr. Choe Kil-Hyun (KCF)
Guest: Mr. Qui Zhonghui, Amity Foundation Director
2. The Minutes of February 6-8, 2008 Meeting were approved with some changes.
3. Following Situation update on the Korean peninsula by Rev. Kwon, and Rev. Ri Jong Ro’s request for the Forum to respond to the new situation, It was agreed that
The Forum through the WCC office of Matthews (as chair of the Forum and representative of WCC) will send an appeal to Forum and WCC members to write letters to President Lee Myung Bak of South Korea expressing concern about his government’s antagonistic and confrontation attitude and policy towards North Korea and call for dialogue and engagement with North Korea.
KCF and NCCK will provide brief background information to WCC Asia Office and that will go along with the appeal.
WCC General Secretary will also write a letter to President Lee Myung Bak.
CCA will disseminate the appeal as well.
4. Regarding Common Projects and Support for Ongoing Projects of KCF, it was agreed that
The Forum will financially support the management of noodle factory, bakery and greenhouse which are under the KCF. The KCF will prepare an estimate of the running cost of these projects , prepare a simple proposal. When it is finalized, the proposal to Forum members for contribution will be sent.
Rev. Chae will do a research on the cost of installing solar panels at these fields and send it to the Steering Committee members for discussion.
Using the information gathered, a proposal to be prepared to include:
Running cost of noodle factory, bakery and greenhouse including staff salary, transportation, electricity
Solar energy generating system
It was also suggested that if there was a chance to have an income-generating part connected to the ongoing programs, such as an additional production line at either of the factories whose produce could be sold locally, EED would be able to finance such an endeavour, even if in the early stages there would not be any surplus.
5. Regarding Ecumenical Visit to North Korea,
it was agreed to schedule the Forum ecumenical visit to North Korea on the first two weeks of October 2008. A letter of invitation to Forum members will be sent as soon as the KCF confirms the dates.
6. Regarding the 25th Tozanso Anniversary Consultation in 2009,
It was agreed that the international ecumenical consultation to mark the 25th anniversary of the Tozanso process will be held in Hong Kong in November 2009.
Participants:
About 50-70 participants in total
5 participants from KCF, including at least 1 woman
To ensure continuity as well as to develop interest and commitment from new church leadership, participants will be a mix of those who have been involved in the Tozanso process over the years and present key figures in the churches and ecumenical community who will be able to commit their churches and organizations and carry out the work for Peace and reunification in the Korean Peninsula
WCC will coordinate and facilitate the Consultation
Members of the Forum are requested to contribute to the expenses of the organization of the Consultation.
Initial plans/suggestions for program and activities
Visits of WCC’s Living Letters teams to North Korea, South Korea and Japan
A public event/or worship service –invite HK churches, ecumenical bodies, regional organizations, diplomatic corps based in HK
7. Next Meeting of the Forum: It was decided to hold the next meeting of the Forum in conjunction with the Tozanso Process 25th anniversary consultation in Hong Kong in November 2009.
8. Communication Strategies of Forum
The website will serve as a vehicle to provide general information about the Forum, inform/update Forum members on developments in or related to the Korean Peninsula, activities of the Forum and activities of Forum members related to work on peace, reunification and development cooperation in the Korean Peninsula. Rev. Chae as Forum coordinator will oversee and regularly update the website. Steering committee members will monitor news/ developments from their regions and send to Rev. Chae
9. The budget for 2008 is approved by the steering group for the Forum activities and Contributions Pledged are as follows:
NCCK 10,000.00
UCC Canada 10,000.00
EMS Germany 6,039.00
NCCJ 2,000.00
_______
Total $28,039.00
10. Chair of the Ecumenical Forum & Steering Committee:
It was proposed and decided that Dr. Matthews George ( WCC) will continue as the chair of the Forum and Steering Committee until the next meeting of the Forum in 2009.
