54 participants, representing 15 countries and 34 churches and ecumenical organizations shared in this WCC consultation held at Bossey Institute, Geneva.
For the first time in 3 years, members of the NCCK met their brothers from Korea Christian Federation. Especially we rejoiced to meet the new Chairperson of KCF, Rev. Kang Myong Chol, who was attending along with three others. On this historic occasion, we meet in the Spirit of the Tozanso Process of 1984. Last fall, (Sept., 2013), WCC General Secretary Olav had visited Pyongyang and laid the foundation for this meeting to follow up from the WCC 10th General Assembly. The Consultation was to consider the role of the churches and the involvement of the ecumenical movement in Korean Peninsula reconciliation.
The opening worship was led by Rev. Dr. Bae Hyun Ju, Korean member of WCC Central Committee. The CCA General Secretary Rev. Dr. Henriette Hutabarat-Lebang preached, saying that for a long time there has been ideological conflict on the Korean Peninsula and families are still separated in agony. In this consultation churches are called to collaborate for peace, and this is a good time to meet in loving solidarity. Rev. Kang Myong Chol and Rev. Kim Young Ju both spoke of the historical event they were witnessing and of their hopefulness for its long-term outcome.
June 18 saw the main work of the consultation as all talked together of their hopes for peace. In particular, the words of Gil Young Ok, former sexual slave taken by the Japanese military, were very meaningful. She said Korea should not be in war, and she hopes for our descendants that they will not experience pain and agony due to war.
June 18 saw the main work of the consultation as all talked together of their hopes for peace. In particular, the words of Gil Young Ok, former sexual slave taken by the Japanese military, were very meaningful. She said Korea should not be in war, and she hopes for our descendants that they will not experience pain and agony due to war.
At the closing worship on June 19, Rev. Kim Young Ju and Rev. Kang Myong Chol signed the 2014 North South Common Prayer for Liberation Day, 2014, and gave it to General Secretary Olav. It will be translated into all the WCC languages and distributed to all member churches with recommendation that all churches share it in their congregations on the Sunday before August 15.
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