The impressive Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service held in Seoul’s Myungdong Cathedral on Jan. 22, 2015, was an significant show of ecumenical spirit. This service, used around the world, was written by Christians in Brazil with the theme, “Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’.” The theme came from the story in John 4, of Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman at the well. Participants in the service, from the 8 member churches of NCCK and from the Korean Catholic Church, entered carrying pitchers of water, which they emptied into a well at the front of the church, representing the fact that each brought life-giving resources from their own tradition to share with the others.
During the service, the Most Rev. Osvaldo Padilla, the Apostolic Nuncio to Korea, brought greetings to the assembly from Pope Francis. Rev. Dr. Kim Young Ju, General Secretary of NCCK, preached on the theme, and many others from participating churches shared in leading the worship. The offering was a commitment for those gathered to remain close to each other, to learn from one another, to act together for God’s will to be done, and to pray together.
This service was the beginning event of an educational program in Christian unity, which will take place from 7 – 9 p.m. on Thursday evenings for 13 weeks, from Jan. 22 to April 30. Fifty laypeople are registered for this study program, a comprehensive look at the issues of Christianity in a very ecumenical setting. The first class was an introduction and description of the course and then the students joined the worship service.
The second week, led by Father Seung Yung Min was entitled, “What Kind of Religion is the Korean Christian Church?” The third led by Sister Son Jeong Mung, entitled, “Divisions and Reforms – the History of Christian Divisions.” The fourth, by Rev. Ahn Kyo Seong, is “Diversity of Churches, One Church? – differences and similarities between Denominations”. Fifth, by Rev. Yang Hyun Hye, “The Korean Church, where did it come from, where is it going? – the History of Growth and Divisions of the Korean Christian Church.” Sixth, “Toward the Bible, toward the World – Mutual Understand of the Word and the World”, will be jointly led by Rev. Shim Kwang Seop and Father Seung Yung Min. The seventh session is “Whose church is first – Mutual Understanding of the Rules and Stages of the Churches”, led by Father Shin Jeong Hoon. Eighth session presented by Father Park Tae Shik, will be “Worship and the Mass, Veneration of Mary, what are the Problems? – Mutual Understanding of the Churches’ worship and faith”. For the ninth session, Rev. Jeon Cheol will present “Who Receives Salvation – A Mutual Understanding of Salvation and Justification”. In the tenth session, Fathers Kim Ki Seok and Father Park Jeong Woo will present “Christian Ethics? – A Mutual Understanding of Life and Society”. For the 11th session, “Today’s Economic and Environmental Crisis – A Mutual Understanding of the Christian Atonement of the Economy and Environment by Rev. Jang Woon Jae. Father Park Tae Shik and Sister Lee Hyun Suk will present the 12th session on “Conflict? Dialogue? Toward the Dialogue of Neighbours”. Finally, the last session will be “The Horizon of Worship: Christian Life and Spirituality, where is it today?” which will be facilitated by Rev. Shim Kwang Seop and Father Seung Yung Min.
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