|
The 64th Annual General Assembly of NCCK was held on Nov. 23, 2015, at Seoul Evangelical Church. The Assembly meeting began with an opening worship in which more than 200 delegates from 9 member churches participated. In his sermon, “Standing in the Wilderness Again”, Rev. Hwang Yong Dae, outgoing moderator reiterated that “Korean church in general and the NCCK in particular must reclaim the spirit of the wilderness-the spirit of poverty, emptiness and sharing.” Two special prayers were offered: First, a prayer for reconciliation, reunification and peace in the Korean peninsula as the North and South commemorate the 70th year of division in this year; second, a prayer for the nine ‘untended’ ones from the Sewol Ferry, whose bodies were not returned to their families.
In the session of greetings and welcoming, Moderator of the NCC-Japan, Rev. Kobashi Kouichi, delivered a greeting on behalf of the NCCJ. Rev. Na Haek Jip, a vice-chair of the Reconciliation and Unification Committee, read greetings that had come from the Korean Christian Federation in the North. As well, letters of greeting were delivered from WCC, CCA and United Church of Canada. A special report and prayer was offered for Mr. Baek Nam Ki, a farmer, who is in a serious condition due to the violent action by the police in a recent rally organized by the civil society.
In the afternoon, the theme lecture was presented by Rev. Choi Hyung Mok of Hanshin University, a lecturer in Church Ethics. He talked about the problems of the present Korean society in which the neoliberal and extreme capitalist ideology dominate all values of the society. “People are driven to unlimited competition, but the result is high unemployment and a deteriorated labor situation (mass-production of temporary workers) which threatens the very fundamentals of our daily survival.” He spelled out, “we live in a time when we see the idolatry of the marketplace and national security replacing the example of God.” In conclusion Rev. Choi urged all participants to reclaim the nature of Christian faith: “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. Fear the LORD your God and serve him.” (Deut. 10:18-20)
In his annual report, General Secretary Kim Young Ju highlighted critical concerns and programs of the NCCK: justice and peace mission; reconciliation and reunification movement; international affairs; faith and order work; celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, mission for homeless, etc.
There was an installation service for the new leadership of the NCCK for the year, 2016. Rev. Lee Dong Chun of the Korean Association of Evangelical Churches was elected as Moderator of the 64th Assembly, and moderators of the nine member churches of the NCCK were elected as vice-chairs.
In the business session, several constitutional amendments were proposed including substantial changes of general secretary’s status and job descriptions. But the proposal was rejected by majority of delegates on the ground that the changes might bring more institutional influence on the life and mission of the NCCK, an ecumenical body.
The Assembly meeting was concluded with a worship in which an Assembly statement was read.
|
