wfn.org | WCC NEWS: Korean churches: WCC 10th Assembly a gift from God

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches - News Release

Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org
For immediate release - 23/09/2009 11:31:20

KOREAN CHURCHES: WCC 10TH ASSEMBLY A GIFT FROM GOD

Korean churches already experience the positive impact of
hosting the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC)
in Busan in 2013. 

The prospect of the WCC Assembly (

http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3591 )coming to Korea is already
providing churches in the country with an opportunity to
strengthen interdenominational cooperation, as was evidenced in a
thanksgiving service held in Seoul on 16 September. 

The service, which was hosted by the Preparatory Committee for
Korea’s Bid to Host the WCC Assembly, and a time of celebration
that followed were attended by more than 1000 participants from
nearly all Christian confessions. 

Representatives of the government, including the chairman of the
Korean Congress, the chief justice of the Supreme Court and the
prime minister attended the event. They added their own words of
encouragement to the many congratulatory messages presented
throughout the day. 

In his message, Korean President Lee Myung-bak said that in
preparing for the Assembly "the church in Korea will exemplify
maturity through its cooperation and unity". 

Many voices expressed joy and the conviction that the Assembly
is a divinely given opportunity for furthering the visible unity
of the church. 

Rt Rev. Dr Kim Sam-whan, the president of the National Council
of Churches in Korea said: "It is a gift from God to strengthen
the Korean ecumenical movement, while at the same time it is a
call from God to serve in humility the wider ecumenical movement
worldwide."

Rev. Park Jong-soon, who preached during the service, emphasized
the call to be one as he quoted from Jesus' prayer for his
disciples, that "they may all be one" (John 17:21). 

Rev. Dr Cho Yong-ki, of the Yoido Full Gospel Church, stated
that "this is an opportunity for the Korean churches to serve the
world churches". He expressed hope that it will also be a
catalyst "for the Korean churches to work for the glory of God’s
Kingdom, transcending denominational and confessional
boundaries".

Archbishop Kim Hee-joong, chairman of the Committee on Church
Unity of the Korean Bishop’s Conference said the Catholic Church
in Korea will "contribute its prayers and support so that the
fruits of the Assembly can contribute to fostering world peace
and greater unity among churches around the world." 

The mayor of Busan stated that the city "stands ready to welcome
with open hearts the participants of the WCC Assembly". He
ensured the city's support for the Assembly "to be successful in
all respects”. Busan, on the south-eastern coast of the Korean
peninsula, is the second largest city in South Korea with a
population of more than 4 million. 

Prime Minister Han Seung-soo stated that "the coming of the WCC
to Korea symbolizes the significant standing of the Korean
churches in the world and as such the Korean government will lend
its full support in making the forthcoming Assembly a resounding
success". 

In a videotaped message the WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr
Samuel Kobia told the audience that he wanted to thank them
"wholeheartedly" for issuing their invitation. 

"The Busan Assembly will be a unique opportunity for churches
around the world to encounter the vitality of the churches in
Korea, to experience a new horizon of ecumenical cooperation and
to join the deep, abiding witness of the Korean churches for
peace and reconciliation", Kobia stated in an earlier letter of
congratulation. 

Judging from the energy and enthusiasm that emanated from the 16
September event, Korea is getting ready to welcome the world with
one heart, one body, and one spirit. The National Council of
Churches in Korea will form the Korean WCC 10th Assembly Planning
Committee in October 2009. 

>(Daniel Dong-Sung Kim reported from Korea.)

WCC member churches in the Republic of Korea:

http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/regions/asia/south-korea.html

See also feature article of 1 September 2009: "Korea stands
ready to welcome WCC"
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1634/korea-stands-ready-to-wel.html

Additional information:Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507
6363media@wcc-coe.org

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith,
witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical
fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings
together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches
representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110
countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic
Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from
the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.