Korean peace impossible without justice for all, Reformed church leader says

From "Daphne Martin_Gnanadason" <[email protected]>
Date Wed, 03 Nov 2010 12:14:53 +0100

World Communion of Reformed Churches 
News release
November 3, 2010Korean peace impossible without justice for all,
Reformed church leader says
 
The success of peace and reconciliation initiatives in the
Korean peninsula is linked with justice issues such as the right
to free association and access to food and education, a senior
church leader has told a global gathering of peace advocates and
academics in Seoul. 
 
“Providing charity alleviates some of the symptoms but we need
much more than that. We need a clear commitment to justice for
all,” Setri Nyomi, General Secretary of the World Communion of
Reformed Churches (WCRC), says in a keynote speech delivered on 3
November. 
 
Nyomi was addressing more than 100 participants from 51
countries who are in Korea for a four-day seminar exploring the
theme BuildingCommunities of Peace. 
 
The event which runs from 31 October to 4 November is the third
in a series of seminars on peace and reconciliation hosted by
Youngnak Presbyterian Church to honour its founding pastor,
Kyung-Chik Han. 
 
Originally from North Korea, Han dedicated his career to seeking
reconciliation in the divided country. The Religious Studies
Section at York St. John University in Great Britain is
co-sponsor of the event that marks the tenth anniversary of Han’s
death.
 
Participants in the seminar include representatives from South
Africa, Croatia, Burundi and Sri Lanka. 
 
In his presentation, Nyomi paid tribute to the efforts of WCRC
member churches in Korea for their commitment to reconciliation
between North and South Korea.
 
“There is a need to strengthen the contacts between the church
in North Korea and the church in South Korea,” Nyomi said in
speaking of his dreams for the region.  
 
“Efforts at annual prayer meetings ... and the development of
common prayer give us a glimmer of hope.” 
 
Christians represent 29.2 percent of the population in South
Korea with 8.6 million Protestants and 5.1 million Catholics.
Reliable statistics about North Korean Christians are not readily
available. However, the state-controlled Korean Christian
Federation, a Protestant organization, has 12,000 members.  (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Korea#cite_note-0#cite_note-0
)
 
The seminar opened with a trip to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)
which separates North and South. In a ceremony at the Songak
Prayer House overlooking North Korea, international
representatives offered prayers accompanied by traditional Korean
music. 
 
The gathering of Christians at the border came in the wake of
meetings on 30October where families from North and South Korea
met for the first time since the country was separated in the
1950’s. An additional 80,000 people are said to be waiting their
chance for a family reunion. 
 
In a sermon on 31 October, Nyomi told worshippers at a parish in
Seoul that they could set a good example for secular society and
political authorities by working to overcome divisions among
churches. By accepting those who are different from them, Nyomi
says, “Christians will be in a strong position to challenge the
powers that want to keep Korea divided and speak clearly on the
fact that this is one people.”
 
WCRC was created in June 2010 through a merger of the World
Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical
Council (REC). Its 230 member churches representing 80 million
Christians are active worldwide in initiatives supporting
economic, climate and gender justice, mission, and cooperation
among Christians of different traditions. 
 
Media Contact:
Kristine Greenaway
Executive Secretary, Communications
World Communion of Reformed Churches
150 route de Ferney, PO Box 2100
1211 Geneva 2 
Switzerland
tel. +41 22 791 6243
fax +41 22 791 6505
[email protected]
www.wcrc.ch ( http://www.wcrc.ch/ )