UCCanada News Realease on 2014 Bossey International Consulation on Peace of Korea.
General News and Announcements
United Church Participates in Korean Peace Consultation
25 June 2014
Engaging a new generation in renewed global ecumenical action for justice, peace, and reconciliation on the Korean peninsula is a key commitment from the International Consultation on Justice, Peace and Reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula, convened June 17–19, 2014, near Geneva by the World Council of Churches (WCC).
The United Church of Canada, represented by General Council Asia Partnerships staff Patti Talbot, was one of 54 representatives from 34 churches and related organizations from 15 countries present at the consultation. The historic and often emotional gathering was an opportunity for the wider international ecumenical community to greet and embrace delegations led by the leadership of the Korean Christian Federation (KCF) from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) from the Republic of Korea (ROK)—both global partners of the United Church.
Participants attending the Korea consultation offer prayers for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Photo: Peter Williams, WCC
The consultation follows the action of the 10th Assembly of the WCC (held in Busan, October 30–November 8, 2013) in its Statement on Peace and Reunification of the Korean peninsula to begin a new era of international ecumenical engagement in the pilgrimage of justice and peace on the Korean peninsula.
Among its commitments, the Consultation Communiqué encourages "churches around the world [to] observe the Sunday before 15 August each year (starting with Sunday 10 August 2014) as the ‘Sunday of Prayer for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula.’”
To observe this day in your community, consider using this Joint Prayer (available in English [PDF: 1 p/37 KB] and Korean [PDF: 1 p/100 KB]) and/or The Story of Moon IkHwan [RTF: 2 pp/52 KB] as a sermon starter or during children’s time.
For United Church partners in the Republic of Korea the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) and the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), reunification of the peninsula and peace-building remain their most important priority. Since 1986, the United Church has worked in solidarity with partners in North Korea who focus on peace, economic self-sufficiency, and leadership development. The United Church's partner in North Korea is the Korean Christian Federation.
