News
The vitality of the churches and the ecumenical movement in Korea and the region will be at the centre of attention during a 24-27 August 2004 World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committe meeting in Seoul. The meeting will be preceded by a visit by the WCC general secretary to the Korean churches from 18-20 August 2004, and by a special programme for WCC executive committee members from 21-23 August 2004.
Peace and reconciliation in the divided peninsula has received particular attention from the churches and the WCC for decades; it will be the focus of a statement by the executive committee on Korea. The committee will address other situations of international concern, including events in Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Somalia.
Preparations for the WCC's 9th assembly, to be held in Brazil in February 2006, will also receive priority attention. In addition, the committee will review applications for membership from several churches, and a series of proposed amendments to membership rules.
Also on the agenda are a review of the WCC's Pacific office, a progress report on relations with partner organizations, a detailed programme report for the first half of 2004, and an update on the council's finances.
For the first time, the executive committee will be using a consensus method of decision-making as a new methodology of work to be applied at major WCC meetings. This approach to decision-making was proposed by the Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC, and is seen as a more inclusive and conciliar way of working.
WCC leadership to visit Korean churches
Prior to the meeting, the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia will visit WCC member churches in Korea, and a series of encounters with church leadership and congregations is planned (18-20 August).
A special programme (21-23 August) for the members of the executive committee will include a visit to the demilitarized zone that divides North and South Korea.
The programme also includes worship in local church communities, as well as a reception hosted by the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) and the Korean ministry of culture. An audience with the president of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Roh Moo-hyun, is also foreseen.
On 23 August, the NCCK will organize a seminar on the future of ecumenism which will be addressed by WCC leadership.
The executive committee meeting is being hosted by the NCCK and the four WCC member churches in the country: the Anglican Church of Korea, the Korean Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, and the Presbyterian Church of Korea.
The 25-member executive committee is the highest governing body between meetings of the WCC central committee, and it usually meets twice-yearly. Its moderator is Catholicos Aram I, head of the Armenian Apostolic Church (Cilicia).
Media contact:
Ms Jung Hae-Sun, 82-2-745-4943, 82-16-396-2876 (mobile), [email protected]
Mr Alexander Belopopsky, + 82-11-965-97064 (local mobile) or +41-79 455 9080 (mobile), [email protected]
Programme highlights for press:
18 August
16:00 WCC general secretary gives press conference at Korea Christian Building
20 August
09:20 WCC general secretary visits the Christian Broadcasting System and gives an interview
21 August
Morning: WCC general secretary attends the North East Asia church leaders' meeting at the Centennial Building
22 August
09:00 WCC executive committee members visit local churches
18:30 Welcome reception (hosted by NCCK )
23 August
09:30 International Forum on New Vision and Challenges to Ecumenism in the 21st Century (80th anniversary celebration of NCCK)
16:00 Visit to office of South and North Dialogue
17:20 Welcome reception (hosted by minister of culture and tourism)
24 August
16:00 Visit to the Blue House (presidential office)
27 August
14:00 WCC leadership give a press conference at Korea Christian Building
Website of the National Council of Churches in Korea