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Dear participants of the DMZ Peace Human Chain Movement,
I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ as you gather together to celebrate the first anniversary of Panmunjom Declaration and commemorate the centennial of the March 1st Independence Movement.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of 350 church bodies representing the Orthodox, Anglican, and Protestant families in 110 countries around the world. More than 800 participants in the 10th Busan Assembly of the WCC joined in a pilgrimage of justice and peace traveling to Mount Dora and Imjingak, expressing solidarity with the people of Korea and endorsing the worldwide call for the reunification of Korea. They saw themselves that they were called to be a sign of the fulfilment of God’s promise.
Since the 2013 WCC 10th Assembly in Busan, the World Council of Churches (WCC) have renewed and strengthened its support for and commitment to increased ecumenical efforts for peace, reconciliation, and reunification of the divided Korean people.
I take this opportunity to congratulate all of Korean peoples on this joyous occasion of the DMZ Human Chain Movement forming a “human chain” of 500,000 people along the 500-kilometer of DMZ. Today we are reminded that transformation is an essential dimension of the Kingdom of God as you hold hands in seeking for the transformation of the DMZ into a peace zone, as outlined in the Panmunjom Declaration. Holding someone’s hand is the beginning of our journey.
As a Christian fellowship, the WCC will continue to stand with our brothers and sisters in Korea and invite all Christians to pray for the Korean peninsula and that God’s will, for justice and peace, be done.
“Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called children of God” (Matt 5:9 NRSV)
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
General Secretary
World Council of Churches
