The National Council of Churches in Korea celebrated its centenary with a series of meetings, concluding with celebratory worship on Sunday, 22nd September 2024. A delegation from the World Communion of Reformed Churches, led by General Secretary Setri Nyomi, was present at the meetings and delivered a keynote address at the preceding consultation.
Entitled “God of Life, Renew All Creation in your Love: A renewed Centennial for Life, Peace and Hope,” the two-day consultation continued the National Council of Churches in Korea’s decades-long commitment to peace and reconciliation. The consultation mainly looked at the Tozanso process initiated forty years ago. This process was a joint initiative of the World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches in Korea.
Speaking at the consultation General Secretary, Setri Nyomi said, “As we celebrate 100 years of the witness of the Korean churches through the NCCK. It is appropriate to use this occasion to give thanks to God for the contributions the NCCK has made towards justice and peace in this region of the world as well as to assess how far we have come and what can we do ecumenically to give new signs of hope.”
In his presentation, Nyomi recalled the Seoul Assembly of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches in August 1989. This assembly reaffirmed its commitment to the reconciliation and reunification process, the statement from the assembly read, “Reformed churches from around the world are gathered in Seoul, Korea, August 15-26, 1989 to seek reconciliation with God, with one another, with creation, and among peoples and nations in the 22nd general council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. In this context we cannot ignore the painful division of the Korean peninsula, the pain and suffering which it causes to the Korean people, and the serious threat to world peace which it represents. As a matter of urgent priority, the WARC general council joins our member churches in Korea in a strong commitment to reconciliation and reunification on the Korean peninsula.”
Recalling these commitments Nyomi called for a “clear commitment to ending the war, and to justice for all” he ended his presentation with a call to recommit to reconciliation and healing, saying “Justice, Peace, Healing and Reconciliation are at the heart of our faith as Christians. The signs of hope are visible. The work is challenging. The opportunities are here with us. The question is – to be instruments of healing and reconciliation, will we be able to walk the walk that our faith demands?”
The NCCK centenary celebrations concluded with an ecumenical worship. Present at the meeting was Rev Dr Professor Jerry Pillay, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches and former President of the World Communion of Reformed Churches as well as church and ecumenical leaders from around the world.
National Council of Churches of Korea Centenary Celebration.