The Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) is to focus over the coming decade on the role of churches as reconcilers and healers in society, according to the church’s senior elected official.
“Our church recognizes that Korean society is torn by dissension at different levels and so we want to build our church as a healer of society,” says Son Dal Ig, who serves as PCK’s moderator.
Son says the church’s goal for the next 10-year period is to work towards “true” reconciliation on the Korean peninsula that will lead to peace and reunification.
The moderator made his remarks during discussions here Nov. 23 with the General Secretary and senior staff of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC).The church’s newly appointed Ecumenical Officer, Byun Chang-bae, accompanied the moderator. PCK is the largest of four active WCRC member churches in South Korea.
The meeting in Geneva follows PCK’s centenary celebrations earlier this year. At that time the church endorsed an all-encompassing theme for PCK’s mission in the post-centenary era: Friends of the least of these. The text refers to the biblical passage in Matthew 25 in which Jesus promises salvation to those who care for the least valued people in a community.
WCRC’s general secretary, Setri Nyomi, noted that PCK’s focus on “the least of these” in the world’s societies is shared by WCRC.
“This is even more reason for PCK and WCRC to work closer together in this new era,” says Nyomi.
The discussions included a review of plans for the World Council of Churches (WCC) assembly scheduled for Busan, South Korea, in October 2013. PCK is taking an active leadership role in planning for the event, which is held once every seven years.
Nyomi reported that WCRC’s Officers will be meeting in Busan in parallel with the assembly. WCRC is also supporting the participation of Reformed church theology students in an intensive short-term study program organized by WCC to coincide with the assembly.