WCC NEWS: In Korea, WCC acting general secretary reflects: “we are a movement and not a static institution”

As the keynote speaker during an Ecumenical Peace Conversation in South Korea on 11 October, World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca reflected on the theme of the recent WCC 11th Assembly, “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity.” Ecumenical Peace Conversation in Seoul, South Korea, 11 October 2022. Photo: NCCK 11 October 2022 Sauca expressed how grateful he is for the strong support and prayers of churches in Korea, which sent many people to the assembly. “I also wish to thank the WCC member churches in Korea and the National Council of Churches in Korea for their faithful commitment for the WCC’s Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace,” he said. “This has become our ecumenical paradigm since the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan, South Korea, engaging churches and partners in a common journey.” The image of pilgrimage speaks to the identity of the ecumenical fellowship, said Sauca. “We are a movement and not a static institution,” he said. “As the WCC assembly gathered in Karlsruhe this year, we were conscious of the global manifestations of war, death, disease, violence, and famine in the world today.” Yet there is joy as Christ’s invitation remains open to everyone, he continued. “In this regard, today, as we have gathered for an Ecumenical Peace Conversation, I want to highlight three key points and lessons that we learned together from the recent WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe,” he said. “First, the WCC 11th Assembly has become a decisive turning point in our ecumenical journey, advocating for the integrity of God’s creation and for climate justice.” Second, he said, the assembly theme guided the delegates and participants to take seriously the call for unity in Christ and to live as people of Christ’s reconciliation. “This assembly took place in the midst of war afflicting not only Europe but the entire world,” he said. “We gathered in prayers for peace in Ukraine, by condemning the war, denouncing violence as a solution to conflict, calling for the protection of innocent and vulnerable people, maintaining contact and dialogue with the churches in Russia and Ukraine, engaging churches from the neighbouring countries in round-table dialogue, and advocating for humanitarian assistance.” Third, Sauca highlighted the ecumenical efforts and activities for peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula. “During the period after Busan, churches and their specialized ministries have been even more deeply involved in formulating, planning, and fulfilling the initiatives and activities of the WCC,” he said. “Such is the case with the WCC’s persistent engagement during this period with issues of peace on the Korean Peninsula.” Sauca was welcomed by Rev. Dr Chang Sang, former WCC Asia president, and by Rev. Dr Lee Hong Jung, general secretary of the National Council of Churches in Korea. A prayer of thanksgiving was offered by His Eminence the Most Rev. Metropolitan Ambrosios (Zographos) of Korea. Keynote speech of the WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca at the Ecumenical peace conversation WCC acting general secretary visits Korean Peninsula (WCC news, 10 October 2022) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland