WCC NEWS: WCC supports Korean churches in the Korea Peace Appeal campaign

As year 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of establishing a ceasefire in the Korean War, the World Council of Churches (WCC) calls on churches worldwide to join advocacy for the Korea Peace Appeal, campaign promoting the transition from armistice agreement to peace treaty for Korean Peninsula. 5 September 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: The Rev. EunKyung Kim blesses the elements of Holy Communion during a Monday prayer for peace and reunification between South and North Korea at St. Stephan Church in Karlsruhe as part of the World Council of Churches' 11th Assembly. The assembly takes place August 31 to September 8 under the theme "Christ's Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity." Photo: Mike DuBose/WCC 13 March 2023 “The World Council of Churches calls on its global fellowship for solidarity and advocacy supporting the churches in Korea in their peace-building efforts and promoting the Korea Peace Appeal campaign,” says WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay. “We are committed to continue our peace-building efforts and advocacy for justice worldwide, and transition from the armistice agreement to a peace treaty is a crucial step towards achieving lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and beyond.” Year 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the 1953 Armistice Agreement that established a ceasefire in the Korean War, but did not formally end the war itself. The WCC has long supported the efforts by the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) to advocate for a peace treaty to replace the Armistice Agreement. The unresolved state of war since 1953 has posed security risks, led to increased militarization, and incurred major political and economic costs for the people on the Korean Peninsula. Korea Peace Appeal is an international campaign that seeks to amplify voices calling for an end to the Korean War and a transition from armistice to peace on the Korean Peninsula, collecting signatures to support this cause at en.endthekoreanwar.net. The  WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany mandated its member churches and partners to accompany the Korean churches in their advocacy through the Korea Peace Appeal campaign, adopting the “Minute on ending the war and building peace on the Korean Peninsula”. The NCCK is among more than 370 South Korean civil society organizations and religious groups behind the campaign, and more than 70 international partner organizations, including the WCC, are supporting the Korea Peace Appeal During the year, WCC will publish series of interviews with church leaders and experts involved in the peace-building process on the Korean peninsula, as well as promote the resources included in its 2020 publication “The Light of Peace: Churches in Solidarity with the Korean Peninsula.” On 27 July, WCC will participate in the Korean Peace Appeal Conference marking the 70th anniversary of the Armistice Agreement. WCC also invites its member churches to join Sunday of Prayer for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula, to be held on 30 July this year. WCC publication “Light of peace” Report on sanctions impact launched at the UN Human Rights Council (WCC news release, 10 March 2023) Screening of the documentary “Crossings” on the women’s involvement in Korea peace process (WCC news release, 6 March 2023) 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 general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. 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