A Joint Ecumenical Peace Message for the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War has been presented by the World Council of Churches and signed by churches, councils of churches and church leaders all around the world – including the Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau (EKHN)!
Together with churches throughout the world EKHN is calling for a peace treaty to formally end the Korean War that started 70 years ago on 25th of June 1950. We are calling for
- an immediate formal declaration of the end of the Korean War;
- and Swift steps towards the adoption of a peace treaty to replace the 1953 Armistice Agreement, as a starting point for further progress towards the realization of a permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.
The whole statement on the Website of WCC
In a letter to the General Secretary of our partner church PROK (Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea) and our sisters and brothers in Gwangju Presbytery I wrote:
„Your Partners in the EKHN are in solidarity with you on your pilgrimage for healing and unification and we pray for a successful campaign for a peace treaty. …
On this occasion we also remember the victims of the Korean War, one of the most destructive conflicts of modern history costing up to three million lives including many civilians. We remember the widespread destruction on both sides of Korea, leaving people hungry and homeless. We remember the many thousands of the victims of torture and massacre on both sides because of ideological differences.
Our hope and prayer are that God may heal the wounds caused by the war and ideological differences and bring together the people separated by the same. May God bless your efforts for a peace treaty on the Korean peninsula and for a peaceful reunification of Korea. Be assured of our prayers.“
You can download the letter at the end of this Blog!
My Prayer for Korea:
Lord, we thank you for your support in our lives,
for both the beautiful and the dark sides of life.
You promise more than just bare survival.
We ask you to give strength to all those in the Korean
Churches and in our worldwide ecumenical fellowship
who are committed to peace, justice
and dignified living conditions for people.
Especially we pray for a light of peace for the Korean Peninsula
and signs of hope for a peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula.
Let all those who make economic and political decisions
develop new visions and strategies so that people
all over the world may share in the fullness of life.
Amen!
