Following a night-long vigil, the pastors gathered at Gwanghwamun Plaza on the morning of September 16. There were more than 500 of them, exceeding the number indicated by the title of their action, “All-night Prayer Vigil by 304 Clergy Desiring Enactment of a Special Sewol Law.” (304 is the number of persons who lost their lives in the Sewol Ferry tragedy.)
Rather than stay in their churches, these pastors came to the plaza to offer condolences to the families of the Sewol victims, and spent the night praying and calling for the enactment of a special law. The prayer meeting was sponsored by the “Group of Christians Desiring Enactment of a Special Sewol Law.”
Rev. Cho Hwa-sun, board chair of the Women’s Leadership Development Institute of the Korean Methodist Church, gave the prayer at the vigil’s first worship service. “Genuine religious life as a clergyperson requires us not to turn away from society but to work for social justice and reform,” she declared. “We must not forget that Jesus came to this land and loved the poor and lonely grassroots people, to the extent that he even died on the cross.”
The 15-hour prayer meeting concluded with a press conference. In their written statement to the media, the pastors said, “Through our vigil last night, we prayed with one accord that God will comfort the aching hearts of the families who lost their loved ones in the Sewol tragedy; that a special Sewol law will be enacted; and that the law will include investigation and indictment rights…In the event that President Park Geun-hye and the ruling party reject our demand and continue blocking passage of the special law, we will carry out a new citizens’ movement.”
Reporter Jin Samyeol (samuel@kmib.co.kr), with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)
Photo by intern reporter Heo Ran
Click here for the original article in Korean
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“Enact Special Sewol Law!” 500 Pastors Conduct All-night Prayer Vigil at Gwanghwamun Plaza
2014-09-17 17:14
