THE KUKMIN DAILY

Worship Service Commemorates 90th Anniversary of National Council of Churches in Korea

NCCK, which was established on September 24, 1924 as the “National Christian Council in Korea,” held a worship service commemorating its 90th anniversary on the afternoon of September 18 at the Salvation Army Art Hall on Chungjeong-no, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. The theme of the service was “Unsteady Church, Return to the Wilderness,” meaning that the Korean church, having lost the trust of society, will reflect on the reality, remember the suffering of the weak, and restore God’s promise.

During the service’s “confession of sins,” Kim So-hyeong, general secretary of the National Youth Association of the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK Tonghap), said, “The Korean churches covet ever more possessions and status…The reason the church cannot receive social trust is that it is recognized as a huge power group.”

Choi Ae-ji, secretary of the National Youth Association of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK), criticized, “When something happens that is good for the Korean churches, they say, ‘God’s will has been fulfilled,’ but when things are different, they say, ‘God’s will has not been realized,’ thus falling into the temptation of spiritual occultism…Even though the Korean churches are overflowing with prayers for blessings, there are all too few prayers seeking God’s justice or social change.”

In his sermon, NCCK President Park Jong-deok, Commander of the Korean Salvation Army, emphasized, “The problems of our suffering neighbors are not just problems of yesterday and today but are the burdens and crosses the churches always should bear…The Korean churches must be truly concerned and work enthusiastically and responsibly, doing our best to help them.” He added, “At this time when the church’s existential values are shaky, we need to ask constantly, ‘What is the work that will gladden God’s heart?’”

A special anthem was presented by 22 fired workers from the Ssangyong Motors Branch of the Metal Workers Union. Linked shoulder to shoulder, they sang with spirit the much-loved song “Green Pine Trees.” The voices of Sewol disaster victims, residents of Milryang, Gyeongnam, who are threatened by construction of a high-voltage transmission tower, residents of Jeju’s Gangjeong Village suffering from construction of a naval base, migrant workers, differently abled persons, homeless persons and others also were heard at the service, through the letters they had sent. The participants were given time to respond to these, in the form of a prayer.

At an earlier informal chat with the media, NCCK General Secretary Kim Young-ju said NCCK would work hard for cooperation among the Korean churches. “The Korean churches need to come together as one and speak with one voice,” he said. “In future, while endeavoring to help the churches become better instruments of God, we also will be preparing for the NCCK centennial.”

Reporter Jin Samyeol (samuel@kmib.co.kr), with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)


Click here for the original article in Korean

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