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Christian Conference of Asia
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Tozanso communique October 2004"Korean peninsula -- A Flashpoint in North East Asia" 
Participants of the Tozanso meeting Fifty-five church leaders and consultants from nine countries of Asia, Europe and North America met under the auspices of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) at the Tozanso YMCA conference centre in Japan from 17th to 21st October 2004 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of an historical ecumenical consultation that initiated lines of communication between Christians of the Democratic People�s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK). In 1984, a consultation on the theme "Peace and Justice in North East Asia � Prospects for Peaceful Resolution of Conflicts" launched a series of first-time events that included face-to-face meetings between Korean delegations from North and South, visits by churches and ecumenical agencies to both the DPRK and the ROK, as well as visits by delegations of the Korean Christians Federation (KCF) to churches in Asia, North America, Europe, and other parts of the world. Collectively, these initiatives have come to be known as the "Tozanso Process," widely regarded as the precursor of rapprochement on the Korean Peninsula. In addition to reviewing the historical events that shaped the period following the original Tozanso Consultation, participants heard a series of presentations on current trends shaping inter-Korean and global relations related to peace and security in the region. During the worship service that opened the consultation, Dr. Philip Potter, who as WCC General Secretary 20 years earlier strongly supported the struggles of the Korean people for democratization and reunification, led a bible study on prophetic witness for peace and justice. Dr. Ninan Koshy, former Director of the WCC�s Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, presented a paper on major geopolitical trends in Asia. Referring to the "second nuclear age" that followed the Cold War nuclear confrontation, Koshy warned that "the newer nuclear states are dealing with enemies close at hand � minutes away by missiles � in conflicts that could unfold quickly." New military doctrines by the USA call for technology that, according to Koshy, will make it possible to use nuclear weapons for preemptive strikes as part of available military responses. Recalling the recent history of US-DPRK relations, Dr. James Laney, President Emeritus of Emory University in Atlanta Georgia, and former US Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, said that the urgency of the Korean situation requires immediate action. Calling himself a "Christian realist," Laney said it is important to acknowledge that all people everywhere are created in the image of God, and therefore have a basic right to a decent respect. His "modest proposal" is that the USA should engage with the DPRK, give security assurances, stop the isolation, and stop exploiting the fears of people. A former professor at Korea University, Dr. Hahn Bae Ho reviewed the history of inter-Korean bilateral relations. He said that the two Koreas have not yet agreed on a "roadmap" leading to a "confederal" stage of unification, a prospect that would be greatly enhanced if the two Koreas were "earnestly committed to undertaking internal changes in political, economic and other areas." However, the Sunshine Policy of engagement and the North South Joint Declaration of June 2000 created new opportunities for bilateral relations giving new reasons for hope. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Tozanso Consultation as a significant historical event, the Rev. Kang Yong Sop, Chairman of the Korean Christians Federation of the DPRK, thanked "colleague brothers and sisters of church organizations and staff members of the WCC and CCA" for their contributions to strengthening ecumenical solidarity in support of Korean peace and reunification. He called on churches "in this time of crisis" to continue their vigilance in helping to remove US hostile moves toward the DPRK and supporting the implementation of the June 15, 2000 North-South Joint Declaration. The Rev. Paik Do-woong, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) said that he believes peaceful coexistence has become a current that cannot be reversed. Nonetheless, he pointed to increasing opposition by conservative groups � including many Christian churches � which are against the "Sunshine" policy and the abolition of the National Security Law. Paik said that the NCCK would continue to seek the ecumenical community�s commitment to human rights, democracy, peace and the reunification of Korea. Dr. David Kwang-sun Suh, professor emeritus of theology at Ewha Women�s University and a chief drafter of the 1988 NCCK Declaration of Korean Churches on National Reunification and Peace, reflected on this document in his Bible study. The participants discussed the content of the Declaration in groups and urged the NCCK to further articulate its meaning in light of the current situation. They joined in the confession of sins of hatred and demonizing of adversaries. Professor Kinhide Mushakoji, Director of the Centre for Asia Pacific Partnership at Osaka University of Economics and Law, presented an analytical framework for understanding the Korean dynamic. He criticized Japan for manipulating diplomatic negotiations rather than confronting its negative past, and promoted a greater role for United Nations agencies in the resolution of the Korean conflict. Representatives of ecumenical partners in Japan, USA, Canada and Germany presented a review of their activities in the framework of the Tozanso Process. The consultation formulated a process for future ecumenical activities toward peace on the Korean peninsula, including the following recommendations: Normalization of relations between the DPRK and the USA and the adoption of a non-aggression pact will provide a solid foundation for ending the Armistice and replacing it with a Peace Treaty. Reconciliation between the US and the DPRK remains the key to diffusing tension in the region. A more independent regional policy and role by Japan is essential to create a climate for peace, security and regional stability. The implementation of the Japan- DPRK Pyongyang Declaration 17 September 2002 will further this process. Humanitarian support for food, medicine, and other inputs should be continued by Japan, USA and other countries without conditions attached. Humanitarian assistance should not be abused for political ends. In order to address the fundamental economic conditions, donor countries should consider other forms of assistance like the provision of energy and development aid. Lifting of economic sanctions of the DPRK will lead to better living standards and progress in different sectors of society. The US and Japan should refrain from using sanctions as a political leverage in their policy of confrontation and isolation. The participants encourage the WCC and the CCA to convene a working group to build an ecumenical network of churches, individuals and organizations interested in promoting peace and the reunification of Korea. posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 25, 2004 A German church delegation on its way to China stops in Hong Kong and visits CCA
Delegation of the council of EKD from Germany with the CCA staff. Front(From left): Cora Tabing-Reyes, Rolf Koppe, Kara Huber-Kaldrack, Ahn Jae Woong, Wolfgang Huber, Frauke Hansen-Dix, Alexander Dix, Paul Oppenheim, Michael Lackner, Margit Fleckenstein, Gabi Hettler. Back (From left) Maren von der Heyde,Josef Widyatmadja, Hermann Grohe, Hope Antone, Konrad von Bonin, Tony Waworuntu, Prawate Khid-arn, Christoph Hildebrandt-Ayasse, Monika Gaenssbauer, Philip Mathew Peace building and interreligious dialogue are important tasks for Christians all over the world, says German church leader HONG KONG -- Building peace based on justice, and initiating dialogues between religions are important tasks for Christians all over the world, said a renowned German church leader here on 6 October. Dr Wolfgang Huber, a noted theologian and bishop of the Evangelical Church in Berlin-Brandenburg told a meeting organised by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) that interreligious dialogue is a major task of our time. �We have many tasks to do together,� like exchanging, encouraging and seeking God�s blessing for our common ministry, Bishop Huber, who is leading a 14-member delegation of the Council of Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland -- Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) to China, told the meeting. The German delegation visited the CCA Centre during their stopover in Honk Kong and met with the CCA General Secretary Ahn Jae Woong and the staff, and the staff of Documentation for Action Groups in Asia (DAGA) and the Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism (ECOT). Bishop Huber, who is the chairman of the Council of the EKD, said that the delegation�s visit was mainly to broaden their perspectives and to see how Christians in this part of the world cooperate with each other in dealing with many common issues and concerns. Earlier, welcoming the delegation, Ahn Jae Woong noted that Christians, who are religious minorities in Asia, � have to live our lives based on the biblical teaching of love our neighbours as ourselves.� Rediscovering the Christian identity and ecumenical commitment and reengaging and networking with people are ecumenical tasks at this point of time in history, he said. The general secretary thanked the German churches for their �unstinted support and encouragement for the ecumenical movements in these trying times.� �Your continued support, solidarity and prayers are one of the great sources of strength to our ecumenical ministry in Asia,� he added. The delegation heard brief presentations of the work of the CCA, DAGA and ECOT made by Prawate Khid-arn, Chan Beng Seng and Ranjan Solomon repectively. Among the members of the delegation were Dr Konrad von Bonin, executive director of the Church Development Agency (EED), Bishop Rolf Koppe, head of the department of Ecumenical Affairs and Ministries Abroad in the Church Office of the EKD, Ms Margit Fleckenstein, president of the Synod, member of the Council of the EKD, Mr Herman Grohe, member of parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany, Rev Maren von der Heyde executive secretary for Asia and Middle East and associate general secretary of the Association of Protestant Churches and Missions in Germany (EMW), Rev Paul Oppenheim, executive regional secretary for Asia, Australia and Pacific in the Church Office of the EKD, Ms Kara Huber-Kaldrack, Dr Frauke Hansen-Dix, Dr Alexander Dix, Ms Gabi Hettler, Dr Michael Lackner, and Dr Monika Gaenssbauer. 
CCA General Secretary welcoming the delegation 
Leader of the delegation Wolfgang Huber addressing the meeting 
Ahn Jae Woong presenting a memento to Wolfgang Huber 
Paul Oppenheim, Konrad von Bonin and Maren von der Heyde with Ahn Jae Woong at the CCA canteen 
German delegation at the CCA canteen posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 NCC general secretaries' meetingChristians urged to develop Asiatic ecumenical movement CHIANG MAI, Thailand � Christians must not only confess faith in a context where their neighbours follow other faiths or no faith, but they must also live �the Christian way of life,� CCA General Secretary Dr Ahn Jae Woong told a gathering of ecumenical leaders here on 21 September. Addressing the general secretaries of the national councils of churches and Christian councils from 15 Asian countries, Ahn Jae Woong posed the question, �How does a Christian differ from others in work place, in social life and in public life in this continent that we live in? �In every moment of our life, whether it is struggle for life or death, Christians are called to take sides with the poor, oppressed, marginalised, victimised, powerless and weaker sections of the societies,� he told them. Quoting Miguez Bomino, the CCA general secretary said that �there is no socially and politically neutral theology; in the struggle for life and death, theology must take sides.� He said that Christian life is relevant for achieving people�s aspirations and added that �The ecumenical movement has a special role to play in liberating people�s captivities of thinking, writing, speaking and performing core values.� �The ecumenical movement should offer new ways of theological framework for fullness of life for all God�s people and building communities of peace for all.� He urged Asian Christians to develop an Asiatic ecumenical movement with the following characteristics: Christocentric in nature, where God-Christ event need to be highlighted Ecclesiocentric in character, where God-Church need to be understood, and Anthropocentric in manifestation, where God-People-World need to be interrelated. Ahn felt that Asiatic ecumenical movement should focus on the whole idea of Bona fide, undertaken in good faith as the basis for its values. �Bona fide will help in overcoming any fear of confronting multifaiths and multicultural realities in Asia.� According to the CCA general secretary, the Asiatic ecumenical movement should deal with: Crossing national boundaries in order to achieve the ideals of Oikoumene Overcoming theological and ecclesiological barriers in order to be faithful to God Confessing Christian beliefs in order to propagate biblical messages Witnessing Christian values in order to be good neighbours He listed war on terrorism, crime and violence, discrimination and exclusion, poverty and hunger, negative impact of globalisation, religious fundamentalism, militarisation and nuclearisation, HIV and AIDS and new kinds of pandemic, plight of migrants, refugees, internally displaced people, environmental degradation, women and children, unemployment, poverty, differently abled persons, church and society related issues, Asian spirituality and missionary vocation of the churches. 
CCA General Secretary Ahn Jae Woong addressing the NCC general secretaries' meeting in Chiang Mai 
Clement Jonn (fourth from left) and Hansulrich Gerber (fourth from right) resource persons from the WCC, seen with other participants. 
A section of the participants. Ninan Koshy, a resource person from India, (clock wise, fourth on the right side) is also seen 
Ahn Jae Woong expressing appreciation to Salvador Martinez, who preached sermon at the opening worship posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 03, 2004 |
