Letter from the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea to the Middle East Council of Churches

 

July 24, 2006

Mr. Guirguis Ibrahim Saleh
General Secretary
Middle East Council of Churches
P.O. Box 5376, Makhoul Street, Deeb Building
Beirut, Lebanon


Dear Mr. Guirguis Ibrahim Saleh,

Greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK), together with all peace-loving people in the world, has prayed for peace in the Middle East region. However, as we hear the news of the continuing hostility, violence and loss of life among innocent civilians along the southern Lebanese border, we desperately seek God's mercy and peace for the people in this area.

First of all, we express our deep solidarity with those who have lost their loved ones, homes and livelihoods, and we pray that God will heal their pain and suffering. Our church will join all efforts of ecumenical communities to heal the wounds of the 500,000 victimized people in Lebanon so that they may find hope in the midst of violence.

We affirm the position of the World Council of Churches (WCC), in its July 21, 2006 pastoral letter on the violence in the Middle East, that measures to counter terrorism must be demilitarized and the concept of the war on terror must be firmly challenged by the churches. Therefore, we urge all concerned countries to agree to an immediate cease-fire and to return to peace negotiations. We strongly believe that this is the only way to protect the innocent lives in the area. We also urge all concerned countries to immediately implement the long-delayed UN Security Council resolutions for peace in Lebanon, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, including an urgent end to the illegal 39-year occupation that is the vortex of the region's violent storms.

Fully endorsing the conviction of the WCC that state and public security is not found in violence but in justice, in governance and development that serves marginalized groups, we, together with all churches around the world, continue to pray for the peace and well-being of the people.

Sincerely,


Rev. PARK Won-Keun Rev. YOON Kil-Soo
Moderator General Secretary

c.c. Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, General Secretary, World Council of Churches
Rev. Paik Do-Woong, General Secretary, National Council of Churches in Korea
His Excellency Hussein Rammal, Ambassador, Embassy of Lebanon, Seoul, Korea
His Excellency Yigal B. Caspi, Ambassador, Embassy of Israel, Seoul, Korea

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