Korean church celebrates 100th anniversary

The Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) has received congratulations from the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) as it celebrates its 100th anniversary this week in Seoul, Korea, according to a WCRC news release.

WCRC General Secretary Setri Nyomi was in Seoul to bring greetings to the PCK which is one of four WCRC member churches in Korea and one of the largest Presbyterian churches in the world. As a result of the Presbyterian mission to Korea, there are now Korean Presbyterian churches in the US, Canada and elsewhere.

The first Korean Presbyterian minister founded a church in Hwanghae province in 1884. The PCK General Assembly was established in 1912, the WCRC release notes.

In a sermon preached in the chapel of Seoul Jangsin University (a PCK institution), Nyomi said: “We praise God for one hundred years and more of faithful service to God by the Presbyterian Church in Korea.”

In his remarks, the Ghanaian theologian praised the church for its support of theological institutions, universities and congregations throughout its history. Nyomi told the assembled faculty and students that to renew their commitment to God for the next 100 years they might ask how they plan to be friends of the poor and marginalised in Korea and throughout the world.

“Many are imprisoned because they are not free to be where they need to be — families for example have been divided for many decades on the two sides of Korea,” Nyomi noted, adding that the church needs to “be God’s prophets exposing evil and injustice.”

In a similar message to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) also meeting this week in Seoul, Nyomi said: “WCRC appreciates the prophetic role of this church on many issues and especially for peace in this land … It is our prayer that this Assembly’s deliberations will yield decisions which demonstrate the readiness of this church to take actions that foster justice and peace.”

The PRK and the PROK split in 1953 over theological and education issues. Based in Geneva, the WCRC represents 80 million Christians in 108 countries.

Ecumenical News International