Key Points:
More than 250 young people and Methodist Church leaders gathered to speak out against war and racism at the World Methodist Conference's Korea Peace Night. The event's date, August 15, is an important day. It marks the 79th year since the Korean Peninsula was liberated from Japanese occupation, and 2024 marks the 71st year since the Korean War armistice. In his closing prayer, Bishop Chung Hee-soo remembered those suffering from war and division around the world and asked God to grant them peace.
On August 15, the Korea Peace Night, held at the World Methodist Conference, brought together more than 250 young people, World Methodist Church leaders and top officials from the World Council of Churches to speak out against war and racism.
Participants in the event included the Rev. John Chung Park, president of the World Methodist Council, Bishop Ivan Abraham, outgoing secretary-general of the World Methodist Council, United Methodist World Mission Board top official Rolando Fernandez, World Council of Churches secretary-general Rev. Jerry Pillay, Bishop Hee-Soo Chung of the Wisconsin Conference, chairman of the World Mission Board, and Bishop Chul Lee, president of the Korean Assembly of Methodist Bishops.
Bishop Chung Hee-soo of the United Methodist Church prayed that God would grant peace and remember those suffering from the effects of war around the world and the division of the Korean Peninsula during the Korean Peace Night at the World Methodist Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, Aug. 15. Photo by Rev. Thomas E. Kim for United Methodist News.
Many young people from Denmark, Palestine, South Korea, the United States and other countries also shared their thoughts, messages and prayers for peace on the Korean Peninsula and beyond.
Fernandez welcomed the participants and said representatives of the Korean Methodist Church, the United Methodist Church and the World Methodist Council reaffirmed their commitment to peace on the Korean Peninsula, which they had expressed at the 21st World Methodist Conference in Houston in 2016.
“I am confident that the Korea Peace Night will contribute greatly to deepening understanding of the Methodist mission as an agent of peace,” he said. “I pray that you will have a meaningful and fulfilling time of reflection and discussion as you explore common spiritual ground.”
He later added that peace was a key mission of the World Mission Board.
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In his welcoming remarks, Dong Hwa-tae, general secretary of the Korean Methodist Church's General Mission Bureau, said he regrets that the divide between North and South Korea is preventing peaceful and faithful fellowship between the churches. He expressed concern that the political and military situation on the Korean peninsula has become more severe and critical than ever before, and called for the time to work toward peace.
“I hope that tonight's Korean Peace Night will be a time when Methodists around the world come together to pray and work hard so that the news of war will stop and peace will be heard,” Thae said. “Tonight, I pray that the light of peace will spread far and wide.”
Pastor Park of the World Methodist Council urged participants not to become peace heroes, but to do small things they can do right now, such as praying for peace and building bridges between North and South Korea.
“The first step towards a small peace on the Korean peninsula at this time is to stop calling each other's so-called 'main enemies' such as 'reds' (communists) and 'US puppets,'” Park said.
Pillay delivered a message of solidarity for peace, reminding participants of the significance of the event's date, August 15, which marks the 79th anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from Japanese occupation and the 71st anniversary of the Korean War armistice in 2024. Pillay pledged to stand in solidarity with the Korean people and Korean churches for peace.
“Our journey may be long and the path uncertain, but our ongoing ecumenical pilgrimage always seeks justice, peace and reconciliation among all Koreans and all nations,” he said. “We pledge to continue that sacred journey together with the Korean people and their Church for however long it takes.”
Outgoing World Methodist Council Secretary General Bishop Ivan Abraham (from left), World Methodist Council President Rev. John Chung Park, United Methodist World Mission Executive Director Roland Fernandez and World Council of Churches Secretary General Rev. Jerry Pillay form a prayer line for peace during the Korea Peace Night vigil on Aug. 15 during the World Methodist Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden. Photo by Rev. Thomas E. Kim for United Methodist News.
The voices of young Methodists from different countries who came together to lead the Korean Peace Night were prominent. Young people from Korea, Palestine and Denmark offered prayers for peace.
Maria Tarup, youth pastor at The United Methodist Church in Denmark, explained her motivation for taking part:
“I don't think we realize how important prayer is to change this world where there is constant war. When we come together, prayer, fellowship and friendship may be our most important weapons against war,” she said.
Three other young people who took part in the Peace Pilgrimage also gave testimonies from their respective countries.
South Korean pastor Lee Hwan-hee shared his experience of receiving a false text alert from his government that North Korea had launched a missile toward South Korea. He said it was a false alarm, but it made him realize that without unification there is no escape from the fear and anxiety of war.
The Pope spoke of the Latin greeting, “Si vales bene, valeo” (If you are well, I am well), noting that one person's happiness is connected to everyone's happiness and that peace requires people to work together.
Maggie Taylor spoke about the racism experienced by immigrant, indigenous and African-American communities in the United States.
“Finding peace in America requires racial and ethnic minorities to come together and advocate for one another,” she said.
Areej Massoud, a Palestinian, explained how inspired by Christ's teachings of encouraging the marginalized and empowering the oppressed, she created a program called “Kayali” to help both Christian and Muslim women build economic security.
“Peace is not the opposite of war. Peace is an act of creation,” Massoud said. “Peace is a mosaic of efforts, big and small. Peace requires us to be responsible, to act with intention, to create the space where justice and compassion can flourish.”
“As we gather here tonight, let us remember that each of us has a role to play in this peacebuilding mosaic. Let our mutual efforts be an inspiration to us all as we fight for justice in Korea, in the United States, in Palestine, and around the world.”
Areej Massoud, a Palestinian, explains how she started a program called “Kayali,” which helps Christian and Muslim women achieve economic stability. She encouraged attendees at the World Methodist Conference's Korea Peace Night gathering in Gothenburg, Sweden, to be inspired by each other's efforts. Photo by Rev. Thomas E. Kim, United Methodist News.
Participants in the ceremony stood in a circle in the room and sang “Our Wish,” the beloved national anthem of both North and South Korea, and “We Shall Overcome,” one of the iconic songs of the U.S. civil rights movement. Participants wrote and held up prayers for peace.
In his closing prayer, Bishop Jung remembered those around the world who suffer from war and division, and asked God to grant them peace.
“God who wipes away our tears, God who knows the cries of our hearts, please grant peace to the Korean Peninsula,” Jeong prayed.
He pointed out that many countries are currently suffering from war.
“The war situation has been so long and so terrible that your people are crying. God of forgiveness, in Russia and Ukraine, in Palestine and Israel, which are currently at war, and in African countries where civil wars continue, there are still many people crying for safety and peace.”
The Rev. Katie Paul, pastor of Eden Chapel and Perkins United Methodist Church in Perkins, Oklahoma, provided the Scripture reading for the evening.
“The Korean Peninsula Peace Night was a time to share passion and hope for the future,” she read. “Young people who testified to the need for peace in their own contexts were the highlights, reminding us of the importance of our contextual efforts for peace. Peace is not complete until there is peace for all.”
Kim is director of Korea and Asia news for United Methodist Communications. He can be reached at 615-742-5470 or (email protected) For more United Methodist news, subscribe to our free Daily Digest or Weekly Digest .
