Seoul (AsiaNews) - The road of ecumenism in South Korea includes Christian unity, interreligious dialogue "based on the revealed truth of the Gospel," the integrity of creation, practical solidarity, and "the realisation of justice and peace," this according to Gwangju Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong. With this goal in mind, the prelate opened the '12th Forum for Christian Unity in Korea' organised in cooperation with the National Council of Churches in Korea and the Orthodox Metropolis of Korea.
The archbishop, who is also president of the Episcopal Committee for Promoting Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue, presented a study to the forum titled Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World: Recommendations for Conduct, the result of collaboration between the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (PCID), the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and the World Council of Churches (WCC).
For Rev Lee Hyeoung-ki, professor emeritus in a Presbyterian college, "Christians and believers of neighbouring religions" in Korea must find a shared guideline for interreligious dialogue. "Christian unity, interreligious dialogue based on the revealed truth of the Gospel, the integrity of creation, practical solidarity, and the realisation of justice and peace" remain important goals, he added.
For his part, Archbishop Kim said, "When we Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox bear witness to Christ, seeking and sharing our common heritage rather than focusing on our differences, we shall propagate more strongly the Gospel in the world."
