I’ve spent a lifetime in ecumenical meetings, but none quite like this one. We are gathered on Jeju Island, off the coast of South Korea, at a new conference center that was finished just in time for this event. Opening worship included an anthem sung by eight choir members — four men in tuxedos, and four women in formal gowns. They belong to the Myungsong Presbyterian Church, and their voices were opera quality. They took the hour airline flight from Seoul to Jeju Island just to sing the anthem at the opening worship for the 100 or so who have gathered here, and it was magnificent.
Rev. Prince Guneratnum, President of the World Pentecostal Fellowship and pastor of Calvary Church, a Pentecostal mega-church in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, gave the opening sermon. Those gathered here include Sam Kobia, former General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Agnus Aboum, the present Moderator of the WCC’s Central Committee, leaders from the World Evangelical Alliance, Craig Barnes, President of Princeton Seminary, other ecumenical veterans from different parts of the world, and a large number of key pastors, leaders, elders, and seminary professors from the churches in Korea.
We’ve been called here to explore “Christian Witness in Changing Global Landscapes.” The pastors of Seoul’s three largest churches — which are among the largest churches in the world — issued the invitation. That in itself is unique. The sponsoring group is the “Global Forum for the Future of World Christianity.” It’s an initiative of the Korean churches, which has held some prior events with Asian church leaders as well as theological symposiums with students from Asia and Africa. But in this event, they are reaching out for the first time to a range of global church leaders.
Jim Wallis, president of Sojourners, was invited to give the opening keynote address. In South Korea, his books have made an impact because of the way he combines a clear evangelical and biblical commitment with a compelling call to social justice. Such an integrated presentation of the gospel is one that resonates strongly with many in the Korean churches. His message was clear: “If the gospel we preach is not good news for the poor, it’s not the gospel,” drawn from Jesus’ first sermon in Luke 4.
Jim has been my personal friend for more than 40 years, and we’ve traveled many paths together. But while he has built up the ministry of Sojourners into a major movement advocating for the biblical call to justice, and impacting public policy around poverty, immigration, and peace, I’ve put energy into serving a denomination, the Reformed Church in America, and facilitating various ecumenical initiatives.
But now our paths cross here on Jeju Island. All this is reflecting what some call a “wider ecumenism.” That means finding creative ways to bring Pentecostals, evangelicals, and megachurch pastors into fellowship with those in mainline churches who have labored for long years in formal ecumenical structures, as well as with Catholics and Orthodox. And in doing so, to confront global challenges which require the full range of those in world Christianity — as well as others — to address, and build movements of hope and change.
This fascinating initiative from the Korean churches happening on Jeju Island these days is out of the typical ecumenical box. That gives it unique promise and possibility. And it’s an echo, from the Korean churches, of the Global Christian Forum. Its secretary, Larry Miller, is also here. I’ve been working with him and others to nurture and build a fellowship that brings together all the major streams of world Christianity — Catholic, evangelical, Pentecostal, historic Protestant, and Orthodox. As the Jeju Forum has just begun its first day, it seems to be re-enforcing the need and potential of the Global Christian Forum. It seems compelling. Bring together all the divided parts of world Christianity for the sake of addressing the world’s deepest suffering and needs.
In Prince Guneratnum’s opening sermon, he spoke of the wedding at Cana, recalling how Mary, upon hearing from Jesus, instructed servants to follow, saying in effect, “Just Do It.” Guneratnum claimed that Mary, instead of Nike, first came up with that slogan. And that seems appropriate for those gathering here on Jeju Island. Just do it.
But do what? We began examining some of the global challenges we face. From the Pacific islands, Rev. Male’ma Puloka shared how only 0.03 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases are produced by the islands in her region, but they are they ones directly experiencing the devastating effects of climate change. What more can be done by the churches to combat global warming and defend the integrity of God’s creation?
We also began looking at global economic inequality. The facts are these: the top 20 percent of the world’s people control 83 percent of the world’s wealth. The next 20 percent control 11 percent of global wealth. That leaves the bottom 60 percent of the world’s population with only 6 percent of the world’s economic wealth. What can the churches do in the face of such severe global injustice?
Beneath this some voiced the cry for hope. Facing such stark challenges of injustice requires a foundation of spirituality and prayer that can inspire our Christian witness.
Two more days of sharing are ahead of us. There’s not a pre-determined agenda and outcome. That’s part of the attraction of this time. It’s an open space here on Jeju Island where voices of those not commonly together can share, and hopefully discover fresh forms of Christian witness within the changing global landscape.
Wes Granberg-Michaelson is the author of From Times Square to Timbuktu: The Post-Christian West Meets the Non-Western Church . For 17 years he served as General Secretary of the Reformed Church in America, and has long been active in ecumenical initiatives such as the Global Christian Forum and Christian Churches Together. He’s been associated with the ministry of Sojourners for 40 years.
Image: Illustration of global church, John T Takai / Shutterstock.com
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