NORTH-SOUTH KOREAN DIALOGUE FOR UNIFICATION - SECOND ANNUAL GATHERING
“North and South must unite and America must ensure that it happens peacefully.” These are the words of WFWP’s founders, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. From their point of view, peace in Korea is an essential requirement for world peace. America (in particular American women), is a powerful player in facilitating the peace process in the divided peninsula.
Last year, WFWP New Jersey, in collaboration with the local Korean Evangelical Association, the Universal Peace Federation, and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, began supportive action for peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula; by hosting a Peace and Reconciliation Bridge of Peace Ceremony. This healing and internal ceremony symbolized a unity of heart and mind with the idea that Korea must unite peacefully. In addition to the Bridge of Peace ceremony, a ceremony of flags centered on the USA, represented the 16 nations in the United Nations that had been involved in the Korean War, transitioning to a commitment for peaceful unification. WFWP New Jersey made a solid contribution to that event and helped create an amazing and resounding victory. But the work was only the first stage.
In this year, 2016, on July 23, instead of a big event, Westerners and Koreans came together to plan and create substantial activities here in the United States to support the peaceful unity of the Korean Peninsula.
The meeting began with a reading from the Founders’ words by Rev. Denneze Nelson. Then a practical discussion of the big picture infrastructure required to extinguish the 38th parallel was presented by Mr. Frank Bell. The need for peaceful unification was poignantly brought into focus by a heart-wrenching personal testimony from Mr. Chung Boo Kang. He spoke about the two disparate Korean communities living in Japan, the pro-North Korean Jo-chong-ryeon and the pro-South Korean Mindan factions; and the struggle to maintain Korean culture, which he revealed to be a lost battle in many ways in Japan.
A video from WFWP Korea showed that over the past 20 years WFWP Korea has led numerous efforts to facilitate peace on the Korean Peninsula including bringing over 700 women from around the world to North Korea in 2007. The video was both moving and inspiring because of their extensive efforts based on the ideals of living for the sake of others and making changes based on the logic of love. These changes include beginning the 1% Love Share Project.
Mr. Kwang Soo Lee made a powerful call to action. He reminded the gathering about last year’s event, and the proposal from one of the participants, Mr. Ken Hendricks, to create a pilgrimage to Jeongju and Cheongju, WFWP founders’ hometown in North Korea. That was the place where their lives were shaped and revelations were given that propel us today to build a better world.
This call to action was the beginning of exciting discussions and proposals that came out of the event. Here are some of the plans this small state of New Jersey will begin to carry out in the next year to contribute to fulfilling the Founders’ dream of the peaceful unification of the Korean peninsula.
First, WFWP New Jersey will concentrate on outreach to Korean Americans, especially the younger generation, to deliberate on peaceful strategies leading to unification.
Second, to propose marrying for peace, extending the marriage blessing to Korean couples as an act of love between the countries. WFWP founders have started the international and intercultural marriage blessings to facilitate understanding among people of different countries and cultures.
Finally some exciting proposals for substantive action were made:
The first was a proposal for Westerners and Koreans to meet, mingle, and share monthly if possible.
A second proposal was to create quarterly cultural festivals which would also raise funds for the 1% Love Share Project.
A third was to create a special pilgrimage fund and pilgrimage activities. Finally, there was a proposal to facilitate language sharing by exchanging phrases and words that can establish better communication between Westerners and Koreans.
All this is to begin from the July meeting!
WFWP New Jersey is dedicated to connecting to the heart of our founders and integrating WFWP’s local activities to connect to the ideals expressed by them. All of this is designed to bring joy to the heart of heaven and peace to the hearts of people on the earth through substantial action.
