The Presbyterian Church in Korea (PCK) is celebrating its 100th anniversary this week in Seoul, Korea.
As part of the celebrations, the General Secretary for the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), Setri Nyomi, is in Seoul to mark the occasion as the PCK is one of four WCRC member churches in Korea and one of the largest Presbyterian churches in the world.
The first Korean Presbyterian minister founded a church in Hwanghae province in 1884 and the PCK General Assembly was established in 1912.
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.”
The Ghanaian theologian also 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 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.”
WCRC represents 80 million Christians in 108 countries.