Methodist women, youth gather in Korea

By Keihwan Ryoo*

SEOUL, South Korea (UMNS) - Addressing issues of justice and faith, Methodist women and youth held separate gatherings in South Korea before attending the World Methodist Conference.

Some 800 women leaders from 71 countries joined the 11th World Assembly of the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women July 11-17 at Jeju Island, the Island of Peace. The World Methodist Conference met a few days later, July 20-24, drawing more than 2,000 Methodists from around the world to Seoul.

The women's assembly theme was "Women Making a Difference," focusing on the roles of women in society, churches and homes as well as strategies to use in everyday life.

Chita Milan of the Philippines was elected to a five-year term as a president of the body, which represents 4 million Methodist women from Africa, East Asia, West Asia, North America and Europe.

At the opening service, Rosemary Wass of England, the current president, urged the women to use the conference as a springboard to renew their commitment to the Lord's work by becoming active partners of mission.

The assembly affirmed the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations and will adopt specific strategies to help achieve the goals on a regional basis.

The goals are eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering women, reducing infant mortality, improving maternal health care, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development.

A new scholarship program was introduced, commemorating Helen Kim, a Korean Methodist who initiated the launch of the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women in 1939.

This year, the program covered assembly expenses for two Methodist women, ages 18 to 35, from each of the federation's nine regions, as well as two students from Ewha Women's University of Seoul, where Kim was a student and later became president.

Eun Young Choi, president of (Korean) National Federation of Methodist Women Society, lauded the new program. "It brings such a joy to see young women at our conference which Ms. Helen Kim dreamed about 70 years ago," she said.

Participants had a chance to sample traditional music, art and other cultural activities during "Korean Day" at the assembly. The governor of Jeju province welcomed the guests with a dinner and tours of the island. Local Methodist churches also invited the women to participate in Sunday worship services.

Youth gathering
Methodist youth gathered June 12-17 at the Methodist Theological Seminary in Seoul to wrestle with violence and inequality in world affairs and discuss Christian responsibilities for the Methodist movement.

Some 50 young Methodists - from China, India, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, the United States and other countries - participated in the Second International Methodist Young Leaders Seminar. The theme was "Methodist Youth! Let Us Become the Seed for Peace."

Laurie Day, the outgoing chairperson of World Methodist Youth, said she was "very impressed" by the commitment to justice and peace. "Some churches are not interested in these issues when others felt this is very critical for the church," she said. "It is a struggle, yet we young people must continue on our journey."

Participants visited various sites to get a sense of current issues facing Korea - sites such as the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea and the "House of Sharing," which involved victims of the military comfort women system during the period of Japanese occupation in 1940s.

One group of participants went to Daechuri, a small town near a U.S. military base. Over the past three years, the people in Daechuri and surrounding communities have fought against a plan to expand the base. On May 4, the South Korean government destroyed a community center where 500 civilians had stayed to protest the plan. Local community leaders and many activists were arrested, and some are still in prison.

"Methodism is a champion of social holiness in church history," said Eun Young Lee. "However, there was not enough voice or presence from the Methodist church in Daechuri. Farmers are losing their lands and houses."

The Rev. Jomar P. Pastores, a student at the Methodist Theological Seminary from the Philippines, said he understood why farmers could not abandon their land because he was a farmer before entering the ministry. "Land is not a simple property," he added. "You inherited it from your grandparents and ancestors."

Gideon C. Salatan, the new chairperson of World Methodist Youth and a law student from the Philippines, was visiting Korea for the third time. "I saw bright sides of Korea with many significant-size churches," he said. "But Daechuri is a place where I found a reality of divided Korea with U.S. military presence. People here cried to South Korean government, 'Who is your enemy?'"

Hyun Ah Ahn, president of the Korea Methodist Youth Council, said "lack of interest" from people is the greatest roadblock to peace.

"We need to expand the interest we have in ourselves to others and society," she said. "I may not be able to change the world at once. But (the) strength of each individual can join in a mighty strength in the community of faith, which can make a difference in the world."

*Ryoo is editor of United Methodists in Service (the Korean program journal of the United Methodist Church) and www.KoreanUMC.org at United Methodist Communications.