
AI-generated summary
The '2026 World Ecumenical Peace Conference', co-hosted by the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), the World Council of Churches (WCC), and the Christian Council of Asia (CCA), opened in Seoul on the 9th. Ecumenical is a concept that pursues dialogue and cooperation between various Christian denominations.
Jointly hosted by NCCK and WCC… Approximately 300 people, including church and peace movement officials from various countries, attended.
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Go Mi-hye = The '2026 World Ecumenical Peace Conference', where church officials from around the world gather to discuss peace on the Korean Peninsula and the world, opened in Seoul on the 9th.
The National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), the World Council of Churches (WCC), and the Christian Council of Asia (CCA) began their five-day conference schedule with an opening service at the Seoul Episcopal Cathedral of the Anglican Church of Korea this morning.
'Ecumenical' is a concept that refers to the pursuit of dialogue and cooperation between various Christian denominations and is translated as 'church unity', 'church union', etc.
This conference will seek solidarity and cooperation between the international ecumenical community for peace on the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia, and even the world, under the theme of 'World Peace and the Korean Peninsula: A Church that Cultivates Healing, Reconciliation, and Peace.'
About 300 people attended, including WCC Secretary-General Jerry Pillay and Secretary-General Melissa Park of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), a Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization, as well as officials from churches and peace movements around the world.
Participants will hold an international conference on the topics of disarmament and denuclearization, peace on the Korean Peninsula, healing and reconciliation, and then adopt and announce the 'Seoul Peace Declaration' on the 11th.
The declaration will contain the international ecumenical community's action tasks toward a just peace, as well as the joint testimony and future tasks of the international ecumenical community to transform the armistice system on the Korean Peninsula into a peace system and end the vicious cycle of war and hostility.
Participants will then proceed with a peace pilgrimage to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the 12th, and conclude the competition schedule with a 'joint worship service for peace on the Korean Peninsula with churches around the world' at Gyeongdong Church in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 13th.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Seoul Peace Declaration will be adopted and announced on the 11th.
Very likely · Within days
Participants will conduct a peace pilgrimage to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the 12th.
Very likely · Within days
Participants will conclude the competition schedule with a joint worship service at Gyeongdong Church in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 13th.
Very likely · Within days

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