한국기독교장로회와 캐나다연합교회와의 목회자상호인정협약체결



2015년 8월 5일부터 17일까지 교단총무 배태진 목사는 제42회 캐나다연합교회(UCC)총회에 참석하여 한국기독교장로회와의 목회자상호인정협약을 체결하고 교단간의 향후 긴밀한 에큐메니칼 선교 사업을 논의하였습니다. 이 총회에서 캐나다연합교회 총대들은 기장교단과의 협약을 승인하고 만장일치로 결의하였습니다.



 

The United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PROK) are both entering into mutual recognitions of ministries with The United Church of Canada.

 

General Council 42 voted unanimously to approve the agreements with the partner denominations. Bishop Reuel Marigza, General Secretary of the UCCP, and the Rev. Tae Jin Bae, General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK), were present for the decisions of the General Council on Aug. 13.

In an interview with GC News, Marigza said, “We have had this emphasis for migrant ministry. One of our main exports is our people—2,500 people are leaving daily. That means a huge Filipino diaspora.

 

“What we want is that they would be ministered unto in the places where they go, in places with partners, so that ministry would be extended as well,” said Marigza.

In an interview with GC News, the Rev. Tae Jin Bae, General Secretary of the PROK, said The United Church of Canada has sent 150 missionaries to Korea since church union in 1925. He said that in 1953, the PROK was expelled from the Presbyterian Church Korea (PCK) for its more liberal theological views and biblical understanding, and since that time, The United Church of Canada is the only denomination to have continued links with the PROK. Other denominations sustained links with the PCK.

 

Former Moderator Lois Wilson told the General Council that when she was Moderator (1980-82) and went to Korea, Sang Chul Lee (Moderator 1988-90) explained that there were two types of Presbyterian churches in Korea: those that believe in Jesus and expect to go to heaven, and those that believe in Jesus and expect to go to jail.

“The PROK has taught us much about discipleship in a secular state,” said Wilson.

Bae said, “We have a theology of God’s mission. The United Church of Canada has the same theology of God’s mission. Mutual recognition means we are walking together to be part of God’s mission.

 

“The United Church of Canada came to Korea, walking in very diverse ways—in hospitals, universities, education, justice seeking, and with local churches. They have been walking with us.” The mutual recognition agreement will enable the United Church to better minister to new Koreans in Canada.

 

“You scratched our backs, now we are scratching your backs,” said Bae. He noted that Canada is the preferred destination for Koreans considering immigration. Bruce Gregersen, United Church senior advisor for theology and faith, told GC News that the agreements will create a category of ministers in the United Church who are ministry partners.

 

“The ultimate hope and significance is that we accept the ordination of our partner churches,” said Gregersen. “This is a vision of ecumenical growth. We see ourselves expanding mutual recognition agreements.”

 

The PROK has 300,000 members and 1,667 churches. The UCCP is a Protestant mainline denomination with one million members and 2,218 pastors in 3,112 congregations. Marigza says the UCCP has had a policy to not establish congregations outside of the Philippines. He hopes Filipinos abroad will be integrated into the congregations of partner denominations, like The United Church of Canada.

The roots of the UCCP are Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregationalist, Evangelical United Brethren, and Disciples.

 

In defence of human rights and civil liberties, Bishop Marigza initiated the process of filing court cases against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, high-ranking officials, and the military—holding them accountable for extra-judicial killings and other human rights violations against members of his church. Under his leadership, the UCCP formally filed six cases of human rights violations committed against UCCP members.

 

“The killings have gone down, but that’s not to say it’s no longer a cause for concern,” said Marigza. “Now the killings are more related to economics—mining. The Indigenous people are being targeted.

 

“Our pastors are being arrested and charged with common crimes. These are harassment suits, and often trumped-up [charges],” said Marigza. He noted that the mutual agreement will help provide a safe place abroad for pastors who need asylum.

 

(출처) http://www.gc42.ca/news/mutual-recognition-ministries-philippines-korea 

[이 게시물은 관리자님에 의해 2016-11-03 21:39:53 총무 칼럼에서 이동 됨]