24 June 2011
Methodist President urges South Korean government to resume food aid
The Methodist Church in Britain has expressed solidarity with
the people of Korea after Churches distributing food aid were
threatened with legal action by the South Korean government.
Revd Alison Tomlin, President of the Methodist Conference, sent a
letter to the President of South Korea today urging the government
to resume food aid. The Methodist World Mission Fund has issued a
£10,000 grant to the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK)
in response to the crisis.
The NCCK sent 172 tons of flour to the Korean Christian Federation
(KCF) on 18 May through the Amity Foundation, an organisation that
receives funding from the Methodist Church's World Mission Fund.
The flour was sent in response to food shortages in North Korea
reported by the World Food Program and the NCCK. The emergency
supply was distributed by the KCF in North Korea to kindergartens
in three towns, reaching around 31,400 children. Revd Kang Young
Sup, Chairman of the KCF, expressed his thanks and indicated that
another eight towns were in need. But the South Korean Government
has threatened to take the NCCK to court for distributing the
emergency supplies via China without its consent.
Steve Pearce, partnership coordinator for Asia and the Pacific,
asked people to pray for Korea. "This is a terrible situation," he
said. "People are starving in North Korea. We urge people to help
support the food relief effort through The World Mission Fund and
to pray for peace and justice in Korea. The Methodist Church will
continue its membership of the NCCK partners group and stand in
solidarity with its actions."
Revd Heawon Chae, executive coordinator for Peace, Reunification
and Development Cooperation on the Korean peninsula, said: "It took
almost two months for the Amity Foundation to purchase the flour
and transport it in trucks to Shineuijoo, a city at the border. The
Korean government is now very angry at the NCCK's activity and it's
going to take this to court as an illegal activity."
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's government ended donations
of food and medicine to the North when he took up office three
years ago. In a statement, the NCCK affirmed that "Christians in
South Korea firmly believe that supporting food aid to our brothers
and sisters in the North who are faced with starving is to follow
the teaching of Jesus Christ."
A prayer for Korea and a copy of the letter sent to the President
of South Korea can be found below
People can donate to the food relief effort in North Korea via the
Methodist Church by visiting Just Giving or sending a
cheque payable to the World Mission Fund to Steve Pearce,
Partnership Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific, at Methodist
Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5JR. Postal donations
should be labelled 'North Korea Appeal'. For further information
visit methodist.org.uk
or contact Steve Pearce on 020 7467 5161.
Prayer for Korea
The Methodist Church in Britain has expressed solidarity with the people of Korea after Churches distributing food aid were threatened with legal action by the South Korean government. The Revd Alison Tomlin, Ex President of the Methodist Conference, wrote a letter to the South Korean government, which you can read at the foot of this page.
Please pray:
Each cry of need is heard by you, God of abundant life,
We ask you now to hear our prayer for peace and justice in
Korea.
We remember all those in the North for whom shortage of food is an
ever-present reality.
We pray for change in the hearts of those leaders who address dogma
before hunger and for strong resolve in the efforts of the
compassionate;
We give thanks for the support and aid offered by churches in the
South and for the commitment to fair distribution of the
Christians in the North.
Bless our efforts to be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters
in Korea and help your whole Church to be true and effective as it
seeks to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly
alongside you, our sustainer, redeemer and friend.
Steve Pearce, June 2011
The Revd Alison Tomlin, now Ex President of the Methodist Conference, urges the South Korean government to allow food aid to reach those in the north of Korea. You can read Alison's letter here.