TOPIK _ Background Information

Worldwide Anglican Peace Conference, Seoul-2007

(TOPIK-"Towards Peace In Korea”)

I. Background

     The Anglican Communion has been supporting and encouraging the Anglican Church of Korea's vision and efforts through the Lambeth Conference, (the worldwide Anglican bishops' meeting every ten years), and the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) every three years.

      The Anglican Church of Korea (ACK) has a deep concern about North Korea’s recent announcement of the possession of nuclear weapons, since this announcement is a threat to peace in the Korean peninsula and North East Asia generally. Therefore, ACK raised this issue at ACC-13 in Nottingham from 30th June to 10th July, 2005, and suggested that world Anglican leaders visit South and North Korea in order to contribute to the unification of Korea and peace in the region. ACC agreed to this suggestion unanimously.

      Standing on the basis of ACC-13 Resolution 40 and cooperating with the worldwide Anglican community, especially the nations involved in the six-party talks, (South Korea, the U.S.A, Japan, China, and Russia), since these nations directly relate to peace in the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia, a conference has been planned which consists of a visit to North Korea and of humanitarian aid projects which aim to resolve the tension in the Korean peninsula and North East Asia and to construct a base for peace and support for the ACK's mission to North Korea.

II. Purpose of the Project

     1. To raise awareness of the importance of the peaceful unification of the Korean peninsula which has been suffering from division since 1945. World Anglican leaders will visit South and North Korea to gain direct experience of the Korean situation.

     2. To contribute to establishing a permanent peace in North East Asia through indicating the significance of the peaceful unification of Korea, emphasizing the importance of peace in North East Asia and raising public opinion.

     3. To construct an international network to improve peace in North East Asia through cooperation among world Anglican Communities and ecumenical organizations.

     4. To develop a movement for sharing with the North.

     5. To support mission for the unification of the Anglican Church of Korea and to improve the mission relationship with the North Korean Church.

III. Outline

1. The Title of the Project:

Worldwide Anglican Peace Conference, Seoul-2007

2. Organizer:

ACK in partnership with; the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), the Episcopal Church, U.S.A., (TEC), Nippon Sei Ko Kai (NSKK), and the Korean National Council of Churches (KNCC).

3. Sponsors:

The National Assembly, Ministry of Unification, Sungkonghoe University, AMEC plc, Church Missionary Society (CMS), United Society for the Propogation of the Gospel (USPG), and Anglican Board of Mission Australia (ABM).

4. Program

A. Peace Conference

i) World Anglican Leaders’ Visit to the South and the North

• Date: November 14^th-16^th, 2007
• Participants: 150 (Including Archbishop Robin Eames representing the Archbishop of Canterbury , Presiding Bishop of ECUSA, Presiding Bishop of NSKK.)
• Transportation: Chartered plane.

                     ii) World Anglican Conference for Peace in North East Asia

• Date: November 17^th-20^th, 2007
• Venue: Asia Publication Culture and Information Center, Paju, South Korea
• Participants: 100
  Including world Anglican leaders, peacemakers in conflict areas, officials from the South and the North

  B.  Humanitarian Support

i) Nutrition Support for children in the North

• Period: 2007-2011
• Purpose: To support essential nutrients for healthy growth of children in the North
• Plans: Bean Farms and Soybean Milk Factory
• Procedure: Make an agreement with the North and open and operate an ACC office in Seoul for supporting this project.

  ii) Restoring of Anglican churches and operating an International Language Institute

• Period: 2007-2009
• Purpose:

- To restore historical values of Anglican churches in Pyeongyang or suburban districts.

- To give quality education opportunities through teaching English, Chinese and Information Technology

IV. Steps and Schedule

2007.5- Organize a meeting with related agencies and coordinators in the North

2007.6- Review and adjust the project between the North and the South

2007.7- Make a final agreement for the plan

2007.8- Preparation period

2007.11-Delegation Visit to the South and the North and concluding an agreement

2007.12- Promoting the project