Report on the World Christian Leadership Conference, Germany

The World Christian Leadership Conference Germany held a two-hour online conference on Saturday 22 November, 2021 on the topic: „Reconciliation of hostile brother-nations? – only the spirit of God can bring peace to the Korean peninsula“.

The speakers were: Father Dr. Willibrord Driever, OSB, Hartmut Nitsch, Open Doors and Claus Dubisz, FFWPU Frankfurt.

Father Willibrord, a Benedictine missionary from the Monastery of St. Ottilien, who is currently responsible for the process of beautifying the Benedictine martyrs of Tokwon, Korea, joined us from Rome. He reported about the dedicated work carried out by Benedictine priests and nuns in North Korea and their martyrdom. But he also made it clear that their sacrifice will bear fruit for peace and unification in Korea.

Hartmut Nitsch, a public relations officer of the international network Open Doors, which actively champions the cause of persecuted Christians on an international level, briefly presented the work of his organisation and spoke about the persecution of Christians in North Korea.

Claus Dubisz, leader of the Frankfurt branch of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, gave a presentation entitled „ Only God’s love can heal the wounds.“ He recalled the historical reconciliatory meeting which took place thirty years ago between the leader of North Korea, Kim Il Sung and Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife, Hak Ja Han, who have devoted their lifelong investment for the peaceful re-unification of the two Koreas. (see displayed brochure, available from KANDO-publishing house). Mrs Moon is currently continuing this work through online prayer meetings.

Following a discussion which lasted about twenty minutes, Mrs Elisabeth Heil, coordinator of WCLC- Germany, reported about her visit with the Women’s Federation to North Korea in 2007 and gave an overview of further WCLC activities.

The German-Korean couple Stefan and Jae-Sook Schmid had the final word. They focussed especially on the Monastery of St. Ottilien and the mission museum where a permanent exhibition commemorates the martyrs of Tokwon.

Prayers for peace and unification in the Korean peninsula were part of the conference, as well as musical and artistic contributions from a Korean and a Bavarian choir and the Little Angels dance ensemble. The meeting was moderated by Robert Bentele, staff member of WCLC Germany.

All the contributions can be found on the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/wclcdeutschland

Report: Robert Bentele, English: Catriona Valenta