Identity and Presence of FFWPU in Germany – From Unification Church to Family Federation

In April 2008, Hyung Jin Moon became the new leader of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU). In August 2010 he visited Germany. During his visit Dieter, Fritz and I sat with him for 3 hours in a car and he shared with us his ideas and vision to renew the korean church and worldwide church. We had a lively discussion about all of his ideas extending the time in the car over lunch). He did not like the term Family Federation for Worldpeace and Unification and explained to us how he wanted us to be like a church or religion with the word „unification or unificationism“ in the name and that this would be the next step now (Perfection stage) after being named Family Federation (Growth Stage). You remember that he also changed the Logo of FFWPU back to the UCH Logo in golden color and was wearing a chain with the Logo around his neck. He wanted the main Church in Seoul to be a kind of Temple with the portraits of the worlds main religious founders, made kind of charismatic or protestant healing services etc. We did not agree with him on the 3 Stages Theory and quoted TF on the meaning of the FamFed as the conclusion and final stage of his whole missionary work but he did not follow our line of arguments and said that the revelation process is not finished yet but still evolving and what TF said in 1998 is not the last and final word. It is an ongoing revelation Page 1331, book 12, chapter 15 of the new Chambumo Gyeong „ The era of religion has ended. That is why we dissolved HSA-UWC. Now it is the era of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. It is not religion, but God-centered families that we need to find.“ We did not know then how the history wtih HJN would go on but decided that it would be the best not to make a policy against the world wide leader of our organisation and ended up wtih the name TONGIL GYO - Unification Movement Germany So much for the history.

The Self-conception of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification In 2014 we began to think in Germany that now we need to change our name again (to Familiy Federeation for World Peace and Unification), but also for ourselves make clear who we are: Church or not church, rather a religious movement or a new religion. How do we see and understand ourselves in the light of the developing providence and how do we want to present ourselves to the public (for example on our Internet Website) We felt that the description of our organisation has to meet several criteria:

1. Does the description we give of our organization in the internet or elsewhere satisfy ourselves or in other words do we recognize ourselves in this explanation. Does it descibe thruthfully what we really do. 2. Does it make sense to the public and can we avoid inhouse language (is it catchy, The fish must like the bait not the fisherman) 3. Is it right in the light of the providential development and the meaning of True Parents words. (Book 12, of the new Chambumo Gyeong „The Familiy Federation for World Peace and Unification and the Women`s Era“ 4. Can we achieve something like a corporate identity (CI) at least among the german speaking countries or in Europe

So we began working together with CH and Austria on a mission statement: Who we are What we believe What we do It is still a work in progress but we felt increasingly how important it is for us and for the success of our movement to clarify these points. As a matter of fact (looking to the results of our movement inour country and most of the europ. countries) we have not yet found a way to present ourselves to the public in a way so that they can recognize that we are Gods answer to the needs of our time.

You know many times people ask you, what it is that you believe in.

You need to have something like a creed or profession of faith like the catholic church has f.ex. (What is a Religion? A system of statements of faith, that explain what the purpose of life is, who we are and what is most important for human beeings to do during their lifetime)

The Internet as a source of information has become by far the most important means by which people inform themselves. Presently there is still a wide variety of ways how the movement presents itself to the public. Almost every nation in Europe but also in the world does it different. Variety is not necessarily a bad thing, but beeing without a corporate identity also does not help on the long run. Ideally that should be done by the International Headquarter or by Barrytown where we have our best trained theologians. But we cannot wait and the international HQ seems to have other important things to do. So I do not think that it is a good idea to wait until someone does it for us, but better to ask these questions to ourselves and find the best possible answers.

I firmly believe it is linked to the witnessing success (not as the only factor, but as one important factor) we will have in Europe. Exkurs: We witness massive rise of numbers of people leaving the church Headline in Bavarian Paper„The End of the church as we used to know it“ 2014: Kath:217 716 Prot. 270003 Together: 487719

I like how the Binod Dangi, 40, the Secretary-general of UPF Nepal explained the Family Federation and its activities: “It is a movement above all religions. It works for harmony among different religions to build world peace,” Dangi started following Unificationism as a student in 1995, and says he is still a practicing Hindu and Moonʼs philosophy doesnʼt necessitate conversion.

Quotes from book 12, of the new Chambumo Gyeong

„The Familiy Federation for World Peace and Unification and the Women`s Era“

„The age of HSA-UWC was for the sake of finding Adam`s family. Now we are in the course of uniting Adam`s family and building the tribal-level foundation. After interconnecting the tribes we can build a national-level foundation and finally a world-level foundation. We are now in a time of great change, so the Unification Church is transforming into the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.“” “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ 16.4.1997

„Do not feel sorry over the disappearance of the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity. Instead praise the establishment of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. Until now the focus has been on individual salvation, but now the salvation of the family, the relatives and the nation will be accomplished. This is inevitable. Now we have entered the Completed Testament Age, the age of homechurch. There was no family in the Old and New Testament Ages.

Therefore, the Family Federation is necessesary. It is a religion of a higher dimension.“! ! ! ! ! ! ! “ 1.5.1997

„On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the HSA-UWC, I have founded the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification as the way to welcome this time.“” “ “ “ “ “ “ “ 3.11.1994

„There cannot be lasting peace where there is no center. This means that for peace, there has to be unity. Therefor the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification emerged. The central family represents the world, heaven and earth. We can never have the center by only seeking peace horizontally. What we call the center must meet the horizontal at a 90-degree angle.“

“ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ 6.2.2000

The true family movement and the FFWPU

„When you receive the Blessing, you must join the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification and take responsibility as tribal messiahs. In that way HSA-UWC will disappear and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification will emerge. We lost the family at the time of the Fall. The family went to satan`s side and to hell. At this time, centering on the True Family, we can connect to the realm of direct dominion. We are becoming complete with True Parents as the center.“” “ “ “ 30.7.1995

“Respected guests, in 1996 my wife and I declared an end to the Unification Church and gave it a new beginning as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.” - Jan 27, 2004. The will of Heaven resides in human peace grounded in true families, not in the progress of any particular church or religion P.1331

„The era of religion has ended. That is why we dissolved HSA-UWC. Now it is the era of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. It is not religion, but God-centered familie that we need to find.“

“ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ 21.08.2001

„ The God-centerd family is the place in which all religions are fullfilled. Religions emerged in order to seek the family that was lost in the Garden of Eden. Accordingly, in the Unification Church, we have been performing the Blessing ceremony centereing on true love, true life and true lineage, thereby connecting everything to God.

After this, we will transcend the realm of religion. Therefore, HSA-UWC will disappear and we will move forward based on the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. When families settle centering on true love, true life and true lineage, the responsibility of religion will be finished.“

“ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ 12.12.2001

„The family that lives in attendance to God does not need religion. To achieve this, the family of God`s ideal of creation must settle.“ “ “ 19.04.1997

“ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ „The settlement of the family is the highest goal of religion. As we settle the family, we outgrow the concept of religion.“” “ “ “ 13.05.2002

„True Father has built a highway across the plain that enables us to attend God in comfort. Therefor we see that religion dissolves. When we have a true family, true parents, true couples and true children, we do not need traditional religion. I am saying that religion is not necessary for a family where Gid can visit and say, „I will live in this house together with you eternally,“ and give His seal of approval. No religion whatsoever will be necessary.“ “ 10.03.1997

Mission Statement

Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (registered association), Germany

‘To realize the ideal of marriage between a man and a woman and the family’

The FFWPU Germany is an independent organisation, which is part of the International Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) with branches in over 100 nations. The organisation is a development of the Unification Church, founded in 1954 by Rev. Sun Myung Moon. The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification can be seen as a federation of families and individuals who share particular articles of faith.

What we believe: · We believe in one God who has both masculine and feminine characteristics and who can best be described as parents for all mankind. We believe that God has a parental heart and loves all mankind unconditionally as his children.

· We believe that life does not end with death, but that life is eternal and that there is a spiritual world. We see life on earth as a preparation for eternal life in the spiritual world, and in particular as a school of love. Death can be compared to a second birth into our eternal home, the spiritual world.

· We believe that God’s ideal is expressed in the three great blessings for mankind: ‘Be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth and take dominion.’ (Gen. 1, 28). According to our understanding, these three blessings describe God’s three goals for all mankind. After attaining personal maturity, (first life goal), a man and a woman should form a family centered on God’s love (second life goal), and take care of the creation with responsible dominion (third life goal) for the joy of God and mankind.

· We believe this is God’s absolute and unchanging ideal and thereby also the goal of history and all religions.

· We believe that the natural family, established with the marriage of a man and a woman, and lived in the love of God, is a basic condition for lasting peace in society and the world.

Consequently, we have three main areas of activity:

1. To develop and encourage a vital and personal relationship between mankind and God and thus to overcome the barriers between people of different nationalities and cultures with the goal to realize ‘one world family under God’.

2. To strengthen the family as the school of love and thus indirectly to foster world peace. We invest ourselves to establish a culture of peace.

3. To safeguard the conservation of the creation by means of a new awareness of its value and purpose and by dealing responsibly with natural resources.

What we are doing:

1. Organising educational programmes

· Seminars on the Divine Principle, Unification theology and philosophy.

· Marriage preparation, family education

· Marriage and family counseling

· Seminars on health

2. Holding special ceremonies

· The marriage Blessing for world peace- ‘Families for World Peace’

· Ceremonies for a peaceful transition (Seong-hwa) into the spiritual world

3. Setting impulses in society

· Campaigns for the protection and promotion of the family

· Seminars for responsible government action

· Discussion and study groups on current affairs

4. Religious activities

· Worship services

· Study of Holy Scriptures

· Home Church activities

Welcome to the official Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) USA website, the online platform connecting the worldwide Unificationist community.

FFWPU is comprised of families from around the world striving to establish a world of peace and unity among all peoples, races, and religions as envisioned by Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon and to embody the ideal of true love as taught in the Divine Principle, the core teachings of the Unification Movement.

FFWPU champions three ideals: family, peace, and unification.

Our mission statement is:“To guide America back to God through the teachings and Marriage Blessing of True Parents.”

With God as our Heavenly Parent, we all share the same equal and divine value. We seek to equip individuals with the knowledge needed to develop a personal relationship with God and with each other based on that premise.

As our parent, God longs for us to experience the full range of relationships in our lives. It is through the experience of love as children to our parents, as brothers and sisters, as husbands and wives, and as parents to our children that we inherit God’s heart as our own and are then able to embrace the world with God’s love and create one family under God.

By working together with affiliate organizations, partners in the professional world, and inter-religious organizations, we seek to collaborate and find practical ways to improve humanity’s relationship with the environment, each other, and improve our understanding of the cosmos, ultimately bringing about a world of peace and prosperity. Acting on God’s behalf with intentional acts of love, we can expand the culture of heart in the world.

Visit our site for regular updates on resources, words from our founders and stories about our community. To learn more about the core teachings, visit dplife.info.

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