FFWPU UK: Division In Our European Church Over Shin–Chul Moon vs The ESGD

In light of this weekend’s events and the discussions they’ve sparked, our River South pastor shares his reflections and insights on the path forward.

Missionaries Shin Chul and Ji Woo Moon have concluded their visit to the United Kingdom and have moved on to Tirana, Albania, their final stop in Europe. During their time in the United Kingdom, they visited a Young Achievers event hosted in Lancaster Gate, and led the Cheonmyeong music worship and workshop in Livingstone House. Ji Woo shared about her experiences as a missionary during the past year in Albania.

On Sunday, Shin Chul spoke at the River South Peace Embassy. He gave a raw speech, full of emotion, expressing his concern that our community is in real danger of division and separation. His words elicited deeply divided responses from the community and beyond. You can see some photos from the event here, and read a reflection by the River South Pastor Rev. Adza M. here.

Asked for comment UK Director Michael Balcomb said: “I think we all wish that things had worked out differently.

“All I can do is echo the words and the appeal of our Founder, True Father Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, from 1973: ‘Forgive; love; unite.’”

We are one family; we will rise or fall together.

Message from River South Pastor Adza Mould

Where do we go from here? Our Worship Service on Sunday has exacerbated a rift in our European movement. Why did this happen at River South? What should our response be? Already I see some members backing off, promising not to return, because of the experience on Sunday.

We had to take down the YouTube recording of the service because it was doing more damage than good. True, it still circulates online but it is not something we are proud of. The use of profanity at service cannot be condoned nor justified.

We are extremely repentful for the harm it has caused all our families, especially the younger ones in the audience and online. If you have been affected by this and would like to speak with me or Nittaya about it, please do reach out to us.

The content of the message was equally offensive to our community and traditions. The very organised young people, ESGD (European Second Generation Department), that are a bulwark of our faith tradition and defenders of the next generation against all insidious intrusions were branded the source of Europe’s woes!?

Leadership who were part of the origin of their mistrust, were the source of false allegations against ESGD, should step up and take responsibility to resolve and heal (that would be true leadership) rather than perpetuate division and confusion among families in Europe.

‘Everyone makes mistakes’, and private apologies without correcting those errors are inadequate.

Top-gun, Shinchul is correct to say this problem will only grow if we don’t resolve it, and raising the issue is the one positive (albeit in a challenging and frankly bizarre way) from his message. We were at risk of kicking another issue under the carpet.

I personally believe the ESGD statement on the ChambumoRon* was misguided, but it was honest, and contrary to what Shinchul mentions in his apology above, most people in Western Europe have not embraced the ChambumoRon, evidenced in our community by the low turn-out at ChambumoRon studies and the many questions about the content. I also believe that when we genuinely, with an open mind, critically examine the ChambumoRon, we can accept it and come into a deeper awareness of Heavenly

Parent’s Desire and Providence at this time of Cheon Il Guk.

What chance have the 2+ Gen of opening their hearts to the message of the ChambumoRon on the back of mistrust of the leadership that will not face up to the difficulties they (the leadership, us) helped create in the past.

Again, everyone that tries to do anything will ‘make mistakes.’ The second point that is preventing members like ESGD to embrace the ChambumoRon is how it has been presented in some circles, appearing to put down True Father. Yes, ‘mistakes have been made’ in the Providence, that is why we’re still “struggling to attain happiness” even now, but True Father did not sin. (Let’s understand what the difference is between mistakes and sin).

At all times, True Father and True Mother followed and follow the will of God as they understand it and, therefore, they have not sinned. To teach that True Father has (if that is the case that people are teaching this way) is wrong, and rightfully members will reject that, and this is what ESGD did in a statement. (Which I think was unnecessary, but obviously they are brave enough to have done so).

We will suffer a great loss in our community if we do nothing, if we lose ESGD, ostracise them and if we don’t solve the historical rift (as Shinchul says).

Pastor William H., reminded us that Sunday, 19th January, was the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene creed, which ushered in a 1000 year period of intolerance in Christianity.

Shall we go down the same road by compelling allegiance to the ChambumoRon, especially where there are the barriers mentioned above with trust and doctrinal issues?

In River South we have been focusing on unity with True Mother as the only begotten daughter, and while this is also part of the teachings of the ChambumoRon, it is not the entirety of it (as it was allegedly taught in a manner which caused consternation). That True Mother and True Father are one, is also self- evident to all members and that means they rise together, and teaching that one goes down (if that is what is being taught in any place) is itself a contradiction of the ChambumoRon (even as it’s being taught).

I did not intend to discuss this at length, but it weighs on my mind and there have been many calls from members that are confused as to what went down on Sunday.

ShinChul is desperate for European unity and unity with True Mother, and from wherever he has got the wrong idea that ESGD is the cause of that not happening, he let it out in our service.

I apologise to all those who have been affected.

I have to also say that there are equally many that are happy that ESGD were outed in that public way, but I ask you to examine to what end, and what movement we’re trying to build?

A ‘family” that excludes people we disagree with and is full of “yes-people,” one that doesn’t critically examine new truth and blindly follows, one that protects the next generation or one that follows the next internet fad.

I have looked at the ChambumoRon in light of the Divine Principle and I am happy to study more with anyone, every Thursday (at Livingstone House this week) satisfied that at its core, it reveals a deeper understanding of Heavenly Parent’s Heart and the position of True Mother as True Parent by her own unique qualification and merit.

It also affirms that True Father executed an advance in God’s Providence of super-human proportions that no one else in history could have done.

Let us bring healing in our community by not spreading unfounded gossip, reaching out in support of one another and by uniting with True Mother on Earth and True Father in Heaven.

Finally, let the leadership that created this mistrust that should be resolved, take responsibility, seek forgiveness and forgive.

* ChambumoRon is a teaching centered on the importance and advent of the Only Begotten Daughter. The ESGD is opposed to the teaching of ChambumoRon.