Communications Department

April 03, 2012

(Submitted by Conference Board of Church and Society)

A call to break down every wall that divides God’s people into tension, violence, and war is an authentic Christian calling as Jesus Christ came to break down those walls.  The people of North and South Korea have been divided and suffering by the walls of ideology and international power politics too long. The USA and the DPRK are still technically and politically at war under the Armistice Agreement in  July 27, 1953. The year 2013 marks the 60th anniversary of the armistice of the Korean War.  Replacing the armistice with the peace treaty is and should be the very first step in establishing a lasting peace and reconciliation in the Korean peninsula.  This is not just what the divided people of Korea desire and need but also what our divided world needs to see the peace-making at work.  

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT;

• New England Annual Conference of United Methodist Church support  a peaceful diplomatic engagement between the  DPRK and the USA to end the Korean War.
• New England Annual Conference send a delegation to join a peace march in commemoration of 60th anniversary of the armistice in Washington D.C. on July 27, 2013.
• The USA and the DPRK establish the peace treaty and normalize its diplomatic relations.
• The USA work two Koreas in establishing a path toward permanent peace and reunification in the Korean peninsula.
• The Secretary of New England Annual Conference send this resolution to President Obama, the Secretary of the State, and the representatives in the Congress from New England States.