제19차 세계감리교대회에 참석하신 여러분!

 멀리 대한민국까지 찾아 주신 여러분을 진심으로 환영합니다. 여러분은 한국감리교회와 대한민국의 중요한 손님들입니다. 저와 한국감리교회는 천사를 대접하던 아브라함의 마음으로 여러분을 돕고, 이 대회를 지원하도록 준비하였습니다. 

  우리나라는 예전에는 가장 가난하고 위험한 나라 중의 하나였으나, 지금은 하나님께서 복을 주셔서 작지만 강한 나라가 되었습니다. 앞으로 우리는 하나님이 주신 선물을 통해 세계교회의 일원으로서 세계선교에 앞장서고, 교회일치를 위해 봉사하며, 아시아교회들과 협력하며 동반자가 되겠습니다. 

  세계감리교대회를 서울에서 개최하게 된 일은 대단한 축복이며, 기쁨입니다. 한국감리교회는 121년 전에 이 땅에 복음의 씨앗을 뿌렸습니다. 예수 그리스도는 가난한 자들에게 복음이었고, 억눌린 이들에게 해방이었으며, 간절한 기도에 응답하시는 주님이셨습니다. 우리 민족은 이러한 복음을 잘 받아들였고, 그 결과 성령의 능력으로 가장 역동적인 신앙을 갖게 되었다고 자부합니다.

  저는 제19차 서울대회가 한반도와 세계에 화해의 메시지를 전할 수 있게 될 것을 기대합니다. 분단 61년 동안 남과 북은 적대적으로 대립해 왔고, 군사적인 위협도 그치지 않고 있습니다. 그러나 우리는 하나님의 뜻을 기억하며, 소망 중에 기도해왔습니다. 이제 여러분이 이 기도에 동참하신다면 이 땅에 참 평화가 임하리라고 믿습니다.

  이 대회를 축하하고, 여러분을 환영하기 위해 대한민국 정부와 국회 및 교계관계자들이 이 자리에 함께 하였습니다. 북한 조선그리스도교연맹의 강영섭 위원장도 축하의 인사를 전하였습니다.

  하나님의 은혜와 온 교회의 축복 속에 이 대회의 성공과 열매를 축원합니다. 

Resolution for Reconciliation and Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsular

The 19th World Methodist Conference held in Seoul is the assembly of World Methodists for reconciliation and peace. In this Conference, with its theme "God in Christ Reconciling," we are reminded of the great significance of reconciliation and peace in the Korean peninsula, a land where peace has been deprived by over 60 years of division.

We believe in God who has worked and dwelled with the people and all creatures in this land of suffering. The theme "God in Christ Reconciling" contains this purpose and hope of World Methodist Conference.

God outstretched his reconciling hands to humans to humans through the cross of Jesus Christ. We, who believe in this, are called as reconcilers who proclaim the reconciliation of Christ to the world and the neighbor(II Cor. 5:18-20).

Therefore, we shall engage in the ministry of reconciliation beginning with ourselves to God and then among other individuals, families, churches, and nations through the cross of Jesus Christ.

The Korean peninsula is no exception to other regions of conflict in the world where reconciliation and peace are deperately needed.

The tragic division of the Korean peninsula cannot be resolved by ourselves. Therefore, we are longing for the intervention of God and His grace.

The history of war that resulted in tremendous human casualties; the persistent millitary threat between North and South; and the recent missile tests in North Korea have elevated the tension and threat to a critical laevel in the Korean peninsular and renew out Christian commitment to act for peace.

To this end, the World Methodist Council calls upon its member churches and the 70 million Methodist o 132 countries in the world
 to be mediators for peace and reconciliation and to support the efforts of governments and international organizations toward peace and reconciliation; and
 to be advocates for the peaceful reunification of Kore; and to participate in the ecumenical efforts of the World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches of Christ-USA to facilitate the reunion of separated Korean families.

We call upon the South Korean and North Korean governments
 to welcome and support all efforts for the peaceful unification through wide levels of cooperation and collaboration between N. Korea and S. Korea.
 to continue all levels of exchange programs, both civilian and governemtal;
 to increase the humanitarian programs.
 to consider mutual understandings and cooperation which would leads us toward a peaceful unity.

We urge North Korea to honor the principles of the United Nation's guidelines and to find a resolution through peaceful cooperation. We denounce the developement of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and desire an immediate end to the development of such threats.

We urge the churches in Korea 
 to affirm that the church is a community in service of peace in the world and to share love for our neighbors according to God's will;
 to continue the programs of cooperation between the churches of North and South Korea which, for  the last 20 years, have provided great hope for the future among churches in the peninsula.
 to continue to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the Korean peninsula.

We urge the world community
 to honor, respect, and support the wishes of the Korean people for reconciliation and peaceful unification
 to put the rights and interests of the Korean people ahead the political and economic interests of other countries and to be the partners with Korean people in achieving reconciliation, peace, and justice.