Involving Alliance member churches in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, the Northeast Asia area council (NEAAC) aims at fellowship and closer cooperation among the Reformed family in the region. At the invitation of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT), the 2nd assembly of the NEAAC took place from October 28 to 30 1997, at the "We are the World" conference centre in Tan-Shul, near Taipei. Altogether, 27 participants (14 from Korea, 6 from Japan, 5 from Taiwan, 2 from Warc, and 1 observer from India) gathered together to reflect on the 23rd general council in the north-east Asian context.

Outgoing NEAAC President Dr Chung-Hyun Ro, from the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK), gave an inspiring opening speech. Historically, Confucianism has underpinned the communities of north-east Asia and made a substantial contribution to the present prosperity of the three countries in this region; future generations, however, will live with diverse values, such as individualism. Anticipating this change, Dr Ro warned against the dangers of limitless competition. If economic globalization continues, it will lead to an ever-increasing crisis of economic disparity, political and social corruption and moral decay, ecological destruction, and threats to peace and stability. Competition for hegemony - China against Japan, the United States against China, North Korea against South Korea, Taiwan against China - will threaten the peace and stability of the region. He emphasized that the Reformed community should work for a more just and sustainable society through the theological exploration of God's good plan for our welfare, which gives us a future with hope and without harm (Jer 29.11).

PCT general secretary Rev CS Yang emphasized "justice for the minority". He regretted that few dare to offend the powerful, even in the ecumenical arena. The church should not become a shelter for the "nice people", because this makes the poor and the neglected reluctant to join; it should identify with the minorities. Rev Sozo Koike, a general council delegate of the Church of Christ in Japan, reported on the council from the Japanese perspective, pointing to the significance of the encounter with the North Korean delegation in Debrecen. Rev Kim Young-Rak, a PCK delegate, spoke on "nuclear chains against the integrity of creation", suggesting a simple lifestyle as an alternative to the present way of life, which is ecologically destructive. Prof Lucy Kao, a PCT delegate and co-convener of section III in Debrecen, reported on discussions on partnership in God's mission.

The council received reports from member churches. The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan showed participants a video of the PCT's hundred-and-thirteen years anniversary celebration, and shared its strong feeling of isolation from neighbouring countries in Asia, as well as from other parts of the world. The Korean Christian Church in Japan (KCCJ) has taken a promising step with regard to women's participation in its general assembly. The KCCJ elected a woman minister, Rev Kyung Hae-Joong as its moderator, and adopted a revision of its constitution so that a wider gate be open to women. In response to the North Korean famine appeal, the Church of Christ in Japan (CCJ) has collected 6.6 million yen (almost CHF 75,000) for humanitarian aid to North Korea. If their public apology to Koreans at one of the morning services in Debrecen was a sort of confessio oris, "confession with the mouth", this generosity was satisfactio operis, "satisfaction by works".

The council issued a statement in which it

urged the governments concerned to make the region of North East Asia a nuclear free zone;
expressed strong support for the struggle for people's sovereignty, security, and dignity, over against the power of any state;
recommended that its member churches organize people's movements to defend the human rights of migrant workers suffering in the region, and urge their governments to take necessary measures to protect them;
asked the Japanese government to make a public apology in connection with its crimes against comfort women and to give a faithful and prompt response to the requests of the victims; and
called for support and help through prayer and action for people and organizations who are working on child prostitution, and for education of children and parents, in schools, churches and homes, where people should learn to respect the basic dignity of every human being.

"We hereby call upon our member churches in the area council to increase their concrete support, including financial resources, to the programmes and mission of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches," the NEAAC said. As a practical step, the council agreed to encourage its member churches to set aside one Sunday in the year as "Warc Sunday", according to each church's situation. Warc president, Dr CS Song, who attended the meeting, also suggested a "one dollar per member" campaign, explaining that it does not have a merely financial purpose, but is a concrete expression of member churches' loyalty and commitment, and at the same time an invitation to local congregations to share in the life of Warc.

My overall impression was that the NEAAC members were really trying to fit Warc programmes into their local context. I felt that they are ready for closer cooperation and mutual support and are good ambassadors for Warc in their region.

Park Seong-won