In October and November, Alliance president CS Song and general secretary Setri Nyomi visited member churches in Japan, Korea and Taiwan. They discussed the challenges facing churches in these different contexts, the current priorities of the Alliance, how we can work together better as a Reformed family, and the "gathering process" for the 24th general council. They were accompanied by Park Seong-won, cooperation and witness secretary.

Japan's churches speak out against destructive forms of nationalism - seen, for example, in a new history textbook presenting a distorted view of Japanese imperialism. They are also concerned about emperor worship and the treatment of immigrant communities. In late October, the delegation conferred with leaders of the Church of Christ in Japan and the Korean Christian Church of Japan. They also met pastors and students for the ministry, and leaders of the United Church of Christ in Japan and the National Christian Council.

Japanese church leaders with the Alliance visitors

Korea and its churches face major challenges in the aftermath of the economic meltdown of the late 1990s. Alliance member churches are also active in the quest for national reunification. In Korea the delegation met leaders of the Presbyterian Church of Korea, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, the Presbyterian Church in Korea (Daeshin), and the Presbyterian Church in Korea (HDCT). They worshipped with local congregations and had conversations with the leadership of the Council of Presbyterian Churches, which seeks to unite the country's many Presbyterian churches in mission and common witness. They also attended a meeting of the Northeast Asia area council (see separate report).

In 1971, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan issued "A Public Statement on our National Fate" - the first of several statements on democracy, human rights and Taiwanese self-determination. At a conference in early November to mark the 30th anniversary of this statement, Nyomi spoke on "Justice, Peace and Human Rights - an Ecumenical Call to Active Prayer". He also preached in Taipei and visited pastors and leaders in Kaoshiong in southern Taiwan.

Song also visited the Taiwanese church - his home church - prior to the trip to Japan.