The Alliance's Northeast Asia area has set itself ambitious goals: to develop the theme of the 24th general council in a regional perspective, to engage fully in the "gathering process" leading up to Accra and beyond, and to promote wider ecumenical cooperation in East Asia.

In 2002, it will hold a theological consultation on "Life in fullness" in cooperation with the East Asia area council of the Council for World Mission (CWM). The meeting will focus on multicultural ministry. Reformed churches in the region that are not members of WARC will be invited, in order to promote a wider Reformed gathering.

In 2003, it will hold a second theological consultation, on "Inclusive Ministry", focusing on women and youth.

It will also play an active part in a consultation on mission that the CWM East Asia area council will organize in 2003.

The results of these meetings will be fed into the general council.

Educational material on the Accra theme intended for people in the pew will be published by the end of next year.

The WARC area also aims to host a forum, together with CWM and the Christian Conference of Asia, on ecumenism in Northeast Asia. The results of the forum will be contributed to the 9th assembly of the World Council of Churches in 2006.

These plans were laid during the Northeast Asia area council, which took place from October 28 to November 2 in Seoul and Wonju, South Korea. The council elected Kang Yong-Kyu (Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea) as moderator, and Yim Sung-Bihn (Presbyterian Church of Korea) as secretary.

Delegates from Korea and Taiwan
with the WARC team

WARC was represented at the meeting by CS Song, president of the Alliance; Setri Nyomi, general secretary; Kim Yong-bock, theology moderator; and Park Seong-won, cooperation and witness secretary.